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<title>Introducing Apple II</title>
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<cite>Scientific American, September 1977</cite>
<h1>
The home computer that's ready to work, play and grow with you.
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Clear the kitchen table. Bring in the color T.V. Plug in your new
Apple II<sup>*</sup>, and connect any standard cassette recorder/player.
Now you're ready for an evening of discovery in the new world of
personal computers.<p>
Only Apple II makes it that easy. It's a complete, ready to use
computer--not in a kit. At $1298, it includes features you won't find
on other personal computers costing twice as much. Features such as
video graphics in 15 colors. And a built in memory capacity of 8K
bytes ROM and 4K bytes RAM--with room for lots more. But you don't
even need to know a RAM from a ROM to use and enjoy Apple II. It's the
first personal computer with a fast version of BASIC--the English-like
programming language--permanently built in. That means you can begin
running your Apple II the first evening, entering your own instructions
and watching them work, even if you've had no previous computer
experience.<p>
The familiar typewriter-style keyboard makes communication easy. And
your programs and data can be stored on (and retrieved from) audio
cassettes, using the built-in cassette interface, so you can swap with
other Apple II users. This and other peripherals--other equipment on
most personal computers, at hundreds of dollars extra cost--are
<i>built into</i> Apple II. And it's designed to keep up with
changing technology, to expand easily whenever you need it to.<p>
As an educational tool, Apple II is a sound investment. You can
program it to tutor your children in most any subject, such as spelling,
history, or math. But the biggest benefit--no matter <i>how</i> you use
Apple II--is that you and your family increase familiarity with the
computer itself. The more you experiment with it, the more you discover
about its potential.<p>
Start by plaing PONG. Then invent your own games using the input keyboard,
game paddles and built-in speaker. As you experiment you'll acquire new
programming skills which will open up new ways to use your Apple II. You'll
learn to "paint" dazzling color displays using the unique color graphics
commands in Apple BASIC, and write programs to create beautiful kaleidoscopic
designs. As you master Apple BASIC, you'll be able to organize, index and
store data on household finances, income tax, recipes, and record collections.
You can learn to chart your biorythms, balance your checking account, even
control your home environment. Apple II will go as far as you imagination
can take it. Best of all, Apple II is designed to grow with you. As your
skill and experience with computing increase, you may want to add new Apple
peripherals. For example, a refined, more sophisticated BASIC language is
being developed for advanced scientific and mathematical applications. And
in addition to the built-in audio, video and game interfaces, there's room
for eight plug-in options such as a prototyping board for experimenting
with interfaces to others equipment; a serial board for connecting a teletype,
printer and other terminals; a parallel interface for communicating with a
printer or another computer; an EPROM board for storing programs permanently;
and a modem board communications interface. A floppy disk interface with
software and complete operating systems will be available at the end of 1977.
And there are many more options to come, because Apple II was designed from
the beginning to accommodate increased power and capability as your
requirements change.<p>
If you'd like to see for yourself how easy it is to use and enjoy Apple II,
visit your local dealer for a demonstration and a copy of our detailed
brochure. Or write Apple Computer Inc., 20863 Stevens Creek Blvd., Cupertino,
California 95014.<p><p>
Apple II™ is a completely self-contained computer system with BASIC in
ROM, color graphics, ASCII keyboard, light-weight, efficient switching
power supply and molded case. It is supplied with BASIC in ROM, up to 48K
bytes of RAM, and with cassette tape, video, and game I/O interfaces
built-in. Also included are two games paddles and a demonstration cassette.
<p>
<h2>SPECIFICATIONS</h2>
<ul>
<li><b>Microprocessor:</b> 6502 (1 MHz).
<li><b>Video Display:</b> Memory mapped, 5 modes--all Software-selectable:
<ul>
<li>Text--40 chars/line, 24 lines upper case.
<li>Color graphics--40h x 48v, 15 colors
<li>High-resolution graphics--280h x 192v; black, white, violet, green
(16K RAM minimum required)
<li>Both graphics modes can be selected to include 4 lines of text at
the bottom of the display area.
<li>Completely transparent memory access. All color generation done digitally.
</ul>
<li><b>Memory:</b> up to 48K bytes on-board RAM (4K supplied)
<ul>
<li>Uses either 4K or new 16K dynamic memory chips
<li>Up to 12K rom (8K supplied)
</ul>
<li><b>Software</b>
<ul>
<li>Fast extended Integer BASIC in ROM with color graphics commands
<li>Extensive monitor in ROM
</ul>
<li><b>I/O</b>
<ul>
<li>1500 bps cassette interface
<li>8-slot motherboard
<li>Apple game I/O connector
<li>ASCII keyboard port
<li>Speaker
<li>Composite video output
</ul>
</ul>
Apple II is also available in board-only form for the do-it-yourself hobbyist. Has all of the
features of the Apple II system, but does not include case, keyboard, power supple or game
paddles. $598.<p>
PONG is a trademark of Atari Inc.<br>
<sup>*</sup>Apple II plugs into any standard TV using an inexpensive modulator (not supplied).
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<address>Jason Aubrey Wells / <a href="mailto:jaw016@engr.latech.edu">
jaw016@engr.latech.edu</a></address>
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