Apple I (1976)
Apple I (1976): Apple Computer's first board, designed by Steve Wozniak, with a 1 MHz MOS 6502 CPU, 4 KB of RAM and composite video output; the buyer supplied case, keyboard, monitor and power.
Specs
| Reference | Apple I |
| Launch / discontinued | 1976-07 / 1977-09-30 |
| CPU | MOS 6502 @ 1 MHz |
| Memory | 4 KB RAM (expandable) |
| Storage | Cassette (optional interface) |
| Display / graphics | Composite video output (monitor not included) |
| Expansion / ports | Board edge connector |
| US launch price | USD 666.66 |
Launch
Apple Computer Company was founded on 1 April 1976 (Jobs, Wozniak and Wayne). Wozniak showed the board at the Homebrew Computer Club and the Byte Shop ordered 50 boards at USD 500 each. It sold from July 1976; about 200 units were hand-built.
Marketing
Unlike the kits of its time, the Apple I arrived as a fully assembled, tested board: that was its selling point against rivals like the Altair 8800. The USD 666.66 price was, per Wozniak, a repeating-digits joke.
Flaws and fixes
It shipped without case, keyboard, monitor or power supply, and the cassette interface was optional, so the real cost was higher. Hand-built production was limited; discontinued on 30 September 1977, it is now a collector's auction piece.
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Updated: October 24, 2026 · Sources: Wikipedia, Wikipedia · Compare this product