| Launched By | Apple |
| Type | 8-bit Microcomputer |
| Launch | June 1977 |
| Discontinued | November 1993 |
Steve Wozniak, who had previously designed the Apple I and had also designed the circuitry for Atari's Breakout arcade game, and wanted to make a computer that could run a version of Breakout in the BASIC programming language. So he designed the Apple II so it could work as a game computer, with colours, sound and support for paddles.
Apple improved on the Apple II over the years with newer models: Apple II Plus (1979), Apple IIe (1983), Apple IIc (1984 portable version) and the Apple IIGS (1986, the GS was 16-bit, but was 95% compatible with the Apple II 8-bit software). There was also an Apple III, a business computer based on the Apple II launched in 1980, but it failed miserably.
The Apple II was part of what BYTE Magazine dubbed the "1977 Trinity", alongside the Commodore PET and Tandy's TRS-80.
Latest Apple II posts
Popular Apple II games
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1978
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Emulation
| System | Emulator | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Windows / Mac OS / Linux | MAME/MESS | Support. Setname: apple2 |
| Windows / Mac / Linux | microM8 | - |
| Windows | AppleWin | - |
| Linux | Linapple | - |
| RetroPie | via linapple | You'll need a keyboard. 'F1' will bring up help screen, 'F10' quits the emulator |
| Mac | Virtual II | Paid. Requires ROM image file |
Emulator information last updated 1st April 2020
Tech Specs and further details
| Name | Apple II |
|---|---|
| Origin | United States |
| Processor | MOS 6502 |
| Developed by | Steve Wozniak, Steve Jobs |
| Memory | 4KB RAM, max of 48K RAM on first model |
| Display Output | via RCA connector |
| Display Size (pixels) | 280 x 192 |
| Colours | 16 |
| Audio | Built-in speaker |
| Storage | Cassette, 5.25" Floppy Disk |
| Input | Built-in Keyboard. Support for paddles and analogue joysticks |
| Cost | $1,298 at launch |
| Additional Names | Apple ][, Apple // |
| Models | Apple II, Apple II Plus, Apple IIe, Apple IIc |
Resources
Page references & Sources
- How Steve Wozniak’s Breakout Defined Apple’s Future by Ben Hanson, Game Informer, October 2015.