History Platform / AppleII

Introduced in 1977, the '''Creator/{{Apple}} II''' (officially formatted "Apple ][") was, to many kids in America in the 1980s and 1990s, their first introduction to a computer that could also play some decent games. It was an improved version of Apple's very first computer, the Apple I, which had only been produced as a model kit in limited quantities. At its premiere, the Apple II was a total shock to the industry. When most manufacturers were still selling single-board computers for developers, or big metal boxes that looked more appropriate in a server room than a family room, the II's stylish plastic case and integrated keyboard proved to be far more accessible to the home user. Its clever integrated-motherboard design by Apple co-founder Steve Wozniak made it easy to connect to a common [[UsefulNotes/DisplayTechnology NTSC]] TV (important given that color monitors cost well over $500 in the mid-1970s -- owning a color monitor in 1975 was equivalent to owning a 4K 144Hz refresh rate HDR OLED G-Sync ultra-wide monitor in 2020), as well as providing two color graphics modes when most computers could barely display monochrome text. It shipped with a simple BASIC interpreter called "Integer BASIC", also written by Wozniak, as well as a few simple games on cassette tape.

The Apple II was so influential that when IBM decided to build [[UsefulNotes/IBMPersonalComputer its own PC]] in 1980, it borrowed many of the Apple II's design cues, including a built-in BASIC interpreter (a trait also borrowed by the UsefulNotes/TRS80) and many expansion slots. Apple's own attempt at building a "serious" computer, the Apple III (also spelled "Apple ///"), didn't fare so well; a rushed design and Creator/SteveJobs' insistence that the machine not have a fan made it highly unreliable; it was also deliberately incompatible with a lot of Apple II software, especially games. Apple, surprised that the II series was still selling, responded in 1983 by introducing a new version, the ''[=IIe=]'', which simplified the motherboard design and added "double high res" text and graphics modes to help compete with the brand-new (and much cheaper) UsefulNotes/{{Commodore 64}}. This was followed up by the compact ''[=IIc=]'', a "portable"[[note]]although it had a built-in handle that doubled as a stand, the [=IIc=] lacked a built-in screen and did not have an on-board battery[[/note]] model with the [=IIe=]'s features and a built-in disk drive, released in 1984.

The most advanced member of the II family was the 16-bit Apple II[-GS-], introduced in 1986 to much fanfare. It used the brand-new GTE 65C816 processor (the same one used in the UsefulNotes/{{SNES}}. WordOfGod has it that II[-GS-] machines were used for software development at Creator/{{Nintendo}} and several other houses developing for the SNES, although this was eventually debunked by former Rare employees), and upgraded the line's graphics and sound substantially. While it wasn't as well accepted as the 8-bit models were among game developers, the II[-GS-] was a fixture in many schools, and in many ways outstripped the UsefulNotes/{{Macintosh}} of its day.

* ''VideoGame/CrystalCastles'' (unpublished port)

* ''VideoGame/PoliceQuest''

* Film equipment company Bell & Howell produced a special black version of the II+ under license from Apple themselves in which the top could not be opened, thus allowing it to be sold as audio/visual equipment, especially for use in schools.

The most advanced member of the II family was the 16-bit Apple II[-GS-], introduced in 1986 to much fanfare. It used the brand-new GTE 65C816 processor (the same one used in the UsefulNotes/{{SNES}}). WordOfGod has it that II[-GS-] machines were used for software development at Creator/{{Nintendo}} and several other houses developing for the SNES, although this was eventually debunked by former Rare employees), and upgraded the line's graphics and sound substantially. While it wasn't as well accepted as the 8-bit models were among game developers, the II[-GS-] was a fixture in many schools, and in many ways outstripped the UsefulNotes/{{Macintosh}} of its day.

The most advanced member of the II family was the 16-bit Apple II[-GS-], introduced in 1986 to much fanfare. It used the brand-new GTE 65C816 processor (the same one used in the UsefulNotes/{{SNES}}. WordOfGod has it that II[-GS-] machines were used for software development at Creator/{{Nintendo}} and several other houses developing for the SNES, although this was eventually debunked by former Rare employees), and upgraded the line's graphics and sound substantially. While it wasn't as well accepted as the 8-bit models were among game developers, the II[-GS-] was a fixture in many schools, and in many ways outstripped the UsefulNotes/{{Macintosh}} of its day.

