View source for Apple I

{{Short description|Computer model built by Apple}}
{{About|the early microcomputer|the streaming service|Apple One|Apple's use of the {{noitalic|i-}} prefix|Internet-related prefixes#"i-"|other uses|Apple 1 (disambiguation)}}

{{Use mdy dates|date=January 2024}}
{{Use American English|date=January 2024}}

{{Infobox information appliance
| name = Apple Computer 1
| aka = Apple I, Apple-1
| logo = Apple-1.svg
| image = CopsonApple1_2k_cropped.jpg
| alt = A large, rectangular circuit board with mostly uniform chips arranged neatly in a grid. The rows are labeled A through D and the columns are numbered 1 to 18. Printed between rows of chips is the text, "Apple Computer 1", "Palo Alto, [California] Copyright 1976". There are three large cylindrical capacitors laying sideways in the corner. The board is sprinkled with small components including ceramic resistors and jumper wires.
| caption = 
| developer = [[Steve Wozniak]]
| manufacturer = [[Apple Inc.|Apple Computer Company]]
| family = 
| type = [[Motherboard]]-only [[personal computer]] [[Electronic kit|kit]]
| generation = 
| releasedate = {{start date and age|1976|7}}
| lifespan = 
| price = {{Inflation|US|666.66|1976|fmt=eq|orig=yes|r=-2}}{{Inflation/fn|US}}
| discontinued = {{End date and age|1977|09|30}}
| os = Custom [[Machine code monitor|system monitor]]<ref name="applefritter.com">{{cite web |url=https://www.applefritter.com/files/a1man.pdf |title=Apple-1 Operation Manual |via=Apple Fritter |access-date=May 10, 2018 |archive-date=May 11, 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180511081123/https://www.applefritter.com/files/a1man.pdf |url-status=live }}</ref>
| unitssold = {{circa|175 to 200}}
| unitsshipped = 
| media = 
| power = 
| soc = 
| cpu = [[MOS Technology 6502|MOS 6502]]
| CPUspeed = [[megahertz|1 MHz]]
| memory = 4 or 8 [[kilobyte|KB]]<ref name="1977 price list"/>
| storage = 256 [[byte|B]] [[ROM]]<ref name="applefritter.com"/>
| memory card = Cassette tape
| display = 
| graphics = 40×24 characters, hardware-implemented scrolling ([[Signetics 2513]] "64×8×5 Character Generator"<ref>{{Cite web | url=https://www.datasheetarchive.com/pdf/download.php?id=5065adad5e4757ac90073038091de3931e7380&type=M&term=2513 | title=Datasheet Archive 2513 datasheet download | access-date=April 22, 2022 | archive-date=June 17, 2022 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220617123616/https://www.datasheetarchive.com/pdf/download.php?id=5065adad5e4757ac90073038091de3931e7380&type=M&term=2513 | url-status=live }}</ref>)
| sound = 
| input = 
| controllers = 
| camera = 
| touchpad = 
| connectivity = 
| platform = 
| service = 
| dimensions = 
| weight = 
| topgame = 
| compatibility = 
| predecessor = 
| successor = [[Apple II (original)|Apple II]]
| marketing_target = [[List of early microcomputers|Early hobbyist]]
| related = 
}}
The '''Apple Computer 1''' ('''Apple-1'''{{efn|The name is abbreviated as ''Apple-1'' in original manuals and documentation.<ref name="applefritter.com"/>}}), later known predominantly as the '''Apple&nbsp;I'''{{sronly| (written with a Roman numeral)}},{{efn|Apple retroactively refers to the computer as ''Apple&nbsp;I'', beginning with catalogs from 1977.<ref name="1977 price list"/>}} is an [[8-bit computing|8-bit]] [[personal computer]] designed by [[Steve Wozniak]]<ref>{{cite news |url=http://news.oneindia.in/2006/09/27/co-founder-tells-his-side-of-apple-story-1159346150.html |title=Co-founder tells his side of Apple story |agency=Reuters |date=September 27, 2006 |access-date=January 15, 2012 |archive-date=October 22, 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141022235122/http://news.oneindia.in/2006/09/27/co-founder-tells-his-side-of-apple-story-1159346150.html |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=6167297|title=A Chat with Computing Pioneer Steve Wozniak|newspaper=NPR.org|access-date=March 27, 2018|archive-date=March 27, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190327091333/https://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=6167297|url-status=live}}</ref> and released by the Apple Computer Company (now [[Apple Inc.]]) in 1976. The company was initially formed to sell the Apple I{{snd}}[[Timeline of Apple Inc. products|its first product]]{{snd}} and would later become the [[List of largest technology companies by revenue|world's largest technology company]].<ref>{{Cite web |last=Chen |first=Liyan |date=May 11, 2015 |title=The World's Largest Tech Companies: Apple Beats Samsung, Microsoft, Google |url=https://www.forbes.com/sites/liyanchen/2015/05/11/the-worlds-largest-tech-companies-apple-beats-samsung-microsoft-google |access-date=May 24, 2017 |website=[[Forbes]]}}</ref> The idea of starting a company and selling the computer came from Wozniak's friend and Apple co-founder [[Steve Jobs]].<ref>{{Cite book |first=Owen W. |last=Linzmayer |year=2004 |title=Apple Confidential 2.0: The Definitive History of the World's Most Colorful Company |url=https://archive.org/details/appleconfidentia00linz_028 |url-access=registration |publisher=No Starch Press |page=[https://archive.org/details/appleconfidentia00linz_028/page/n16 5]|isbn=9781593270100}}</ref><ref>{{Cite book |first=Jason D. |last=O'Grady |year=2009 |title=Apple Inc. |url=https://archive.org/details/appleinccorporat00ogra_138 |url-access=registration |publisher=ABC-CLIO |page=[https://archive.org/details/appleinccorporat00ogra_138/page/n17 3]|isbn=9780313362446}}</ref> A differentiator of the Apple I was that it included [[video display terminal]] circuitry, allowing it to connect to a low-cost [[composite video]] monitor and keyboard instead of an expensive accompanying [[Computer terminal|terminal]]. The Apple I and the [[Sol-20]] were some of the earliest home computers to have this capability.

To finance the Apple I's development, Wozniak and Jobs sold some of their possessions for a few hundred dollars.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.vcstar.com/news/2011/aug/30/kelley-jobs-vision-changed-the-way-we-work-play/?opinion=1|title=Ventura County Star|website=Ventura County Star|access-date=March 27, 2018|archive-date=October 6, 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131006065302/http://www.vcstar.com/news/2011/aug/30/kelley-jobs-vision-changed-the-way-we-work-play/?opinion=1|url-status=live}}</ref> Wozniak demonstrated the first prototype in July 1976 at the [[Homebrew Computer Club]] in [[Palo Alto, California]], impressing the [[Byte Shop]], an early computer retailer.<ref name = "Freiberger 2000">{{cite book | last1 = Freiberger | first1 = Paul | author-link1 = Paul Freiberger | first2 = Michael | last2 = Swaine | author-link2 = Michael Swaine (technical author) | title = Fire in the Valley: The Making of the Personal Computer | publisher = McGraw-Hill | edition = 2nd | year = 2000 | pages = [https://archive.org/details/fireinvalleymaki00frei_0/page/265 265–267] | location = New York, NY | isbn = 0-07-135892-7 | quote = At a Homebrew meeting in July 1976, Woz gave a demonstration of the Apple 1. Paul Terrell, one of the industries earliest retailers, was in attendance. | url-access = registration | url = https://archive.org/details/fireinvalleymaki00frei_0/page/265 }}</ref> After securing an order for 50 computers, Jobs was able to order the parts on credit and deliver the first Apple products after ten days.<ref name="wozniak-smith"/>

The Apple I was one of the first computers available that used the [[MOS Technology 6502]] microprocessor. An expansion included a [[BASIC interpreter]], allowing users to utilize BASIC at home instead of at institutions with mainframe computers, greatly lowering the entry cost for computing with BASIC.

