The Apple I was the first successful personal computer, and it served as the prototype for all subsequent models. It began with the Apple 1 computer, which had a 16Kb memory and sold for $666.66 when it was launched (a price Steve Jobs regarded as exorbitant). A less expensive variant ($25) without a case or keyboard was available, but only 200 were produced. Only 200 of these computers exist in the world today, making them one of the most valuable computing artifacts ever created.
In this video, The 8-Bit Guy demonstrates how to build your own functioning replica of an Apple 1 using only available on eBay or at antique computer fairs/swap meets components. He purchased knockoff chips from China and then located vintage manual and floppy disk drives on eBay. He subsequently purchases a fake keyboard from an old Mac, along with a phony case.
The 8-Bit Guy’s friend is playing Steve Wozniak and they use two different POKE commands to operate memory. A floppy disk program is loaded into memory, and then a simple BASIC interpreter appears that allows you to type BASIC programs. The computer begins playing music at the end of the video, which was made possible because it included a sound module created by Apple cofounder Ronald Wayne for $75.
For more information, see The 8-Bit Guy’s video about this project below:
