History of Computers - Apple II
The Apple II was the successor to the Apple 1 which was one of the first mass produced computers made commercially available. It was mainly designed by Steve Wozniak and released by Apple Computers, which is now known for developing products such as the Iphone and the Macbook.
Contents
Overview
The Apple II was similar to the Apple I, but it included support for color display and sound [1]. It was released June 5th, 1977, for either $1298 (4kB of RAM) or $2638 (48kB of RAM) [2]. It was an 8-bit home computer with a MOS Technology 6502 microprocessor running at 1 MHz[3]. Its eight expansion slots greatly aided in its success, as they could be used to easily modify the computer, unlike its competitors.[4] The Apple II's design was one of the first computers that was visually-appealing. Up until the Apple II, many desktops were sold as parts of kits, and as such people made their own cases for them. Others had cases that were unappealing and looked shoddy. This was not appealing to the average consumer, and the Apple II's case made it more accessible to a broader audience. The vents in the Apple II also greatly added to its appeal to the average consumer, as it replaced the noisy fan that could be found in other computers.[5] The Apple II also convinced former Intel executive Mike Markkula to invest $250,000 in Apple which gave the funding for Apple to grow even bigger. [6]
Significance
The Apple II was significant because it was one of the first mass marketed computers. The Apple II computers were popular enough that the series continued on until production finally ended in 1993, after around 6 million computers had been produced[7]. The Apple II computer was also one of the first computers to feature color displays. Its ability to be expanded as well as its pleasing aesthetics made its pleasing to all, whether they were hobbyists or families unfamiliar with the world of computers. This combination was the reason for its astounding sales, and it helped to popularize computers everywhere.
References
- ↑ http://lowendmac.com/orchard/05/origin-apple-ii-computer.html
- ↑ http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Apple_II
- ↑ http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Apple_II
- ↑ http://apple2history.org/history/ah03/
- ↑ http://apple2history.org/history/ah04/
- ↑ https://allaboutstevejobs.com/bio/short_bio
- ↑ http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Apple_2