Production was discontinued on September 30, 1977, after the June 10, 1977 introduction of its successor, the [[Apple II (original)|Apple II]], which [[Byte (magazine)|''Byte'' magazine]] referred to as part of the "[[1977 Trinity]]" of personal computing (along with the [[Commodore PET#PET 2001 series / 2001-N & -B series, CBM 3000 series|PET 2001]] from [[Commodore Business Machines]] and the [[TRS-80 Model I]] from [[Tandy Corporation]]).<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.byte.com/art/9509/sec7/art15.htm |title=Most Important Companies |access-date=June 10, 2008 |date=September 1995 |work=[[Byte (magazine)|Byte]] |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080618072507/http://www.byte.com/art/9509/sec7/art15.htm |archive-date=June 18, 2008}}</ref> As relatively few computers were made before they were discontinued, coupled with their status as Apple's first product, surviving Apple I units are now displayed in [[computer museum]]s.<ref name="ford"/>

==History==
===Development===
[[File:Steve Wozniak, 1983 (cropped).jpg|thumb|[[Steve Wozniak]] alone designed the circuit and operating system for the Apple I.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Karabus |first=Jude |title=Apple-1 prototype hand-soldered by Woz under the hammer |url=https://www.theregister.com/2022/07/27/apple1_prototype_handsoldered_by_woz/ |access-date=2024-06-01 |website=www.theregister.com |language=en}}</ref>]]
In 1974, while visiting famous phone phreak [[John Draper]] in [[California]], Steve Wozniak watched him connect a [[modem]] to the [[ARPANET]] – the precursor to the [[internet]] – and use a [[teleprinter]] to play chess with someone from [[Boston]]; this inspired him to make a cheap terminal that used an inexpensive keyboard from [[Sears]] and a standard [[Television set|TV]].<ref name="Apple Guide">{{cite video|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lYEYTjqx4pY|date=July 17, 2021|title=Apple 1 History And Build Guide|author=Retro Hack Shack|work=[[YouTube]]|access-date=December 10, 2024}}</ref> Later in March 1975, Wozniak started attending meetings of the [[Homebrew Computer Club]], which was a major source of inspiration for him.<ref>{{cite book |last=Wozniak |first=Steve |author-link=Steve Wozniak |url=https://archive.org/details/iwozcomputergeek00wozn |title=iWoz |publisher=W.W. Norton & Company |year=2006 |isbn=978-0-393-33043-4 |page=[https://archive.org/details/iwozcomputergeek00wozn/page/150 150] |quote=After my first meeting, I started designing the computer that would later be known as the Apple I. It was that inspiring. |url-access=registration}}</ref>{{sfn|Linzmayer|2004|pp=4–5}}<ref name="OLD ALTAIR VID">{{cite video|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=X5lpOskKF9I|date=March 18, 2016|title=The PC That Started Microsoft & Apple! (Altair 8800)|author=ColdFusion|work=[[YouTube]]|access-date=December 10, 2024}}</ref> New [[microcomputer]]s such as the [[Altair 8800]] inspired Wozniak to build a microprocessor into his video terminal circuit to make a complete computer.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Computer Technologies and Cyberterrorism |url=http://lib.eioskuimvd.ru/jirbis2/_docs_file/Эл.%20библ.%20для%20учебы/Электронные%20учебники%20ВУЗов%20МВД%20России/Английский%20язык/2021%20Компьютерные%20технологии%20и%20кибертерроризм/Комп%20технологии%20английский.pdf |access-date=1 June 2024}}</ref> At the time the only appropriate CPUs available were the [[Intel 8080]], and the [[Motorola 6800]]. Of these options, Wozniak preferred the 6800, though he was financially unable to obtain either. Instead, he began designing computers on paper until he could afford a CPU.<ref>{{Cite web |title=History of AppleBefore Apple Computer, Inc. - History of Apple |url=https://historyofapple.com/apple-history/before-apple-computer-inc/ |access-date=2024-06-01 |website=historyofapple.com}}</ref>

When the $25 [[MOS Technology 6502]] was released in late 1975,{{efn|a price equivalent to ${{Inflation|US|25|1975|r=-1}} in {{Inflation/year|US}}{{Inflation/fn|US}}}} Wozniak wrote a version of [[BASIC]] for it, then began to design a computer for it to run on. The 6502 was developed by many of the same engineers that designed the 6800, as many in Silicon Valley left employers to form their own companies. Wozniak's earlier 6800 computer design needed only minor changes to run on the new processor.
<!--
After building a prototype computer for himself and showing it at the club, he and Steve Jobs gave out schematics (technical designs) for the computer to interested club members and even helped some of them build and test out copies.{{citation needed|date=September 2023}} Then, Steve Jobs suggested that they design and sell a single etched and silkscreened circuit board{{snd}}just the bare board, with no electronic parts{{snd}}that people could use to build the computers. Wozniak calculated that having the board design laid out would cost {{US$|long=no|1000}} and manufacturing would cost another {{US$|long=no|20}} per board; he hoped to recoup his costs if 50 people bought the boards for {{US$|long=no|40}} each.
-->

By March 1, 1976, Wozniak completed the basic design of his computer.<ref name="FireValley">{{cite book |last1=Freiberger |first1=Paul |author-link1=Paul Freiberger |url=https://archive.org/details/fireinvalleymaki00frei_0 |title=Fire in the Valley |last2=Swaine |first2=Michael |author-link2=Michael Swaine (technical author) |publisher=[[McGraw-Hill]] |year=2000 |isbn=0-07-135892-7}}</ref>{{sfn|Linzmayer|2004|pp=5–6}} Wozniak originally offered the design to [[Hewlett-Packard|HP]] while working there, but it was rejected by the company on five occasions.<ref name="AI">{{cite web |url=https://appleinsider.com/articles/10/12/06/apple_co_founder_offered_first_computer_design_to_hp_5_times |title=Apple co-founder offered first computer design to HP 5 times |date=December 7, 2010 |publisher=[[AppleInsider]] |access-date=April 17, 2020 |archive-date=August 3, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200803155301/https://appleinsider.com/articles/10/12/06/apple_co_founder_offered_first_computer_design_to_hp_5_times |url-status=live }}</ref> When he demonstrated his computer at the Homebrew Computer Club, his friend and fellow club regular [[Steve Jobs]] was immediately interested in its commercial potential.<ref>{{Cite book |last=O'Grady |first=Jason D. |title=Apple Inc. |date=2009 |publisher=ABC-CLIO |isbn=9780313362446 |page=3}}</ref> Wozniak intended to share schematics of the machine for free; however, Jobs advised him to start a business together and sell bare [[printed circuit board]]s for the computer, without any components soldered on.{{sfn|Linzmayer|2004|pp=4–6}}{{sfn|Schlender|Tetzeli|2016|pp=35–38}}{{sfn|Isaacson|2011|p=62}} Wozniak, at first skeptical, was later convinced by Jobs that even if they were not successful they could at least say to their grandchildren that they had had their own company. To raise the money they needed to build the first batch of the circuit boards, Wozniak sold his [[HP-65|HP-65 scientific calculator]] while Jobs sold his [[Volkswagen Type 2|Volkswagen van]].{{sfn|Linzmayer|2004|pp=4–6}}{{sfn|Schlender|Tetzeli|2016|pp=35–38}}

