Apple I
 | |
| Original Apple I “NTI” motherboard (1976) | |
| Specifications | |
|---|---|
| Developer | Apple Computer Company (Steve Wozniak) |
| Manufacturer | Apple Computer Company |
| Type | Single‑board personal computer |
| Released | April 11, 1976 Apple-1 Computer—link(accessed 2024-06-20) |
| Discontinued | September 1977 |
| Intro price | US$666.66 (board only) |
| Units sold | 200 |
| CPU | MOS 6502 @ 1 MHz |
| Memory | 4 KB RAM (standard) Expandable to 48 KB |
| Storage | 1200‑baud cassette interface (optional) |
| Display | Composite video – 40 × 24 uppercase text |
| Sound | — |
| Dimensions | 15 in × 9 in bare PCB |
| Weight | ≈ 1.6 lb (board) |
| OS / Firmware | 256‑byte WOZ Monitor ROM • Integer BASIC on cassette |
| Successor | Apple II |
| Model no. | “Byte Shop” & “NTI” revisions |
The Apple I (also styled Apple‑1) was Apple Computer Company’s first commercial product. Hand‑built by Steve Wozniak and marketed by Steve Jobs from a Los Altos garage, it proved there was demand for pre‑assembled microcomputers and financed development of the groundbreaking Apple II.[1]
Historical Context
- Homebrew origins: Designed for the Homebrew Computer Club; early prototypes were wire‑wrapped before the green fiberglass production board.
- Byte Shop breakthrough: Paul Terrell ordered 50 fully assembled boards at US$500 each, forcing Apple to move from kits to finished hardware.
- Seed capital: Wozniak sold his HP‑65 calculator and Jobs sold his VW Microbus to fund the first batch of parts.[2]
- Pricing quirk: The retail price of US$666.66 reflected Wozniak’s fondness for repeating digits and delivered a one‑third markup on wholesale cost.
Hardware Overview
| Component | Detail |
|---|---|
| CPU | MOS 6502 @ 1 MHz (2/7 × NTSC color sub‑carrier) |
| RAM | 4 KB on board; sockets for 8 KB – 48 KB |
| ROM | 256 B WOZ Monitor ($FF00–$FFFF) |
| Video | Shift‑register circuit, 40 × 24 text, composite out |
| I/O | ASCII keyboard input, video out, expansion edge connectors |
| Cassette | Optional ACI card, 1200 baud Kansas City format |
Revisions
- “Byte Shop” boards – early run, hand‑soldered, no silkscreen; supplied to Byte Shop stores.
- “NTI” boards – later production outsourced to North Star Technical (NTI); improved layout, corrected video timing, white silkscreen legend.
Software & Operation
Upon power‑up the system drops at the \ WOZ prompt. Common commands:
E000R ; Jump to BASIC if loaded
CFFF0R ; Start “Monitor Echo” test
C000R / C100W ; Cassette read / write
Apple provided Integer BASIC on cassette along with demo tapes such as Blackjack, Star Trek, and Micro‑Chess. Users typically operated with 8 KB – 16 KB RAM for BASIC.
Sales Packages
| Package | Contents | Price (1976) | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Logic‑board only | Finished PCB w/ ROM | US$666.66 | Majority of sales |
| Cassette Interface (ACI) | Plug‑in card + docs | US$75 | Required for tape storage |
| Turn‑key system (dealer) | Board, case, PSU, keyboard, ACI | ~US$900 | Assembled by Byte Shop & independent dealers |
Peripherals & Upgrades
- Datanetics keyboard – 56‑key ASCII keyboard paired with many early builds.
- Custom enclosures – Wood or plexiglass cases, often with integrated PSU.
- Third‑party memory cards – Expanded RAM to 32 KB or 48 KB.
- SCSI‐like adapters (very rare) appeared after the Apple II release, allowing floppy drives.
Collecting & Auction Records
Approximately 62 verified boards remain in private hands and museums.[3] Working units routinely command six‑figure sums:
| Year | Auction House | Hammer Price | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2014 | Bonhams | US$905,000 | Record price (working unit) |
| 2020 | RR Auction | US$458,711 | Fully functional NTI board |
| 2025 | RR Auction | US$375,000 | “Bayville” Apple I (#91) |
Museum Displays
Publicly exhibited boards can be seen at:
- Computer History Museum (Mountain View, CA)
- Henry Ford Museum (Dearborn, MI)
- Science Museum (London, UK)[4]
- Powerhouse Museum (Sydney, AU)
Replicas & Emulation
- Mimeo 1 – Exact schematic clone with period‑correct components.
- Obtronix Apple I and Briel Replica‑1 – Modern re‑creations using socketed ICs and PS/2 keyboard.
- Virtual emulators – MESS/Apple 1emu allow ROM and tape images to run on modern PCs.[5]
Legacy
The Apple I showed that a pre‑assembled, video‑output microcomputer could be commercially viable, directly financing the Apple II and laying the foundation for Apple’s later success.[6]
References
- ↑
Steve Jobs, Simon & Schuster
- ISBN 978-1-4516-4853-9, p. 61}
- ↑
Steve Jobs, Simon & Schuster
- ISBN 978-1-4516-4853-9, p. 61}
- ↑ Apple-1 Registry: Surviving Boards—link(accessed 2024-06-20)
- ↑ Apple-1 personal computer, 1976—link(accessed 2024-06-20)
- ↑ Apple-1 Emulator—link(accessed 2024-06-20)
- ↑
Steve Jobs, Simon & Schuster
- ISBN 978-1-4516-4853-9, p. 61}