Apple-1

The Apple-1 was the first product sold by Apple Computer, designed and hand-built by Steve Wozniak. Unlike most hobbyist kits of 1976, its assembled motherboard generated text video and accepted an ASCII keyboard, allowing an owner to use an ordinary television and avoid building a terminal.

The board still required a power supply, keyboard, display and enclosure. Approximately 200 were produced, with many sold through the Byte Shop, establishing the partnership that soon created the far more complete Apple II.

Notable Features

• Assembled motherboard included processor, memory and composite-video terminal circuitry.
• Woz Monitor firmware allowed memory examination, program entry and execution.
• Optional Apple Cassette Interface provided storage at approximately 1200 baud.

Historical Significance

• Apple Computer's first commercial product and the direct foundation of the Apple II.
• Demonstrated Steve Wozniak's ability to create unusually economical personal-computer hardware.

Collector’s Notes

• Original boards are exceptionally rare and frequently imitated; component dates, board construction and provenance require expert verification.
• A complete working setup still needs an external keyboard, power supply, display and often a reproduction cassette interface.

Specifications

Technical Information
Name	Apple-1
Manufacturer	Apple
Launched	Thursday, July 1, 1976
Launch Price	$666.66
Country	United States
CPU	MOS Technology 6502 at approximately 1 MHz
Units Sold	Approximately 200
Operating System	Woz Monitor; Integer BASIC loaded from tape
I/O	Composite video, keyboard connector, power and expansion connections
Keyboard	External ASCII keyboard required
Storage	Optional Apple Cassette Interface
Sound	No built-in sound
Graphics	Character display only
Display	40 x 24 uppercase monochrome text
ROM	256-byte Woz Monitor
RAM	4KB standard; expandable to 8KB on board and 48KB externally
CPU Speed	Approximately 1.023 MHz