{{external media
| image1 = [https://web.archive.org/web/20231025043509if_/https://www.apple1registry.com/images/paulterrel1.jpg Byte Shop storefront]
| image2 = [https://web.archive.org/web/20231025043744if_/https://www.apple1registry.com/images/paulterrel2.jpg The prototype shown to Terrell]
| image3 = [https://img.gazeta.ru/files3/725/13190725/upload-upload-04-pic4_zoom-1000x1000-18187-pic4_zoom-1500x1500-65192.jpg Wozniak and Jobs with an Apple I]
}}
After the company was formed a month later, Jobs and Wozniak gave a presentation of the fully assembled "Apple Computer A" at the Homebrew Computer Club.{{sfn|Schlender|Tetzeli|2016|pp=39–40}}<ref name="szondy"/><ref name="Apple DOC">{{cite video|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xxfzhiSHoxw|date=August 21, 2024|title=Apple 1: The Computer That Started Everything|author=NationSquid|work=[[YouTube]]|access-date=December 13, 2024}}</ref> [[Paul Terrell]], who was starting a new computer shop in [[Mountain View, California]], called the [[Byte Shop]],<ref name="iWoz">{{cite book |last1= Wozniak |first1= Steve |last2= Smith |first2= Gina |author2-link= Gina Smith (author) |year= 2006 |title= iWoz: Computer Geek to Cult Icon: How I Invented the Personal Computer, Co-Founded Apple, and Had Fun Doing It |publisher=[[W. W. Norton & Company]] |isbn= 0-393-06143-4 |oclc= 502898652 |title-link= iWoz: Computer Geek to Cult Icon: How I Invented the Personal Computer, Co-Founded Apple, and Had Fun Doing It }}</ref> saw the presentation and was impressed by the machine.{{sfn|Isaacson|2011|pp=66–67}}{{sfn|Swaine|2014|pages=336–338}} Terrell told Jobs that he would order 50 units of the Apple I and pay $500 each{{efn|{{Inflation|US|500|1976|fmt=eq|r=-2}}{{Inflation/fn|US}}}} on delivery, but only if they came fully assembled{{snd}}he was not interested in buying bare printed circuit boards with no components.{{sfn|Linzmayer|2004|p=7}}{{sfn|Isaacson|2011|pp=66–67}}<ref name="iCon-p35">{{Cite book |last1=Young |first1=Jeffrey |url=https://archive.org/details/iconstevejobsgre00jeff/page/35 |title=iCon Steve Jobs: The Greatest Second Act in the History of Business |last2=William L. Simon |publisher=[[John Wiley & Sons]] |year=2005 |isbn=978-0-471-72083-6 |location=[[Hoboken, New Jersey]] |page=[https://archive.org/details/iconstevejobsgre00jeff/page/35 35] |url-access=registration}}</ref>{{sfn|Linzmayer|2004|page=7}}{{sfn|Swaine|2014|pages=336–338}}

Jobs took the purchase order from the Byte Shop to national electronic parts distributor [[Cramer Electronics]], and ordered the components needed. When asked by the credit manager how he would pay for the parts, Jobs replied, "I have this purchase order from the Byte Shop chain of computer stores for 50 of my computers and the payment terms are [[Cash on delivery|COD]]. If you give me the parts on [[net 30-day]] terms I can build and deliver the computers in that time frame, collect my money from Terrell at the Byte Shop and pay you."<ref name="wozniak-smith">{{Cite book |first1=Steve |last1=Wozniak |title=iWoz: The Autobiography of the Man Who Started the Computer Revolution |first2=Gina |last2=Smith |year=2007 |isbn=978-0-7553-1408-9 |page=189|publisher=Headline Publishing }}</ref><ref name="wozniak198412">{{Cite news |last1=Williams |first1=Gregg |last2=Moore |first2=Rob |date=December 1984 |title=The Apple Story / Part 1: Early History |pages=A67 |work=BYTE |type=interview |url=https://archive.org/stream/byte-magazine-1984-12/1984_12_BYTE_09-13_Communications#page/n461/mode/2up |access-date=October 23, 2013}}</ref>

To verify the purchase order, the credit manager called Paul Terrell, who assured him if the computers showed up, Jobs would have more than enough money for the parts order. The two Steves and their small crew spent day and night building and testing the computers, and delivered to Terrell on time. Terrell was surprised to receive a batch of assembled circuit boards, as he had expected complete computers with a case, monitor and keyboard.{{sfn|Isaacson|2015|pages=67–68}}{{sfn|Linzmayer|2004|pages=8–10}} Nonetheless, he kept his word and paid the two Steves the money promised.<ref name=VintageNews/>{{sfn|Isaacson|2015|pages=67–68}}{{sfn|Linzmayer|2004|pages=8–10}}<ref name="iCon-p36">{{Cite book |last1=Young |first1=Jeffrey |url=https://archive.org/details/iconstevejobsgre00jeff/page/36 |title=iCon Steve Jobs: The Greatest Second Act in the History of Business |last2=William L. Simon |publisher=[[John Wiley & Sons]] |year=2005 |isbn=978-0-471-72083-6 |location=[[Hoboken, New Jersey]] |page=[https://archive.org/details/iconstevejobsgre00jeff/page/36 36] |url-access=registration}}</ref>
<!--
To fulfill the {{US$|long=no|25000}} order, they obtained {{US$|long=no|20000}} in parts at [[Net D|30 days net]] and delivered the finished product in 10 days. Together the duo assembled the first boards in Jobs's parents' [[Los Altos, California|Los Altos]] home; initially in his bedroom and later (when there was no space left) in the garage. Wozniak's apartment in San Jose was too filled with monitors, electronic devices, and computer games that he had developed.<ref name=VintageNews/>
-->

===Announcement and sales===
[[File:Apple 1 Advertisement Oct 1976.jpg|thumb|Introductory advertisement for the Apple I computer]]
The Apple I went on sale in July 1976 at a price of {{USD|666.66}}.{{efn|{{Inflation|US|666.66|1976|fmt=eq|r=-2}}{{Inflation/fn|US}}}} Wozniak later said he had no idea about the relation between the number and the [[number of the beast]], and that he came up with the price because he liked "repeating digits"<ref name=VintageNews>{{cite news |first=Goran |last=Blazeski |title=Apple-1, Steve Wozniak's hand-built creation, was Apple's first official product, priced at $666.66 |url=https://www.thevintagenews.com/2017/11/25/apples-first-official-product-was-priced-at-666-66/ |website=The Vintage News |date=November 25, 2017 |access-date=November 24, 2019 |archive-date=July 26, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200726090158/https://www.thevintagenews.com/2017/11/25/apples-first-official-product-was-priced-at-666-66/ |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://news.cnet.com/1606-2-5937610.html|title=Video: Wozniak: {{US$|long=no|500.66}} seemed like a good idea|date=November 7, 2005|publisher=CNET News|access-date=February 19, 2009|archive-date=October 8, 2011|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111008062621/http://news.cnet.com/1606-2-5937610.html|url-status=dead}}</ref> and because it was a one-third markup on the {{US$|long=no|500}} wholesale price.{{sfn|Wozniak|2006|page=180}} Jobs had managed to get the inventory into the nation's first four storefront microcomputer retailers: Byte Shop (Palo Alto, California), itty bitty machine company ([[Evanston, Illinois]]), Data Domain ([[Bloomington, Indiana]]), and Computer Mart (New York City).<ref>{{Cite web |last=Dr. Webster |date=27 August 2012 |title=Chapter 1: Apple History (Ray Borrill interview) |url=https://www.applefritter.com/replica/chapter1 |access-date=22 September 2022 |website=applefritter |archive-date=September 22, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220922145735/https://www.applefritter.com/replica/chapter1 |url-status=live }}</ref>

The first unit produced was used in a high school math class, and donated to [[Liza Loop]]'s public-access computer center.<ref>{{cite journal|last1=Turner|first1=Daniel|title=MIT Technology Review|journal=MIT Technology Review|date=May 1, 2007|url=http://www.technologyreview.com/hack/407810/hack-the-apple-i/|access-date=16 April 2015|archive-date=April 13, 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150413161926/http://www.technologyreview.com/hack/407810/hack-the-apple-i/|url-status=live}}</ref> About 200 units were produced, and all but 25 were sold within nine or ten months.<ref name="wozniak198412" />

