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The Fantastic Journey of the Apple II: How to Lead the Computer Revolution in 1977?
The Apple II series of microcomputers were manufactured by Apple Computer from 1977 to 1993. The first Apple II model was launched on June 10, 1977. This model was designed by Steve Wozniak. The success of the Apple II spawned subsequent versions such as the Apple II Plus, Apple IIe, Apple IIc, and Apple IIc Plus. Among them, the Apple IIe, launched in 1983, became the most popular model in the series. The Apple II was a major step forward from its predecessor, the Apple I, in terms of ease of use, functionality, and scalability, laying the foundation for its success in the 1980s and early 1990s.
As the first computer to be widely used in American middle schools, the Apple II successfully replaced the previous leader, the Conway PET.
Driven by the development of educational and business software, the Apple II quickly entered the home and business markets. In particular, the popular spreadsheet software VisiCalc, launched in 1979, made it popular among business users and home users. The Apple II series was based on a 6502-bit processor and could display text and color graphics at two resolutions and provide one channel of low-fidelity audio. The Apple IIGS, launched in 1986, was equipped with more advanced graphics and sound effects and a 16-bit processor, further consolidating Apple's position in the home and business computer markets.
Hardware Innovation and Design
Unlike previous home microcomputers, the Apple II was designed as a complete consumer product rather than an assembled kit (which could be unassembled or assembled). Apple positioned the Apple II as a durable product and launched an advertisement in 1981 that showed an Apple II surviving intact after the user's cat accidentally knocked over a lamp. All Apple II series models (except IIc) maintain similar design elements in appearance. The plastic casing is designed more like a household appliance than an electronic device, and can be easily opened without tools.
The Apple II series has a built-in keyboard. In addition to the IIGS being equipped with an independent keyboard, the design is equally elegant.
Apple II series motherboards include eight expansion slots and have up to 48KB of random access memory (RAM) slots. As the life cycle of the Apple II series went by, numerous third-party hardware was launched one after another, expanding the functionality of this model. Among them, the IIc model is designed as a portable unit and is not mainly used for disassembly. Therefore, compared with other models in the series, its expansion compatibility is poor.
Software Development
The original Apple II had a built-in ROM operating system and a variant programming language called integer BASIC. Apple later introduced the more advanced Applesoft BASIC, allowing users to run it. With the introduction of the Disk II disk drive in 1978, Apple commissioned Shepardson Microsystems to develop a new operating system, Apple DOS, that supported disk drives. The most popular version was Apple DOS 3.3. With the introduction of ProDOS, these modules supported more complex file systems and larger storage devices.
The Apple II series eventually supported more than 1,500 software applications, and its versatility from computing to graphics made it outstanding.
The launch of MousePaint in 1984 and Apple IIGS in 1986 gave the Apple II platform a Macintosh-like user interface, including mouse support. Most of the Apple II commercial software sold were self-starting disks, which reduced the problem of copying or modifying the software and greatly improved the loading speed.
Diverse models
The first Apple II model was launched in 1977, using a MOS Technology 6502 microprocessor running 1.023MHz, with 4KB of RAM and an audio cassette interface as standard. The Apple II used its colorful graphics capabilities to add rainbow stripes to the Apple logo on the exterior. The Apple II initially retailed for US$1,298 (in 1977) and peaked at US$2,638, making it a luxury product at the time.
Overall, the first Apple II overturned the traditional concept of home computers with its advanced technology.
In 1983, the Apple II Plus was launched. The image remained the same as the previous generation, but the internal functions were improved, such as incorporating Applesoft BASIC into the ROM and removing the 6502 assembler to enhance floating point computing capabilities. As the market expanded to Europe and Asia, models such as the Apple II Europlus and J-Plus were launched one after another, bringing tailor-made choices to users in different regions.
Advertising, Marketing and Future Impact
In terms of marketing, Apple has attracted the attention of many consumers due to its unique brand image. Starting in 1977, Apple promoted the Apple II brand through high-quality packaging, advertising and marketing strategies. "BYTE" magazine and "Scientific American" magazine both published introduction ads for the Apple II. These early ads used "simplistic" language and were intended to make the concept of home computers more accessible to people.
With the success of the Apple II, more than 190 Apple II clone models emerged, creating a new market for Apple interactive computers and promoting the popularity of home computers. However, Apple maintains a strong legal stance against such cloning.
The success of the Apple II not only changed the market structure of home computers, but also triggered a global craze for personal computers.
During the 16-year production cycle of the Apple II series, a total of about 6 million units were sold, reaching its classic peak in 1983 with sales of 1 million units. All this makes people wonder, is there any other product that can have such a profound impact on the development of technology and family structure?
