the complete vintage apple-collection

Apple I

The Apple I is much more than just Apple's first computer – it is an icon of computer history and the starting point of a company that would change the world of personal computers forever. The computer was developed in 1976 by Steve Wozniak, whose goal was to build a powerful yet affordable computer for hobbyists. Steve Jobs recognized the commercial potential of the development and took over sales and marketing. Together with Ronald Wayne, they founded the Apple Computer Company on April 1, 1976.

The Apple I differed from most competing products of its time in that it was not sold as a kit, but as a fully assembled and tested motherboard. The user only needed a power supply, an ASCII keyboard and a monitor or TV. At the heart of the system was the MOS Technology 6502 processor with a clock speed of around 1 MHz. As standard, the computer had 4 KB of RAM, which could be expanded up to 48 KB. An integrated monitor in the ROM allowed programs to be entered directly, while the Apple Cassette interface, which was available later, allowed programs to be stored and loaded on standard audio cassettes. With the Integer BASIC developed by Steve Wozniak, the Apple I developed into an amazingly powerful home computer.

The trigger for series production was an order for 50 devices by the computer dealer Byte Shop. The first computers were assembled and tested in Steve Jobs' garage and childhood home in Los Altos. A total of about 200 Apple I boards were created, of which only about 100 are known today. Many of them are in museums or important private collections. Today, original Apple I computers regularly fetch prices of between several hundred thousand and over one million US dollars at international auctions, depending on their state of preservation, originality and documented provenance.

For collectors, the Apple I has a unique meaning. Each surviving copy tells the story of Apple's beginnings and the creation of the personal computer. Hardly any other computer symbolizes the innovative spirit of Silicon Valley in the 1970s as impressively as the Apple I – a computer that, despite its simple technology, laid the foundation for one of the most successful technology companies in the world.