Apple Silentype (1979)
Apple Silentype (1979): 80-column thermal printer for the Apple II and II Plus; far quieter than impact printers, using special thermal paper.
Specs
| Reference | Apple Silentype |
| Launch / discontinued | announced 1979 / 1980-03 / 1982-10-01 |
| CPU | — |
| Memory | — |
| Storage | — |
| Display / graphics | 80 columns, thermal printing |
| Expansion / ports | Serial interface card in the Apple II |
| US launch price | USD 599 |
Launch
Announced in 1979 and launched in March 1980 at USD 599 as the company's first printer, aimed at the Apple II; also compatible with the Apple III. Discontinued on 1 October 1982.
Marketing
Its selling point was silence: unlike dot-matrix printers, the thermal mechanism was nearly noiseless, a real benefit in offices and classrooms.
Flaws and fixes
It required special thermal paper, more expensive and prone to darkening over time, and printing was slower and lower-contrast than impact printers.
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Updated: October 24, 2026 · Sources: Wikipedia, Wikipedia · Compare this product