VisiCalc on the Apple II
2 days ago
- #Apple II
- #VisiCalc
- #Spreadsheet History
- VisiCalc was developed in 1978 by Dan Bricklin and Bob Frankston, revolutionizing spreadsheet software.
- VisiCalc's success significantly boosted Apple II sales, with 25% of purchases attributed to running the software.
- The software's intuitive design, including slash menus and cell replication, set standards still used today.
- VisiCalc's tutorial and documentation were pioneering, offering clear guidance and professional quality.
- Despite its age, VisiCalc remains functional and educational, though limited by 40-column display and lack of graphing.
- Modern spreadsheet features like A1 notation, direct cell manipulation, and functions originated in VisiCalc.
- Emulators like AppleWin and DOSBox-X allow running VisiCalc today, though data export to modern formats is challenging.
- VisiCalc's flexibility allowed diverse uses, from financial planning to agricultural calculations, showcasing its timeless design.