[[quoteright:300:https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/apple2_5599.jpg]]

Introduced in 1977, the '''Creator/{{Apple}} II''' (officially formatted "Apple ][") was, to many kids in America in the 1980s and 1990s, their first introduction to a computer that could also play some decent games. It was an improved version of Apple's very first computer, the Apple I, which had only been produced as a model kit in limited quantities. At its premiere, the Apple II was a total shock to the industry. When most manufacturers were still selling single-board computers for developers, or big metal boxes that looked more appropriate in a server room than a family room, the II's stylish plastic case and integrated keyboard proved to be far more accessible to the home user. Its clever integrated-motherboard design by Apple co-founder Steve Wozniak made it easy to connect to a common TV (important given that color monitors cost well over $500 in the mid-1970s -- owning a color monitor in 1975 was equivalent to owning a 4K 144Hz refresh rate HDR OLED G-Sync ultra-wide monitor in 2020), as well as providing two color graphics modes when most computers could barely display monochrome text. It shipped with a simple BASIC interpreter called "Integer BASIC", also written by Wozniak, as well as a few simple games on cassette tape.

* ''[[Franchise/CarmenSandiego Where in the World Is Carmen Sandiego?]]''

* ''VideoGame/DejaVu'' *

The most advanced member of the II family was the 16-bit Apple II[-GS-], introduced in 1986 to much fanfare. It used the brand-new GTE 65C816 processor (the same one used in the UsefulNotes/{{SNES}}. WordOfGod has it that II[-GS-] machines were used for software development at Creator/{{Nintendo}} and several other houses developing for the SNES), and upgraded the line's graphics and sound substantially. While it wasn't as well accepted as the 8-bit models were among game developers, the II[-GS-] was a fixture in many schools, and in many ways outstripped the UsefulNotes/{{Macintosh}} of its day.

Introduced in 1977, the '''Creator/{{Apple}} II''' (officially formatted "Apple ][") was, to many kids in America in the 1980s and 1990s, their first introduction to a computer that could also play some decent games. It was an improved version of Apple's very first computer, the Apple I, which had only been produced as a model kit in limited quantities. At its premiere, the Apple II was a total shock to the industry. When most manufacturers were still selling single-board computers for developers, or big metal boxes that looked more appropriate in a server room than a family room, the II's stylish plastic case and integrated keyboard proved to be far more accessible to the home user. Its clever integrated-motherboard design by Apple co-founder Steve Wozniak made it easy to connect to a common TV (important given that color monitors cost well over $500 in the mid-1970s -- owning a color monitor in 1975 was equivalent to owning a 4K 144 Hz HDR QLED G-Sync ultra-wide curved monitor in 2020), as well as providing two color graphics modes when most computers could barely display monochrome text. It shipped with a simple BASIC interpreter called "Integer BASIC", also written by Wozniak, as well as a few simple games on cassette tape.

* ''[[VideoGame/TheHitchhikersGuideToTheGalaxy The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy]]''

* ''VideoGame/TheHitchhikersGuideToTheGalaxy''

It should be noted that the Apple II outside of the GS has no sound capability outside of a basic beeper just like the IBM PC. To fix this problem, sound cards were made for the platform, many of them using General Instrument's AY-series Programmable Sound Generator. Needless to say these cards are incompatible with the [=IIc=] machines (although there was a special external version of the Mockingboard for the [=IIc=]). The most popular and defacto sound card for the platform is the Mockingboard, although there exist several competitors (i.e. ALF Music Card and Applied Engineering's Phasor). The Mountain Computer Music System was the closest thing the Apple II outside of the IIGS has to digital audio, being capable of two channels of 8-bit PCM audio. Some sites even claim that the Mountain Computer Music System was a wavetable card capable of 8 simultaneous sampled voices. If true, this wavetable card predates what is widely claimed as the first wavetable card for western computers in the market, the Gravis Ultrasound for the PC, by almost a decade.

It should be noted that the Apple II outside of the GS has no sound capability outside of a basic beeper just like the IBM PC. To fix this problem, sound cards were made for the platform, many of them using General Instrument's AY-series Programmable Sound Generator. Needless to say these cards are incompatible with the [=IIc=] machines (although there was a special external version of the Mockingboard for the [=IIc=]). The most popular and defacto sound card for the platform is the Mockingboard, although there exist several competitors (i.e. ALF Music Card and Applied Engineering's Phasor). The Mountain Computer Music System was the closest thing the Apple II outside of the IIGS has to digital audio, being capable of two channels of 8-bit PCM audio. Some sites even claim that the Mountain Computer Music System was a wavetable card capable of 8 simultaneous sampled voices. If true, this wavetable card predates what is widely claimed as the first wavetable card in the market, the Gravis Ultrasound for the PC, by almost a decade.