In April 1977, the price was dropped to $475.{{efn|{{Inflation|US|475|1977|fmt=eq|r=-2}}{{Inflation/fn|US}}}}<ref name="1977 price list">{{cite web|url = http://www.applefritter.com/node/2703|title = April 1977 Price List - Applefritter|website = www.applefritter.com|access-date = March 27, 2018|archive-date = April 25, 2009|archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20090425021739/http://applefritter.com/node/2703|url-status = live}}</ref> It continued to be sold through August 1977, despite the introduction of the [[Apple II (original)|Apple II]] in April 1977, which began shipping in June of that year.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.applefritter.com/node/2715|title=Bill of Sale - Applefritter|website=www.applefritter.com|access-date=March 27, 2018|archive-date=April 26, 2009|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090426001601/http://www.applefritter.com/node/2715|url-status=live}}</ref> In October 1977, the Apple I was officially discontinued and removed from Apple's price list.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.applefritter.com/node/2707|title=October 1977 Price List - Applefritter|website=www.applefritter.com|access-date=March 27, 2018|archive-date=April 25, 2009|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090425035459/http://www.applefritter.com/node/2707|url-status=live}}</ref> As Wozniak was the only person who could answer most customer support questions about the computer, the company offered Apple I owners discounts and trade-ins for Apple IIs to persuade them to return their computers.<ref name="ah04">{{cite web | url=http://apple2history.org/history/ah04/ | title=The Apple II, cont. | access-date=February 27, 2011 | work=Apple II History | date=December 2008 | archive-date=May 22, 2015 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150522020820/http://apple2history.org/history/ah04/ | url-status=live }}</ref> These recovered boards were then destroyed by Apple, contributing to their later rarity.<ref>{{cite web | url=http://www.apple1notes.com/old_apple/Huston_Stories_files/A1%20Back%20Story.htm | title=The Huston brothers' Apple-1 Back Story | access-date=June 25, 2013 | archive-date=October 5, 2013 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131005015359/http://www.apple1notes.com/old_apple/Huston_Stories_files/A1%20Back%20Story.htm | url-status=live }}</ref>

Both Steve Jobs and Steve Wozniak have stated that Apple did not assign serial numbers to the Apple l. Several boards have been found with numbered stickers affixed to them, which appear to be inspection stickers from the PCB manufacturer/assembler. A batch of boards is known to have numbers hand-written in black permanent marker on the back; these usually appear as "01-00##". As of January 2022, 29 Apple-1s with a serial number are known. The highest known number is {{not a typo|01–0079}}. Two original Apple-1s have been analyzed by [[Professional Sports Authenticator]] in Los Angeles, concluding that the serial numbers had been hand-written by Steve Jobs.<ref>{{cite web|title=The Apple 1 Registry - THE SOLVED RIDDLE OF THE SERIAL NUMBER|url=https://www.apple1registry.com/en/serial.html|access-date=February 10, 2022|archive-date=February 11, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220211234155/https://www.apple1registry.com/en/serial.html|url-status=live}}</ref>

==Hardware==
{{multiple image|perrow = 2|total_width=300
| image1 = Apple 1 mfk bern.jpeg
| image2 = Original 1976 Apple 1 Computer In A Briefcase.JPG
| image3 = Apple I Computer.jpg
| image4 = Museum-Enter-Apple-1-6094652.jpg
| footer = A variety of Apple I cases supplied by customers. The Apple I did not include a stock case, so customers had to supply their own.
}}
The Apple I used a [[MOS Technology 6502]] microprocessor running at {{val|1.022727|ul=MHz}}, and its design was based largely on Wozniak's previous work centered around a [[Motorola 6800]].<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.cnet.com/news/apple-1-the-machine-that-made-computing-history/|title=10 facts about the Apple-1, the machine that made computing history|first=Michelle|last=Starr|date=June 29, 2016|accessdate=February 9, 2022|publisher=cNet|archive-date=February 9, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220209214024/https://www.cnet.com/news/apple-1-the-machine-that-made-computing-history/|url-status=live}}</ref> The unconventional clock speed was chosen to be a fraction ({{frac|2|7}}) of the [[NTSC]] color carrier, which simplified video circuitry. {{val|4|u=KB}} of memory was included on the base machine, which was expandable to {{val|8|u=KB}} on-board and up to {{val|64|u=KB}} by using an add-on card. On-board memory utilized newly available 4Kbit [[Dynamic random-access memory|DRAM]] chips, and was designed to be upgradeable to the next generation of 16Kbit chips for a maximum of {{val|32|u=KB}} on-board memory.<ref name="byte ad">[https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/4/48/Apple_1_Advertisement_Oct_1976.jpg Apple I advertisement Oct 1978]</ref> An optional $75 plug-in cassette interface card allowed users to store programs on ordinary audio [[cassette tape]]s. A [[BASIC interpreter]], originally written by Wozniak, was provided with the cassette interface that let users easily write programs and play simple games. An onboard AC power supply was included.

The Apple I did not come with a case. It could be used bare, although some users chose to build custom (typically wooden) enclosures.<ref>{{cite web |title=The Apple 1 Case |url=https://www.thegeekpub.com/275777/apple-1-case/ |website=The Geek Pub |date=September 16, 2021 |access-date=September 18, 2021 |archive-date=September 18, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210918175500/https://www.thegeekpub.com/275777/apple-1-case/ |url-status=live }}</ref>

=== Memory map ===
{| class="wikitable"
|+
!Address
!Size 
!Description
!
|-
|0x0000 - 0x0023
|36 Bytes
|RAM
| rowspan="6" |4K systems
(minimal system, cannot load [[Integer BASIC|wozbasic]])
|-
|0x0024 - 0x002B
|8 Bytes
|[[Machine code monitor|wozmon]] variables
|-
|0x002C - 0x00FF
|212 Bytes
|RAM
|-
|0x0100 - 0x01FF
|256 Bytes
|6502 processor stack
|-
|0x0200 - 0x027F
|128 Bytes
|wozmon keyboard input buffer
|-
|0x0280 - 0x0FFF
|3456 Bytes
|RAM
|-
|0x1000 - 0xC027
|
|Unused
|User expandable RAM / [[Input/output|IO]]
|-
|0xC028
|1 Byte
|[[Apple I#Apple Cassette Interface expansion|ACI]] port to write to cassette
|
|-
|0xC029 - 0xC0FF
|
|Unused
|User expandable RAM / IO
|-
|0xC100 - 0xC1FF
|256 Bytes
|ACI ROM
|When ACI card is inserted
|-
|0xC200 - 0xD00F
|
|Unused
|User expandable RAM / IO
|-
|0xD010 - 0xD013
|4 Bytes
|PIA (Peripheral Interface Adapter)
|Keyboard and Display
|-
|0xD014 - 0xDFFF
|
|Unused
|User expandable RAM / IO
|-
|0xE000 - 0xEFFF
|4Ki (4096 Bytes)
|RAM
|8K systems
(standard system, can load wozbasic)
|-
|0xF000 - 0xFEFF
|
|Unused
|User expandable RAM / IO
|-
|0xFF00 - 0xFFFF
|256 Bytes
|PROM (wozmon)
|Programmable read-only memory
|}
[[File:Apple-1-wozmon-ready-prompt.gif|alt=A backlash character at the top-left of the screen and a blinking at sign character below it|thumb|208x208px|The Apple-1 system monitor ready prompt]]

===Video and Input===
The Apple I included built-in [[computer terminal]] circuitry with [[composite video]] output. To use the computer, a user-supplied [[composite monitor]] and [[ASCII]]-encoded [[Computer keyboard|keyboard]] needed to be connected. If a monitor was not available, a standard [[television set]] could be used along with an [[RF modulator]]. In comparison, competing machines generally required an expensive dedicated video display terminal or [[teleprinter|teletypewriter]]. This, combined with its single-board construction, made the Apple I an elegant and inexpensive machine for its day, though competitors such as the [[Sol-20]] and [[Sphere 1]] offered similar feature sets.

