Apple’s groundbreaking early years: 1976 to 1985
Summary created by Smart Answers AI
In summary:
- Macworld explores Apple’s transformative first decade (1976-1985), highlighting iconic products like the Apple I, Apple II, Lisa and the original Macintosh that defined personal computing.
- These revolutionary machines introduced revolutionary features including graphical user interfaces, desktop publishing capabilities, and user-friendly design that made the technology accessible to everyday consumers.
- Apple’s early innovations during this period laid the foundation for modern computing and continue to influence today’s operating systems like macOS and iOS.
Apple’s first decade is filled with iconic products, not only in Apple history, but also in technology history. Apple is often cited as the initiator of staff computing, releasing products that have empowered generations of users and set an example for how technology can be used by the masses.
This era saw the emergence of three different computing platforms from Apple – that’s how uncertain the future was. By the end of the decade, the Macintosh would become Apple’s main focus, eventually forming the basis for iOS, watchOS, visionOS, and tvOS. Here’s how Apple’s first 10 years, 1976-1985, shaped the future.
April 1976: Apple I
Foundry
The computer that started it all didn’t even come with a case – the Apple I was just a circuit board, and buyers had to bring their own case, resulting in unique configurations that would make Jony Ive cringe. (“Wood? Bullshit.”) Apple made about 200 computers with a 1.02 MHz CMOS 6502 microprocessor and 4 KB of RAM, and introduced the Apple I for $666.66, which was later marked down to $475.
Due to its rarity and historical influence, the Apple I is sometimes available at auction, and bids reach hundreds of thousands of dollars. But the Apple I’s value in the history of technology cannot be measured: while other computers preceded it, the Apple I sparked the personal computing revolution and firmly established Apple as a technology company not just for business people but for everyone.
June 1977: Apple II
Apple’s second computer, the Apple II, was its first mass market success. It was designed to appeal to everyday people, not just hobbyists who invested in an Apple I. Steve Wozniak made improvements that increased its usefulness, and although its $1,298 price tag was higher than its competitors, the Apple II was a huge success.
What size? The Apple II is often cited as one of the best computers of all time, if not the best. Apple continued with the Apple II line for 16 years, and although the Macintosh eventually became the company’s primary platform, the Apple II blazed a trail that even today’s Macs still follow.
January 1983: Apple Lisa
Computer History Museum
The Apple Lisa (officially Local Integrated Software Architecture) was the first personal computer with a graphical user interface, which used a document-centric approach and even allowed files to have the same name (which was unheard of in early computer interfaces). Its all-in-one design featured a 5 MHz Motorola 68000 processor, supported up to 2 MB of RAM, and a 12-inch monochrome display. Named after Steve Jobs’ daughter, its original price was $9,995.
Lisa’s legacy is as complicated as the relationship Jobs had with his namesake, but there’s no denying its importance. In 1980, Steve started the Lisa project and became part of the Macintosh group, which borrowed many of Lisa’s attributes, including its graphical interface. Bruce Daniels, who played a major role in the Lisa and Macintosh development teams, once said, “All the Mac groups were willing to say that if it hadn’t been for Lisa, there would never have been a Mac.” »
December 1983: ImageWriter
Apple had released printers before 1983, but ImageWriter was the first to work with both the Apple II and Macintosh (which wouldn’t arrive for another month). It was one of the first dot-matrix printers, so it could print low-resolution graphics; many other printers used daisy-chain mechanisms intended to produce text only.
It wasn’t until ImageWriter II in 1985 that the project took off and Apple finally abandoned it after 11 years. The ImageWriter II had a sleeker, more refined design, better speed and print modes, and could print in color if you changed the ribbon. By the mid-1980s, laser printers were beginning to transform publishing and the Apple LaserWriter was becoming the industry standard.
January 1984: Macintosh 128 KB
Foundry
The Macintosh 128K set Apple’s core business in motion and empowered users around the world. But the Macintosh was, at first, considered a research project at Apple; the company was more focused on the Apple Lisa. Everything changed when Steve Jobs, determined to “make a dent in the universe,” took over the Macintosh team.
Here’s why 1984 wasn’t like 1984: The first Macintosh arrived with an 8 MHz Motorola 6800 processor, supported up to 1 MB of RAM, and had a built-in 9-inch monochrome display. System 1.0 used a 400 KB floppy disk and Disc interchange elbow became a badge of honor that bonded these early adopters.
It’s been 40 years since its debut, but the core features of System 1 (the Finder, Menu Bar, and Control Panel) are still part of the current macOS 26, a testament to the versatility of the original idea.
March 1985: LaserWriter
Wikipedia
When the Macintosh was introduced, it was immediately apparent how well it was designed for creative work, but it needed an affordable device to satisfy professionals who wanted high-quality prints of their creations. The Apple LaserWriter did this and ushered in what Paul Brainerd called “desktop publishing.”
The LaserWriter introduced the world to PostScript, Adobe’s page description language that allowed printers to reproduce graphics with the quality professionals demanded. It was also networkable, so multiple Macs could connect to it and print. This connectivity helped offset its $6,995 price tag.
This is part one of a five-part series exploring 50 years of Apple product launches. Stay tuned to Macworld all week as we explore five decades, continuing tomorrow with 1986-1995.