Introduced in 1977, the '''Apple II''' (officially formatted "Apple ][") was, to many kids in America in the 1980s and 1990s, their first introduction to a computer that could also play some decent games. It was an improved version of Apple's very first computer, the Apple I, which had only been produced as a model kit in limited quantities. At its premiere, the Apple II was a total shock to the industry. When most manufacturers were still selling single-board computers for developers, or big metal boxes that looked more appropriate in a server room than a family room, the II's stylish plastic case and integrated keyboard proved to be far more accessible to the home user. Its clever integrated-motherboard design by Apple co-founder Steve Wozniak made it easy to connect to a common TV (important given that color monitors cost well over $500 in the mid-1970s -- owning a color monitor in 1975 was equivalent to owning a 4K 144 Hz HDR QLED G-Sync ultra-wide curved monitor in 2020), as well as providing two color graphics modes when most computers could barely display monochrome text. It shipped with a simple BASIC interpreter called "Integer BASIC", also written by Wozniak, as well as a few simple games on cassette tape.

Introduced in 1977, the Apple II (officially formatted "Apple ][") was, to many kids in America in the 1980s and 1990s, their first introduction to a computer that could also play some decent games. It was an improved version of Apple's very first computer, the Apple I, which had only been produced as a model kit in limited quantities. At its premiere, the Apple II was a total shock to the industry. When most manufacturers were still selling single-board computers for developers, or big metal boxes that looked more appropriate in a server room than a family room, the II's stylish plastic case and integrated keyboard proved to be far more accessible to the home user. Its clever integrated-motherboard design by Apple co-founder Steve Wozniak made it easy to connect to a common TV (important given that color monitors cost well over $500 in the mid-1970s -- owning a color monitor in 1975 was equivalent to owning a 4K 144 Hz HDR QLED G-Sync ultra-wide curved monitor in 2020), as well as providing two color graphics modes when most computers could barely display monochrome text. It shipped with a simple BASIC interpreter called "Integer BASIC", also written by Wozniak, as well as a few simple games on cassette tape.

The most advanced member of the II family was the 16-bit Apple II[-GS-], introduced in 1986 to much fanfare. It used the brand-new GTE 65C816 processor (the same one used in the UsefulNotes/{{SNES}}. WordOfGod has it that II[-GS-] machines were used for software development at Nintendo and several other houses developing for the SNES), and upgraded the line's graphics and sound substantially. While it wasn't as well accepted as the 8-bit models were among game developers, the II[-GS-] was a fixture in many schools, and in many ways outstripped the UsefulNotes/{{Macintosh}} of its day.

It should be noted that the Apple II outside of the GS has no sound capability outside of a basic beeper just like the IBM PC. To fix this problem, sound cards were made for the platform, many of them using General Instrument's AY-series Programmable Sound Generator. Needless to say these cards are incompatible with the [=IIc=] machines (although there was a special external version of the Mockingboard for the [=IIc=]). The most popular and defacto sound card for the platform is the Mockingboard, although there exist several competitors (ie ALF Music Card and Applied Engineering's Phasor). The Mountain Computer Music System was the closest thing the Apple II outside of the IIGS has to digital audio, being capable of two channels of 8-bit PCM audio. Some sites even claim that the Mountain Computer Music System was a wavetable card capable of 8 simultaneous sampled voices. If true, this wavetable card predates what is widely claimed as the first wavetable card in the market, the Gravis Ultrasound for the PC, by almost a decade.

It's also notable that the Apple II received several unauthorized clones, most notably from electronics manufacturer Franklin and toy manufacturer [=VTech=]. They continued to be sold during and after several lawsuits from Apple, with Franklin paying a US$2.5 million settlement to Apple, and eventually agreeing to leave the computer market in 1988. It is thought that [=VTech=] also eventually paid settlement to Apple and eventually suffered the same fate (nowadays, [=VTech=] is mostly known as a maker of educational toys[[note]]Albeit toys that copies concepts from bigger names like Fisher-Price and [=LeapFrog=][[/note]], and to a lesser extent, cordless phones and baby monitors). However, this lawsuit evidently shows the importance of clean-room reverse engineering and is still used as an example in courts even today.

->''Games requiring a II[[AC:gs]] are marked with an asterisk.''