Apple Computer Company launched in 1976 with the Apple I

Steve Jobs, Steve Wozniak, and Ronald Wayne founded Apple Computer Company on April 1, 1976. Their first product, the Apple I, was a single-board computer that Wozniak designed and built himself. The Apple I sold for $666.66 and came as a bare circuit board — buyers had to add their own case, power supply, and monitor. It was not a finished machine the way computers are sold today.

The Apple I found an audience among hobbyists and early computer enthusiasts, but it remained a niche product. The real shift came in 1977 with the Apple II, which arrived in a plastic case, included a power supply, and could connect to a monitor and keyboard. The Apple II became the first mass-produced personal computer and stayed in production for sixteen years. It was the machine that made Apple a real company instead of a garage project.

Key Takeaways

  • Apple Computer Company was founded on April 1, 1976, by Steve Jobs, Steve Wozniak, and Ronald Wayne.
  • The Apple I, released in 1976, was a bare circuit board sold to hobbyists for $666.66 and required buyers to assemble the rest themselves.
  • The Apple II, released in 1977, was the first mass-produced personal computer and became Apple's breakthrough product.
  • The Macintosh, released in 1984, introduced the graphical user interface to mainstream consumers and defined Apple's design approach for decades.

The Apple II changed what a personal computer could be

When the Apple II shipped in June 1977, it cost between $1,298 and $2,598 depending on memory and storage options. That was expensive for the time, but it was a complete, ready-to-use computer. It had color graphics, a built-in BASIC programming language, and expansion slots so users could add cards for printers, modems, and other hardware. Schools began buying Apple IIs in bulk, which gave the company a foothold in education that lasted for decades.

The Apple II line evolved through the late 1970s and 1980s. The Apple IIe (1983) and Apple IIc (1984) added more memory, faster processors, and better graphics. By the mid-1980s, the Apple II was the best-selling personal computer in the world. It stayed profitable and relevant long after competitors released faster machines, partly because software developers kept writing programs for it and partly because schools and offices already had them.

The Macintosh introduced the graphical interface to everyday users

Steve Jobs saw a graphical user interface — windows, icons, a mouse — at Xerox PARC in 1979 and decided Apple should build a computer around that idea. The result was the Macintosh, released on January 24, 1984. It cost $2,495 and came with a 9-inch black-and-white screen, a 3.5-inch floppy drive, and a mouse. The Macintosh was the first computer most people ever used that did not require typing commands into a prompt.

The early Macintosh was slow and had limited software, so it did not when ready outsell the Apple II. But it attracted designers, artists, and publishers because it could display fonts and graphics on screen the way they would print. When Adobe released PostScript and companies like Aldus released PageMaker, the Macintosh became the standard tool for graphic design and publishing. That specialization — being the computer for creative work — shaped Apple's identity for the next thirty years.

Apple's early computers ran proprietary operating systems

The Apple I and Apple II ran Apple BASIC, a programming language built into the machine's read-only memory. Users could write their own programs or buy software on floppy disks. There was no operating system in the modern sense — the machine booted directly into BASIC or into whatever program you loaded.

The Macintosh ran System 1.0, Apple's own graphical operating system. It was closed and proprietary, meaning only Apple could make Macintosh computers. This was different from IBM-compatible computers, which other manufacturers could build and sell. Apple's control over both hardware and software meant tighter integration but also higher prices and less choice for buyers. That trade-off — premium price for tight integration — remained Apple's strategy for decades.

IBM's entry into personal computers changed the market

In August 1981, IBM released the IBM Personal Computer, which ran Microsoft's MS-DOS operating system. IBM licensed MS-DOS to other manufacturers, so companies like Compaq, Dell, and Gateway could build IBM-compatible computers and sell them for less money than Apple charged. By the mid-1980s, IBM-compatible computers dominated the business market, while Apple held onto education and creative fields.

Apple's response was to keep prices high and focus on design, ease of use, and software integration. The company did not try to compete on price or market share the way IBM-compatible makers did. This strategy kept Apple smaller than its competitors but also kept it profitable and independent. It was a choice that shaped the company's culture and product philosophy for the next four decades.

The early years established patterns that lasted

Between 1976 and 1984, Apple went from a garage startup to a publicly traded company with hundreds of millions in revenue. The machines themselves — the Apple I, Apple II, and Macintosh — were not the most powerful computers available, but they were designed to be approachable and to work well with the software people actually wanted to use.

The company's early choices also set its long-term direction. Apple built its own operating system instead of licensing one. It controlled both hardware and software instead of letting other manufacturers build Apple computers. It charged premium prices instead of competing on cost. It focused on design and user experience instead of raw specifications. Every one of those choices came from the 1976-to-1984 period and remained true for Apple decades later.

Frequently Asked Questions

What was the first Apple computer ever made?

The Apple I, designed by Steve Wozniak and released in 1976, was the first Apple computer. It was a bare circuit board that cost $666.66 and required buyers to add their own case, power supply, and monitor. It was sold mainly to hobbyists and computer clubs.

Why did the Apple II succeed when the Apple I did not?

The Apple II came in a plastic case, included a power supply, and worked with a monitor and keyboard out of the box. It had color graphics, expansion slots, and built-in BASIC. Schools bought them in large quantities, which created a user base and encouraged software developers to write programs for the platform.

How much did a Macintosh cost when it first came out?

The original Macintosh, released in 1984, cost $2,495. That was expensive for the time, but it included a 9-inch screen, a 3.5-inch floppy drive, and a mouse. The price kept most people from buying one, but designers and publishers adopted it because of its graphics capabilities.

Did Apple invent the graphical user interface?

No. Xerox PARC developed the graphical interface in the late 1970s. Steve Jobs saw it there in 1979 and decided Apple should build a computer around that idea. The Macintosh, released in 1984, was the first computer most everyday users encountered with windows, icons, and a mouse.

Why did IBM-compatible computers become more popular than Apple?

IBM licensed its operating system to other manufacturers, so many companies could build and sell IBM-compatible computers at lower prices. Apple kept its operating system proprietary and only sold Macintosh computers made by Apple. IBM-compatible computers dominated business markets, while Apple remained strong in education and creative fields.