As part of the 35th anniversary of the Apple II, Byte has reprinted the original 1977 Apple II system description by Woz.

You can download a PDF of the article as well. The PDF includes the accompanying Apple ad and an order form. Board-only systems started at $598, while complete systems started at $1298.00. A maxed-out 48K system (more than anyone could ever need) was a whopping $2638.00.

Lots and lots to note here, from the spelling of “Apple-II” to the way in which Woz describe the Apple device as clearly his own invention not that of a group or committee. I expect we are far past the era where any mass market computer — or perhaps any mass market electronics at all — can be so accurately described as the result of a singular vision.

Woz opens with a mandate: “To me, a personal computer should be small, reliable, convenient to use and inexpensive.” Apple’s current darling, the iPad, fits that description to a T.

Run don’t walk, this is a must-read.

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Filed under: Posted by Carrington - @ May 21, 2012 10:07 pm