Apple II Articles on TUAW - The Unofficial Apple Weblog

iStation iPad dock is retro-Apple cool

by Steven Sande (Dec 1st, 2011)

You were probably born too late to have purchased one of the first computers out of Apple -- the original Apple I. This machine came as a set of completed circuit boards that you had to build your own case for. Many early owners of the US$666.66 computer used wood for the case, since it was ...

Apple II owners assemble for concert

by Kelly Hodgkins (Jun 22nd, 2011)

Apple II owners and enthusiasts in the greater Los Angeles area must clear their calendar this Saturday night. The folks from the Machine Project are trying to organize an evening concert featuring the iconic Apple II. Starting at 8 PM PT on June 25, a 16-step sequencer developed by Jason ...

Oregon Trail is turning 40 this year

by David Quilty (Jan 25th, 2011)

You may not have heard about it lately, but the classic game Oregon Trail is turning 40 years old this year. Initially developed as an educational game for a history class in Minneapolis, Oregon Trail was released to the public in 1971 developed for mainframe use starting in 1971, and it was ...

Found Footage: The Oregon Trail-er

by Steven Sande (Aug 2nd, 2010)

Were you one of the millions of American kids who grew up playing MECC's classic educational video game The Oregon Trail? Several TUAW bloggers remember spending hours in front of an Apple II coaxing their pioneers ever Westward, only to have them die of snakebite, dysentery, or cholera. Well, ...

Apple's original tablet

by Dave Caolo (Nov 23rd, 2009)

In 1979, the Apple II Plus was a badass piece of hardware, and the Apple Graphics Tablet was a flashy accessory. At $650US, it let users sketch with a wired stylus. Measuring 3/4 in x 15 1/2 in x 15 3/4 in, the Graphics Tablet was eventually discontinued when the FCC discovered that it caused radio ...

Take a stroll down memory lane

by Mel Martin (Sep 18th, 2009)

Most Mac users know the ads that Apple produces are really good and very effective at getting a message across. It's pretty much been that way from the start. Don't believe me? Web Designer Depot has collected ads that go way back to the Apple II, and it's a fun trip. I remember most of these ads, ...

Visua Mobile's old Apples collection

by Victor Agreda, Jr. (Jul 14th, 2009)

A couple of months ago I wound up in Paris and received a surprising direct message via Twitter from a young employee at Visua Mobile. Having nothing better to do in the City of Light, I wound up at their offices. I'm often suspect when a "mobile" development company rings me about their iPhone ...

TUAW Bookshelf: Apple II Reference Manual

by Victor Agreda, Jr. (Apr 1st, 2009)

TUAW BOOKSHELF Apple was kind enough to include a veritable encyclopedia of information with my Apple ][. Inside the big, red manual, you'll find complete step-by-step instructions for setting up the machine, adjusting a tape recorder for optimal use, plenty of programs to get you started, and a ...

Why not: A Mac mini inside an Apple Disk ][ enclosure

by Dave Caolo (Feb 23rd, 2009)

During last night's talkcast, we debated the validity of the most recent Mac mini rumors. I was in the "No Way" camp. I'm sure there's a new mini in the works, but I don't think that's it. At least, the machine depicted in that video isn't what will be offered to customers. I mean ... five USB ...

Apple II: Put the Zoid back in Zoidberg

by Erica Sadun (Dec 20th, 2007)

Dr. John Zoidberg is my TV Boyfriend. My husband knows, accepts, and understands. So imagine my surprise when TV Squad's Richard Keller posted about how Futurama's Zoidberg got his name. Sure, yadi yadi background stuff and then...Apple II assembly language? Wow cool! Futurama creator David X ...

Apple leads PC World's 50 Best Tech Products of All Time

by Mat Lu (Apr 2nd, 2007)

Everybody likes lists and rankings; there's just something that fascinates people about them, and they're always good for an argument or, as the case may be, selling magazines. Squarely in this latter camp is PC World's list of the Best 50 Tech Products of All Time, which editor Harry McCracken ...

Blast from the Past: Apple II Commercial with Dick Cavett

by Erica Sadun (Dec 11th, 2006)

It's the "appliance for the '80s". Or so Dick Cavett would have had us believe. This is an actual Apple II commercial from waybackwhen(TM), pointing out all the advantages an Apple computer could make in our lives. Like balancing the budget. And tracking recipes. Fortunately, the commercial's ...

Apple II game server

by Scott McNulty (May 25th, 2006)

I was just looking into buying an Apple II for a nefarious project of my own when Eliot, of Hackaday, sent us a link to this post. An Apple II game server? How sweet is that? All you need is the Java program, a null modem cable, and the ability to make the Apple II accept serial commands. After ...

Flickr Find: Old Apple wrench

by Dave Caolo (Apr 11th, 2006)

How's this for vintage Apple hardware? While looking through the Macintosh Flickr group, I came across this gem that fits in perfectly with our vintage Mac theme. The photographer, jotefa, writes that it's a 5mm wrench that came with the serial interface card for his Apple ][. Hold on to that, ...

Rig of the Day: Blast from the past

by Dave Caolo (Feb 22nd, 2006)

Here's one for Apple's pending anniversary. Flickr user and TUAW reader jcburns posted this shot of his desk circa 1985. Note the Apple ][, Mac Plus, IBM Electronic Selectric typewriter and floppies! Enlarge the picture up to see "1984" on the desk calendar. That was a pretty sweet setup ...