{{multiple image
| image1            = Apple I 2513.jpg
| alt1              = A close-up of the top-left portion of the Apple I motherboard. The chips are arranged in a grid. One chip is larger than the rest and is placed horizontally rather than vertically.
| caption1          = The large, horizontal chip on the top-left of the main board is the [[Signetics 2513]] [[character generator]].
| image2            = Signetics-2513.png
| alt2              = A table with four rows of 16 pixelated characters. There is no room for lowercase letters. The square bracket characters are noticeably thicker than the other symbols.
| caption2          = The Apple I character set
| direction         = vertical
}}

{{anchor|Apple I character set}}The computer generated its video output using a [[shift register memory]] and a [[Signetics 2513]] 64×8×5 Character Generator.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Shirriff |first=Ken |title=Inside the Apple-1's shift-register memory |url=http://www.righto.com/2022/04/inside-apple-1s-shift-register-memory.html |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230606065258/http://www.righto.com/2022/04/inside-apple-1s-shift-register-memory.html |archive-date=2023-06-06 |access-date=2023-08-04 |website=Ken Shirriff's blog}}</ref> It was capable of displaying uppercase characters, numbers and basic punctuation and math symbols with a 5x8 [[pixel font]]:<ref>{{Cite web | url=https://www.datasheetarchive.com/pdf/download.php?id=5065adad5e4757ac90073038091de3931e7380&type=M&term=2513 | title=Datasheet Archive 2513 datasheet download | access-date=April 22, 2022 | archive-date=June 17, 2022 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220617123616/https://www.datasheetarchive.com/pdf/download.php?id=5065adad5e4757ac90073038091de3931e7380&type=M&term=2513 | url-status=live }}</ref>

{|{{chset-table-header1|Signetics 2513}}
|-
|{{chset-left1|0x<br />0}}
|{{chset-cell1|Alt+64 - U+0040 COMMERCIAL AT|[[@]]|style=background:#EFF}}
|{{chset-cell1|Alt+65 - U+0041 LATIN CAPITAL LETTER A|[[A]]}}
|{{chset-cell1|Alt+66 - U+0042 LATIN CAPITAL LETTER B|[[B]]}}
|{{chset-cell1|Alt+67 - U+0043 LATIN CAPITAL LETTER C|[[C]]}}
|{{chset-cell1|Alt+68 - U+0044 LATIN CAPITAL LETTER D|[[D]]}}
|{{chset-cell1|Alt+69 - U+0045 LATIN CAPITAL LETTER E|[[E]]}}
|{{chset-cell1|Alt+70 - U+0046 LATIN CAPITAL LETTER F|[[F]]}}
|{{chset-cell1|Alt+71 - U+0047 LATIN CAPITAL LETTER G|[[G]]}}
|{{chset-cell1|Alt+72 - U+0048 LATIN CAPITAL LETTER H|[[H]]}}
|{{chset-cell1|Alt+73 - U+0049 LATIN CAPITAL LETTER I|[[I]]}}
|{{chset-cell1|Alt+74 - U+004A LATIN CAPITAL LETTER J|[[J]]}}
|{{chset-cell1|Alt+75 - U+004B LATIN CAPITAL LETTER K|[[K]]}}
|{{chset-cell1|Alt+76 - U+004C LATIN CAPITAL LETTER L|[[L]]}}
|{{chset-cell1|Alt+77 - U+004D LATIN CAPITAL LETTER M|[[M]]}}
|{{chset-cell1|Alt+78 - U+004E LATIN CAPITAL LETTER N|[[N]]}}
|{{chset-cell1|Alt+79 - U+004F LATIN CAPITAL LETTER O|[[O]]}}
|-
|{{chset-left1|1x<br />16}}
|{{chset-cell1|Alt+80 - U+0050 LATIN CAPITAL LETTER P|[[P]]}}
|{{chset-cell1|Alt+81 - U+0051 LATIN CAPITAL LETTER Q|[[Q]]}}
|{{chset-cell1|Alt+82 - U+0052 LATIN CAPITAL LETTER R|[[R]]}}
|{{chset-cell1|Alt+83 - U+0053 LATIN CAPITAL LETTER S|[[S]]}}
|{{chset-cell1|Alt+84 - U+0054 LATIN CAPITAL LETTER T|[[T]]}}
|{{chset-cell1|Alt+85 - U+0055 LATIN CAPITAL LETTER U|[[U]]}}
|{{chset-cell1|Alt+86 - U+0056 LATIN CAPITAL LETTER V|[[V]]}}
|{{chset-cell1|Alt+87 - U+0057 LATIN CAPITAL LETTER W|[[W]]}}
|{{chset-cell1|Alt+88 - U+0058 LATIN CAPITAL LETTER X|[[X]]}}
|{{chset-cell1|Alt+89 - U+0059 LATIN CAPITAL LETTER Y|[[Y]]}}
|{{chset-cell1|Alt+90 - U+005A LATIN CAPITAL LETTER Z|[[Z]]}}
|{{chset-cell1|Alt+91 - U+005B LEFT SQUARE BRACKET|[[Square brackets| [ ]]|style=background:#EFF}}
|{{chset-cell1|Alt+92 - U+005C REVERSE SOLIDUS|[[Backslash|\]]|style=background:#EFF}}
|{{chset-cell1|Alt+93 - U+005D RIGHT SQUARE BRACKET|[[Square brackets| ] ]]|style=background:#EFF}}
|{{chset-cell1|Alt+94 - U+005E CIRCUMFLEX ACCENT|[[^]]|style=background:#EFF}}
|{{chset-cell1|Alt+95 - U+005F LOW LINE|[[Underscore|_]]|style=background:#EFF}}
|-
|{{chset-left1|2x<br />32}}
|{{chset-ctrl1|Alt+32 - U+0020 SPACE|&nbsp;[[Whitespace character|SP]]&nbsp;}}
|{{chset-cell1|Alt+33 - U+0021 EXCLAMATION MARK|[[!]]|style=background:#EFF}}
|{{chset-cell1|Alt+34 - U+0022 QUOTATION MARK|[["]]|style=background:#EFF}}
|{{chset-cell1|Alt+35 - U+0023 NUMBER SIGN|[[Number sign|#]]|style=background:#EFF}}
|{{chset-cell1|Alt+36 - U+0024 DOLLAR SIGN|[[$]]|style=background:#EFF}}
|{{chset-cell1|Alt+37 - U+0025 PERCENT SIGN|[[%]]|style=background:#EFF}}
|{{chset-cell1|Alt+38 - U+0026 AMPERSAND|[[&]]|style=background:#EFF}}
|{{chset-cell1|Alt+39 - U+0027 APOSTROPHE|[[']]|style=background:#EFF}}
|{{chset-cell1|Alt+40 - U+0028 LEFT PARENTHESIS|[[(]]|style=background:#EFF}}
|{{chset-cell1|Alt+41 - U+0029 RIGHT PARENTHESIS|[[)]]|style=background:#EFF}}
|{{chset-cell1|Alt+42 - U+002A ASTERISK|[[Asterisk|*]]|style=background:#EFF}}
|{{chset-cell1|Alt+43 - U+002B PLUS SIGN|[[+]]|style=background:#EFF}}
|{{chset-cell1|Alt+44 - U+002C COMMA|[[,]]|style=background:#EFF}}
|{{chset-cell1|Alt+45 - U+002D HYPHEN-MINUS|[[-]]|style=background:#EFF}}
|{{chset-cell1|Alt+46 - U+002E FULL STOP|[[Full stop|.]]|style=background:#EFF}}
|{{chset-cell1|Alt+47 - U+002F SOLIDUS|[[Slash (punctuation)|/]]|style=background:#EFF}}
|-
|{{chset-left1|3x<br />48}}
|{{chset-cell1|Alt+48 - U+0030 DIGIT ZERO|[[0 (number)|0]]}}
|{{chset-cell1|Alt+49 - U+0031 DIGIT ONE|[[1 (number)|1]]}}
|{{chset-cell1|Alt+50 - U+0032 DIGIT TWO|[[2 (number)|2]]}}
|{{chset-cell1|Alt+51 - U+0033 DIGIT THREE|[[3 (number)|3]]}}
|{{chset-cell1|Alt+52 - U+0034 DIGIT FOUR|[[4 (number)|4]]}}
|{{chset-cell1|Alt+53 - U+0035 DIGIT FIVE|[[5 (number)|5]]}}
|{{chset-cell1|Alt+54 - U+0036 DIGIT SIX|[[6 (number)|6]]}}
|{{chset-cell1|Alt+55 - U+0037 DIGIT SEVEN|[[7 (number)|7]]}}
|{{chset-cell1|Alt+56 - U+0038 DIGIT EIGHT|[[8 (number)|8]]}}
|{{chset-cell1|Alt+57 - U+0039 DIGIT NINE|[[9 (number)|9]]}}
|{{chset-cell1|Alt+58 - U+003A COLON|[[colon (punctuation)|:]]|style=background:#EFF}}
|{{chset-cell1|Alt+59 - U+003B SEMICOLON|[[Semicolon|;]]|style=background:#EFF}}
|{{chset-cell1|Alt+60 - U+003C LESS-THAN SIGN|[[Less-than sign|<]]|style=background:#EFF}}
|{{chset-cell1|Alt+61 - U+003D EQUALS SIGN|[[=]]|style=background:#EFF}}
|{{chset-cell1|Alt+62 - U+003E GREATER-THAN SIGN|[[Greater-than sign|>]]|style=background:#EFF}}
|{{chset-cell1|Alt+63 - U+003F QUESTION MARK|[[?]]|style=background:#EFF}}
|}
{{legend|#EFF|Symbols and punctuation}}

