Apple Disk II (1978)
Apple Disk II (1978): 5.25″ floppy drive with a Shugart SA-400 mechanism and Wozniak's very low chip-count controller; 143 KB per side.
Specs
| Reference | Apple Disk II |
| Launch / discontinued | 1978-06 / 1984-05-01 |
| CPU | — |
| Memory | — |
| Storage | 143 KB per floppy (one side) |
| Display / graphics | — |
| Expansion / ports | Controller card in an Apple II slot |
| US launch price | USD 595 (with controller; pre-order USD 495) |
Launch
Went on sale in June 1978: USD 495 on early pre-order, later USD 595 with the controller card. Discontinued on 1 May 1984.
Marketing
It turned the Apple II into a serious software machine: floppy storage was far faster and more reliable than cassette. Wozniak's controller used remarkably few components, an engineering milestone.
Flaws and fixes
It wrote only one side of the disk (users cut notches to use the reverse) and required an Apple II slot for its controller. No motorized eject: removal was manual.
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Updated: October 24, 2026 · Sources: Wikipedia, Wikipedia · Compare this product