The History of Educational Technology

Margie Adkins

Introduction of the Apple IIe

Apple IIe Timeline

Introduction of the Granny Smith III

Granny Smith III Timeline

January 19, 1983 - The Apple IIe is introduced

The Apple IIe was arguably the most successful and most popular Apple computer. It sold for $1395. It included a 1.02 MHz 6502 processor, which was the same as the Apple I and II. The Apple IIe included the new ProDOS operating system with a 32k ROM. The IIe contained 64k RAM built-in, and allowed up to 128k RAM using the 80 column card which allowed 80 column text and an additional 64k RAM. The IIe also allowed upper and lower case letters be used allowing full functionality of the Shift and Caps Lock keys. The next of several versions of the IIe was one with a sharper display (560x192 black and white, 140x192 in 16 colors). The IIe was intended to be a professional computer for use in business. It also became abundant in schools and homes.

Timeline on the Development of the Apple IIe

1975
Steve Wozniak was intrigued by the Altair 8800, often shown at meetings of the Homebrew Computer Club. He couldn't afford one so he decided to build his own microcomputer. Work began on the Apple I, which was developed by Wozniak, Steve Jobs, and Ron Wayne in the bedroom of Wozniak's home.

1976
March: Wozniak finished work on the Apple I. He first asked his employer, Hewlett Packard, if they were interested in an $800 machine that ran BASIC. All the departments in HP turned down his offer.
April 1: Apple Computer Company was founded.
May: The Apple I was introduced at the Home Brew Computer Club meeting. Paul Terell, president of Byte Shop chain, ordered 50 fully assembled computers for $500 each. The machine was intended for the hobbyist who would add keyboards and displays after buying the bare circuit board. It was not meant to be pre built with fully assembled displays and attachments. Jobs insisted it could be done. With the help of Wozniak, Bill Fernandez, and Daniel Kottke they were able to build all 50 of them by hand.
June: The Byte Shop order was finished 1 day before deadline. They were not the "fully assembled" computers Terell had asked for, but he paid the men the cash. Apple later sold the Apple I for $666.66 before replacing it with the much more practical and user friendly Apple II.
Fall: Wozniak showed an Apple II prototype to Commodore representatives. Commodore turned him down.

1977
January 3: Apple Computer, Inc. was officially incorporated.
April: The Apple II was publicly introduced for $1295. It was designed on the original Apple I but was much more expandable, easier to use, and complete. The most noticeable differences included a plastic casing, the first of any commercial microcomputer, and a video out connector. It offered up to 16 fixed colors, another first in commercial micro computing technology, and sound. They were sold with 4 to 64k of RAM, and were more expandable than the original Apple I.

1978
The Disk ][, a 143k 5.25" Disk Drive was introduced. With it came the first full version of the Apple II's OS, DOS 3.1.

1979
June: Apple II+ introduced for $1195.

1982
The Apple II was discontinued.

1983
January 19: The Apple IIe was introduced for $1395.

1985
March: Release of the IIe enhanced, which included a new 65C02 processor, character generator, new ROM, and 2 more ROM chips for Applesoft BASIC and the monitor.

1987
The IIe extended was released. The IIe extended most noticeably added a numeric keypad to the built-in platinum keyboard. Other new features included a miniaturized 80 column card and several internal memory enhancements.

1993
November: All IIe models were discontinued. The Apple IIe sold for a combined total of almost 11 years, outliving every other model including the IIGS, discontinued the year before.

Resources and Related Links:

The Apple Museum
Chronology of Events in the History of Microcomputers
Apple Computer Timeline
Educational Technology Timeline (CTER)

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January 19, 2033 - The Granny Smith III is introduced

Apple Computers has developed a new computer that has gone a step farther in user friendliness. To celebrate the 50th anniversary of its first successful computer, Apple is introducing the new Granny Smith III. No longer do we need to carry around those pesky receiver units and struggle to read those tiny monitors. The new Granny Smith III is worn on your head as comfortably as a pair of sunglasses. The microphone has been replaced with a brain wave receiver, so you can use the Granny Smith III anywhere from school to the ballpark. You simply communicate with the computer through your thoughts. In addition, you no longer need to put an earphone in your ear. The sound waves go directly from the "Granny" through your cranium to your brain, so there is no possibility of being over heard. All this convenience is being sold for an introductory low price of $1199.99.

Timeline on the Development of the Granny Smith III

2023
Billy Gates, Jr., was intrigued by the idea of computers that used voice technology instead of a keyboard. He decided to build one. Since his own company, Microsoft does not work with hardware, he sold his model to Apple for $50 billion.

2024
Apple Computers introduced the Granny Smith I. This was the first keyboard less computer. All commands and word processing were done by voice. The operator of the computer spoke into a built in microphone. The computer could respond either through audio output or by a printed display of information.

2027
The Granny Smith II was introduced. Improvements on this computer included a reduced size and a monitor magnifier. This computer fit easily into your pocket. It also came equipped with a small earplug for privacy in your computing.

2033
The Granny Smith III went on the market.

2056
All models of the Granny Smith were discontinued.

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