===Apple Cassette Interface expansion===
{{Listen image
| main_image         = Apple Cassette Interface.jpg
| main_image_caption = The Apple Cassette Interface expansion card. There are two [[phone connector (audio)|phone connector ports]] for reading and writing programs to a connected cassette deck.
| main_image_alt     = A green circuit board with six chips in a row. There are two phone jacks in the top-left corner. A gold edge connector runs along the bottom of the board.
| filename           = Apple Cassette Interface BASIC.wav
| title              = Apple BASIC cassette tape
| description        = This cassette tape was distributed with the Apple&nbsp;I. Playing this file into an Apple Cassette Interface will load Apple BASIC.
}}
A cassette interface was available in the form of an optional add-on for the Apple I's expansion slot. A [[cassette deck]] plugged in to the expansion's [[Phone connector (audio)|phone connector ports]] could be written to and read from as a form of [[removable storage]]. The only alternative to the interface for loading programs was typing machine code by hand, making the add-on "ubiquitous".{{sfn|Owad|2005|p=3}}

The expansion came with a free cassette tape containing [[Steve Wozniak]]'s [[Integer BASIC]] interpreter. Other software tapes were supplied "at minimal cost"<ref name="byte ad"/> including [[porting|ported]] video games such as ''[[Hamurabi (video game)|Hamurabi]]'', ''[[Lunar Lander (video game genre)|Lunar Lander]]'' and ''[[Star Trek (1971 video game)|Star Trek]]''.<ref name="1977 price list"/>

==Conservation==
[[File:LCM+L Working Apple I.jpg|thumb|A running Apple I, with a keyboard and monitor connected, on display at [[Living Computers: Museum + Labs|LCM+L]] where guests were allowed to use it]]
Only about 200 Apple I boards were produced,<ref name="wozniak198412" /> and {{as of|2022|08|lc=y}} the whereabouts of 62 to 82 are known.<ref>{{cite web|title=The Apple 1 Registry|url=https://www.apple1registry.com/en/list.html|access-date=February 16, 2022|archive-date=February 16, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220216213001/https://www.apple1registry.com/en/list.html|url-status=live}}</ref> After the success of the [[Apple II]], and of Apple broadly, the Apple I was recognized as an important historical computer.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Starr |first=Michelle |date=June 29, 2016 |title=10 facts about the Apple-1, the machine that made computing history |url=https://www.cnet.com/culture/apple-1-the-machine-that-made-computing-history/ |access-date=2024-06-02 |website=CNET |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Thompson |first=Clive |date=March 2016 |title=Steve Wozniak's Apple I Booted Up a Tech Revolution |url=https://www.smithsonianmag.com/smithsonian-institution/steve-wozniaks-apple-i-booted-up-tech-revolution-180958112/ |access-date=2024-06-02 |website=Smithsonian Magazine |language=en}}</ref> According to the 1986 ''[[Apple IIe]] Owner's Guide'', an Apple I was then worth "between $10,000 and $15,000"{{efn|equivalent to between ${{Format price|{{Inflation|US-GDP|10000|1986|r=-3}}}} and ${{Format price|{{Inflation|US-GDP|15000|1986|r=-3}}}} in {{Inflation/year|US-GDP}}{{Inflation/fn|US-GDP}}}}<ref>{{cite web |title=Apple IIe Owner's Guide |url=https://www.apple.asimov.net/documentation/hardware/machines/Apple%20IIe%20Owner's%20Guide.pdf#page=130 |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/archive/20221009/https://www.apple.asimov.net/documentation/hardware/machines/Apple%20IIe%20Owner's%20Guide.pdf#page=130 |archive-date=2022-10-09 |url-status=live |publisher=Apple Computer |page=112}}</ref> and a board was reportedly sold for $50,000 in 1999.{{efn|{{Inflation|US-GDP|50000|1999|fmt=eq|r=-3}}{{Inflation/fn|US-GDP}}}}{{citation needed|date=March 2025}}

In November 2010, an Apple I with a cache of original documents and packaging sold for £133,250 (${{To USD round|133250|GBR|2010|sf=3}}){{efn|equivalent to £{{Format price|{{Inflation|UK-GDP|133250|2010|r=-3}}}} (${{To USD round|{{Inflation|UK-GDP|133250|2010}}|GBR|{{Inflation/year|UK-GDP}}|sf=3}}) in {{Inflation/year|UK-GDP}}{{Inflation/fn|UK-GDP}}}} at [[Christie's]] auction house in London. The documents included the return label showing Steve Jobs's parents' address, a personally typed and signed letter from Jobs (answering technical questions about the computer), and the invoice (listing "Steven" as the salesman). The computer was brought to [[Polytechnic University of Turin]] for restoration.<ref>{{cite news|last=BBC News|title=First Apple computer fetches £130,000 at auction|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-11825954|work=BBC News|access-date=June 16, 2012|date=November 23, 2010|archive-date=June 17, 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120617032729/http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-11825954|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|title=Christie's Sale 7882 / Lot 65|url=http://www.christies.com/LotFinder/lot_details.aspx?from=searchresults&intObjectID=5370965&sid=1d221fae-dbba-4746-9922-8ca3e066b4bf|publisher=Christie's|access-date=June 16, 2012|archive-date=March 16, 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140316215034/http://www.christies.com/LotFinder/lot_details.aspx?from=searchresults&intObjectID=5370965&sid=1d221fae-dbba-4746-9922-8ca3e066b4bf|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|last=Heater|first=Brian|title=$211,000 Apple-1 up and running, wants to know what this 'cloud' thing is all about|url=https://www.engadget.com/2011/05/10/211-000-apple-1-up-and-running-wants-to-know-what-this-cloud/|work=engadget|date=May 10, 2011 |publisher=engadget.com|access-date=June 16, 2012|archive-date=May 29, 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120529182405/http://www.engadget.com/2011/05/10/211-000-apple-1-up-and-running-wants-to-know-what-this-cloud/|url-status=live}}</ref>

