Apple II computer with internet connection

The Apple II is a pioneering 8-bit microcomputer that was launched by Apple Computer in June 1977. It is regarded as one of the world’s first successful, mass-produced personal computers and laid the foundations for Apple’s rise to become a technology conglomerate.

The computer was developed largely by Steve Wozniak, whilst Steve Jobs oversaw its marketing and spearheaded the design of its distinctive, consumer-friendly plastic casing. Unlike its predecessor, the Apple I – which was sold only as a bare circuit board for hobbyists – the Apple II was a ready-to-use all-in-one computer with a built-in keyboard and integrated power supply.

 

As a milestone in gaming history, it established colour and sound capabilities in the home computer sector, giving rise to classics such as Castle Wolfenstein and Ultima. The definitive breakthrough in the professional market came in 1979 with the spreadsheet programme VisiCalc – the first ‘killer app’ in software history, which prompted business customers to buy the Apple II in droves.

 

The model presented at VCF 2026 was connected to the internet – a feature that was not available when it was launched in 1977, as the internet in its current form did not yet exist at that time.