The First Complete Computer on a Board
The Apple I stood out distinctly from later Apple products. Unlike its refined successors, it required some assembly and lacked the polished design Apple is now known for. This pioneering effort by Steve Jobs and Steve Wozniak, who previously engaged in creating devices to exploit phone networks for free long-distance calls, marked a significant departure from their past endeavors.
Steve Jobs, inspired by the rudimentary home computers of the 1970s, envisioned a superior, user-friendly computer accessible to the average person.
Incomplete Early Computers
Before the Apple I, most computers were primitive, lacking keyboards and monitors, and served limited functions beyond displaying blinking lights. Interaction with these machines was through switches and punch card input.
The Apple I, Steven Wozniak’s initial foray into the personal computer sector, laid the groundwork for Apple’s first line of computers.
Designed over several years while Wozniak balanced school and part-time work, the Apple I retro computer was a product of persistent innovation.
In July 1976, the Apple I hit the U.S. market at $666.66, and all 200 units quickly sold out. Its debut at the Homebrew Computer Club in Palo Alto garnered significant attention.
Some Assembly Required
Assembly was required for the Apple I, but it was simpler than other home kits of the era. It came with a fully assembled motherboard, requiring only a case, power supply, and storage device to complete – a process somewhat akin to modern computer assembly.
Modded Apple 1 outfitted with a wooden case reminiscent of a typewriter.
Construction and Price
Distinct from its contemporaries, which mostly used the Intel 8080, the Apple I was built around the MOStek 6502 chip. This eight-bit computer operated on 8-bit pathways and was sold through several small retailers. The optional tape-interface was offered separately.
