The Useful Personal Computer
20 days ago
- #Apple II
- #VisiCalc
- #Microcomputers
- The second wave of microcomputers in 1977 aimed to appeal beyond hobbyists by demonstrating practical uses for home computers.
- Early marketing efforts highlighted domestic applications like budgeting and recipe management, though these uses were not widely adopted.
- The Apple II, Commodore PET, and TRS-80 initially lacked compelling applications for average users, despite their affordability and ease of use.
- Word processors like Electric Pencil and WordStar emerged as key business applications, though early versions were limited in functionality.
- VisiCalc, introduced in 1979, revolutionized personal computing by offering interactive financial modeling, driving Apple II sales and business adoption.
- The late 1970s saw rapid growth in the personal computer market, with 724,000 units sold by 1980, supported by a burgeoning ecosystem of hardware and software.
- Business computers evolved with more memory and peripherals, with the Apple II leading due to VisiCalc, while Commodore pivoted to the home/gaming market.