In October 2014 the [[Henry Ford Museum]] purchased an Apple I at a [[Bonhams]] auction for {{US$|long=no|905000}}.{{efn|equivalent to ${{Format price|{{Inflation|US-GDP|905000|2014}}}} in {{Inflation/year|US-GDP}}{{Inflation/fn|US-GDP}}}} The sale included the keyboard, monitor, cassette decks and a manual.<ref name="ford">{{cite web|title=Apple-1 computer sold at auction for {{US$|long=no|905000}}|url=http://www.foxnews.com/tech/2014/10/22/apple-1-computer-sold-at-auction-for-905000|publisher=Fox News|access-date=October 22, 2014|archive-date=October 24, 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141024022016/http://www.foxnews.com/tech/2014/10/22/apple-1-computer-sold-at-auction-for-905000/|url-status=live}}</ref> In 2017, an Apple I removed from Steve Jobs's office in 1985 by Apple quality control engineer Don Hutmacher was placed on display at [[Living Computers: Museum + Labs]].<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.seattlepi.com/seattlenews/article/Rare-Apple-I-exhibit-in-the-heart-of-Microsoft-11071672.php|title=Rare Apple I exhibit in the heart of Microsoft country|website=seattlepi.com|date=April 13, 2017|access-date=March 27, 2018|archive-date=February 11, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180211131926/https://www.seattlepi.com/seattlenews/article/Rare-Apple-I-exhibit-in-the-heart-of-Microsoft-11071672.php|url-status=live}}</ref>

On May 30, 2015, an elderly woman reportedly dropped off boxes of electronics for disposal at an [[Computer recycling|electronics recycling center]] in the [[Silicon Valley]] of Northern California. Included in the electronics (removed from her garage after the death of her husband) was an original Apple I computer, which the recycling firm sold for {{US$|long=no|200000}}. When a discarded item is sold, it is the company's practice to give 50% of the proceeds to the original owner,<ref name=Cbs2015-05-30/><ref name=Cbc2015-05-31/> but the woman has not been identified.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.mercurynews.com/2015/06/02/global-search-for-mysterious-apple-i-woman-ropes-in-company-co-founder-steve-wozniak/ |title=Global search for mysterious Apple I woman ropes in company co-founder Steve Wozniak  |last=Rodriguez |first=Joe |date=June 2, 2015 |website=[[Mercury News]] |publisher= |access-date=October 23, 2023 |quote=}}</ref>

Apple I computers with original documents and memorabilia have frequently been auctioned for over $300,000 throughout the 2010s<ref name="austin">{{cite news|last=Austin|first=Scott|title=Original Apple 1 Computer Sells for {{US$|long=no|374500}} in Auction|url=https://blogs.wsj.com/digits/2012/06/15/original-apple-1-computer-sells-for-374500-in-auction/|access-date=June 16, 2012|newspaper=The Wall Street Journal|date=June 15, 2012|url-access=subscription|archive-date=June 17, 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120617000536/http://blogs.wsj.com/digits/2012/06/15/original-apple-1-computer-sells-for-374500-in-auction/|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.digitaltrends.com/computing/working-apple-1-sells-at-auction-for-record-breaking-671400/|title=How much?! Working Apple-1 sells at auction for record-breaking {{US$|long=no|671400}}|date=May 27, 2013|website=digitaltrends.com|access-date=March 27, 2018|archive-date=December 21, 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161221003719/http://www.digitaltrends.com/computing/working-apple-1-sells-at-auction-for-record-breaking-671400/|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|title=Vintage Apple computer auctioned off for {{US$|long=no|668000}}|url=https://news.yahoo.com/vintage-apple-computer-auctioned-off-668-000-153151365.html|publisher=Yahoo News|access-date=May 25, 2013|archive-date=June 8, 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130608021801/http://news.yahoo.com/vintage-apple-computer-auctioned-off-668-000-153151365.html|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.bbc.com/news/technology-45647449|title=Original working Apple I computer fetches {{US$|long=no|375000}} at auction|last=Lee|first=David|date=September 25, 2018|work=BBC News|access-date=September 26, 2018|archive-date=September 25, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180925224824/https://www.bbc.com/news/technology-45647449|url-status=live}}</ref> and 2020s.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Rare functional Apple-1 computer sold at auction for {{US$|long=no|458711}}|url=https://appleinsider.com/articles/20/03/13/rare-functional-apple-1-computer-sold-at-auction-for-458711|work=Apple Insider|date=March 13, 2020 |access-date=March 13, 2020|archive-date=March 14, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200314140138/https://appleinsider.com/articles/20/03/13/rare-functional-apple-1-computer-sold-at-auction-for-458711|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news|date=2021-11-10|title=Apple's original computer fetches {{US$|long=no|400000}} at US auction|language=en-GB|work=BBC News|url=https://www.bbc.com/news/technology-59222749|access-date=2021-11-10|archive-date=November 10, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211110055255/https://www.bbc.com/news/technology-59222749|url-status=live}}</ref> The production prototype for the Apple I survives in a badly damaged state and was itself auctioned in 2022 for $677,196.<ref>{{cite web | last=Associated Press | date=August 19, 2022 | url=https://www.kktv.com/2022/08/19/jobs-apple-1-computer-prototype-auctioned-nearly-700k/ | title=Jobs' Apple-1 computer prototype auctioned for nearly $700K | work=KKTV.com | publisher=Gray Television, Inc. | archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20220824212749/https://www.kktv.com/2022/08/19/jobs-apple-1-computer-prototype-auctioned-nearly-700k/ | archivedate=August 24, 2022 | access-date=August 24, 2022 | url-status=live }}</ref><ref name="szondy">{{cite web | last=Szondy | first=David | date=July 24, 2022 | url=https://newatlas.com/computers/lost-apple-computer-prototype-goes-auction-block/ | title= "Lost" Apple computer prototype goes on the auction block  | work=New Atlas | archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20220725000305/https://newatlas.com/computers/lost-apple-computer-prototype-goes-auction-block/ | archivedate=July 25, 2022}}</ref><ref>{{cite web | date=July 2022 | url=https://www.apple1registry.com/en/2.html | title='Production prototype Computer A' Apple-1 - number 2 in the Registry | work=Apple-1 Registry | archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20220723081821/https://www.apple1registry.com/en/2.html | archivedate=July 23, 2022}}</ref><ref>{{cite web | last=Staff writer | date=July 23, 2022 | url=https://www.kktv.com/2022/07/23/steve-jobs-original-apple-computer-prototype-up-auction/ | title=Steve Jobs' original Apple computer prototype up for auction | work=KKTV.com | publisher=Gray Television, Inc. | archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20220723050537/https://www.kktv.com/2022/07/23/steve-jobs-original-apple-computer-prototype-up-auction/ | archivedate=July 23, 2022 | agency=CNN}}</ref>

