Summary

Apple II computer accompanied by a brown vinyl carry bag and incorporating a PAL TV card, floppy disk interface card, serial communications card and a memory expansion card.

The Apple II Computer was the first commercially successful mass market personal computer to be designed and sold as a household or small business item. Unlike the Apple I, it was not marketed as electronic components in kit form, but came with its electronic components assembled in a moulded plastic case with an integrated keyboard. The Apple II could be carried around and any TV set used as a display screen. It had colour graphics and sound capability.

A subsequent more compact model, the IIc, featured an integrated floppy drive, a carry handle and optional LCD screen, making it the first truly mobile personal computer. They were widely used in businesses and schools. It introduced a generation of school children and teachers and businesses to desktop computing.

This Apple II was initially used with cassette tape data recording and retrieval system. Subsequently floppy disks were used.

In May 1979, the donors acquired an Apple II computer for their Melbourne-based architectural practice. They used the computer intensively for eight years with a wide variety of professional and commercial applications. They experienced the early phase of personal computers beginning to become a widely available and useful commodity.

The first Apple II was manufactured in 1977. This particular machine was purchased in 1979, and used by a former lord mayor of Melbourne and her partner, an architect

Part of a representative collection of hardware, software, trade literature and promotional material that documents the history of the Apple company, and its contribution to, and impact on the computer industry and society.

Physical Description

Console Two floppy disk drives Transformer Carry bag Seven manuals Software package

Significance

The Apple II Computer was the first commercially successful mass market personal computer to be designed as a household or small business item They were widely used in businesses and schools around the world. It introduced a generation of school children and teachers and businesses to desktop computing.

The Apple II allowed a person without much computer knowledge to perform tasks now taken for granted on PCs: word processing, calculations, spreadsheets, colour graphics and sound. The Apple II could be carried around and any TV set used as a display screen.

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