===Replicas===
{{see also|Replica 1}}
Several Apple I [[Clone (computing)|clones]] and replicas have been released in recent years. These are created by hobbyists and marketed to the hobbyist/collector community. Availability is usually limited to small runs in response to demand.<ref>[http://www.applefritter.com/briel replica I – the apple I(c) clone] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090507212803/http://www.applefritter.com/briel |date=May 7, 2009 }}, retrieved August 15, 2009</ref><ref>[http://www.brielcomputers.com/wordpress/?cat=4 replica I] {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100120045545/http://www.brielcomputers.com/wordpress/?cat=4 |date=January 20, 2010 }} at official Briel computers web site, retrieved August 15, 2008</ref><ref>{{cite web |last=Gagne |first=Ken |url=http://www.computerworld.com/s/article/9136257/Image_gallery_Building_an_Apple_1_replica_from_scratch |title=Image gallery: Building an Apple-1 replica from scratch |work=[[Computerworld]] |date=2009-08-14 |access-date=August 15, 2009 |archive-date=August 16, 2009 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090816163818/http://www.computerworld.com/s/article/9136257/Image_gallery_Building_an_Apple_1_replica_from_scratch |url-status=live }} story with pictures for assembling a Briel replica I from a kit</ref>{{sfn|Owad|2005}}<ref>{{cite web|url=http://mdesk.ru/a1/|title=Apple I (реплика)|website=mdesk.ru|language=ru|trans-title=Apple I (replica)|access-date=March 8, 2019|archive-date=July 17, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190717131021/http://mdesk.ru/a1/|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |last1= |first1= |title=Apple1clone Spartan |url=http://apple1clone.com/ |website=Apple1clone |publisher=Justin McDermid |access-date=December 6, 2022 |archive-date=December 6, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221206020410/http://apple1clone.com/ |url-status=live }} Retrieved December 1, 2022</ref>

===Emulation===
Emulation software for the Apple I has been written for modern home computers<ref>[http://pom1.sourceforge.net Pom1 Apple 1 Emulator] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130826151236/http://pom1.sourceforge.net/ |date=August 26, 2013 }}, retrieved July 17, 2013</ref><ref>[http://www.zophar.net/macintosh/apple1/cocoapom.html CocoaPom Apple 1 Emulator] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130604111036/http://www.zophar.net/macintosh/apple1/cocoapom.html |date=June 4, 2013 }}, retrieved July 17, 2013</ref><ref>[http://www.zophar.net/macintosh/apple1/sim6502.html Sim6502 Apple I emulator] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131114223827/http://www.zophar.net/macintosh/apple1/sim6502.html |date=November 14, 2013 }} retrieved July 17, 2013</ref> and for web browsers.<ref name=ScullInSteel/> It has also been emulated on 1980s era computers including the [[SAM Coupé]]<ref>[http://simonowen.com/sam/apple1emu/ Apple 1 Emulator - SAM Coupé] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131127044234/http://simonowen.com/sam/apple1emu/ |date=November 27, 2013 }}, retrieved July 17, 2013</ref> and [[Commodore 64]].<ref>{{cite web | url=http://csdb.dk/release/?id=118857 | title=Green Delicious Apple-1 Emulator | access-date=February 28, 2018 | archive-date=February 28, 2018 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180228161920/http://csdb.dk/release/?id=118857 | url-status=live }}</ref>

==See also==
* [[Computer museum]]
* [[History of computer science]]
* [[History of computing]]
* [[KIM-1]]

== Notes ==
{{notelist}}

== References ==
=== Citations ===
{{Reflist
|refs =
<ref name=ScullInSteel>{{cite news
| url         = http://www.scullinsteel.com/apple1/
| title         = Apple 1js: An Apple 1 Emulator in JavaScript
| access-date         = January 28, 2015
| archive-date         = April 7, 2015
| archive-url         = https://web.archive.org/web/20150407014704/http://www.scullinsteel.com/apple1/
| url-status         = live
}}</ref>
<ref name=Cbc2015-05-31>{{cite news
 |url          = http://www.cbc.ca/news/technology/apple-1-computer-worth-200k-left-at-recycling-centre-1.3094519
 |title        = Apple 1 computer worth $200K left at recycling centre
 |publisher    = [[CBC News]]
 |date         = 2015-05-31
 |access-date  = 2015-05-31
 |agency       = [[Associated Press]]
 |quote        = A recycling centre in the Silicon Valley is looking for a woman who dropped off an old Apple computer that turned out to be a collectible item worth $200,000 US.
 |archive-date = May 31, 2015
 |archive-url  = https://web.archive.org/web/20150531141711/http://www.cbc.ca/news/technology/apple-1-computer-worth-200k-left-at-recycling-centre-1.3094519
 |url-status   = live
}}</ref>
<ref name=Cbs2015-05-30>{{cite news
 |url          = http://sanfrancisco.cbslocal.com/2015/05/30/mystery-woman-dumps-rare-collectable-apple-computer-worth-200k-at-recycling-center/
 |title        = Mystery Woman Dumps Rare, Collectable Apple Computer Worth $200K At Recycling Center
 |work         = [[CBS News]]
 |date         = 2015-05-30
 |location     = [[Milpitas]]
 |access-date  = 2015-05-31
 |archive-date = June 2, 2015
 |archive-url  = https://web.archive.org/web/20150602221843/http://sanfrancisco.cbslocal.com/2015/05/30/mystery-woman-dumps-rare-collectable-apple-computer-worth-200k-at-recycling-center/
 |url-status   = live
}}</ref>
}}

=== Sources ===
{{refbegin}}
<!-- I -->
* {{cite book|last=Isaacson|first=Walter|author-link=Walter Isaacson|title=Steve Jobs |year=2011 |publisher=[[Simon & Schuster]]|location=New York, NY|isbn=978-1-4516-4853-9 |title-link=Steve Jobs (book)}}
** {{Cite book |last=Isaacson |first=Walter |title=Steve Jobs |publisher=Simon and Schuster |year=2015 |isbn=9781501127625}}
<!-- O -->
* {{cite book |last=Owad |first=Tom |author-link= |date=2005 |title=Apple I Replica Creation: Back to the Garage |isbn=1-931836-40-X |url=http://www.applefritter.com/replica |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090430051642/http://www.applefritter.com/replica |archive-date=April 30, 2009 |url-status=live |location=Rockland, Mass. |publisher=Syngress Publishing}}
<!-- P -->
* {{cite book |last=Price |first=Rob |year=1987 |title=So Far: The First Ten Years of a Vision |location=Cupertino, Calif. |publisher=Apple Computer |isbn=1-55693-974-4}}
<!-- S -->
* {{cite book |title=Becoming Steve Jobs: The Evolution of a Reckless Upstart into a Visionary Leader|first1=Brent |last1=Schlender |first2=Rick |last2=Tetzeli|date=2016 |publisher=Crown Business; Reprint edition|isbn=9780385347426}}
* {{Cite book |last=Swaine |first=Michael |title=Fire in the Valley: The Birth and Death of the Personal Computer |publisher=Pragmatic Bookshelf |year=2014 |isbn=9781680503524}}
{{refend}}

==External links==
{{commons category|Apple I}}
* [http://www.applefritter.com/apple1 Apple I Owners Club]
* [https://www.applefritter.com/files/a1man.pdf Apple I Operational Manual] ([https://archive.org/details/applei_manual/mode/1up browse])
* [https://www.retroplace.com/de/feature/operation-manuell/161 German making-of article to recreate the Apple I Operational Manual]
* [http://www.sbprojects.com/projects/apple1/ Apple I project on www.sbprojects.com]
* [https://www.Apple1Registry.com Apple 1 Computer Registry]
* [http://apple1computer.blogspot.com John Calande III blog – Building the Apple I clone, including corrections on the early history of Apple Computer]
* [https://web.archive.org/web/20151005035147/http://cameronscloset.com/category/apple-1 Apple 1 | Cameron's Closet] – includes display of the Apple 1's character set on real hardware, compared to on most emulators
* {{cite web |first=Ken |last=Shirriff |title=Inside the Apple-1's unusual MOS clock driver chip |date=March 2022 |url=http://www.righto.com/2022/03/inside-apple-1s-unusual-mos-clock.html}}
{{Apple hardware before 1998}}
{{Apple hardware}}
{{Woz}}
{{Portal bar|Computer programming|Electronics|Engineering|Internet|Technology|Manufacturing}}
{{Authority control}}

[[Category:Computer-related introductions in 1976]]
[[Category:Apple II family]]
[[Category:Apple computers|I]]
[[Category:Early microcomputers]]
[[Category:6502-based home computers]]
[[Category:Products and services discontinued in 1977]]
[[Category:Discontinued Apple Inc. products]]
[[Category:Steve Jobs]]