Happy 50th Anniversary Apple

[Borgmac]

New Apple-1 Replica on time for Apple 50th anniversary.
Just finished the case a couple of weeks ago. I started this project in July 2025.
Some other computers from my collection.

 

[GreenBar0n]

Very nice Apple I replica, really like the wood cases that were necessary from that era too! Thanks for sharing your collection with us.

 

[JDW]

Wow! That's pretty neat.

I think most of us are always wowed at the Apple I for having started it all, but I cannot help but feel that what really would be ground-breaking is if someone every came up with truly software for the Apple I, driving more vintage computer hobbyists to embark on such a replica build.

For example, I was watching the Tetris movie last week and saw that the original Tetris was actually character based.

Could it be that someone could make a similar port to work on a character based Apple I? That would be pretty awesome and make the Apple I more than just a proof of concept programming machine.

 

[Paralel]

Was much software ever written for the Apple I, or was it very much a "you are expected to write any programs you might need" situation?

 

[JDW]

Came without keyboard, display, etc. back in the day and users were expected to figure out what to do with it!

 

[ClassicHasClass]

Wow! That's pretty neat.

I think most of us are always wowed at the Apple I for having started it all, but I cannot help but feel that what really would be ground-breaking is if someone every came up with truly software for the Apple I, driving more vintage computer hobbyists to embark on such a replica build.

For example, I was watching the Tetris movie last week and saw that the original Tetris was actually character based.

View attachment 27778

Could it be that someone could make a similar port to work on a character based Apple I? That would be pretty awesome and make the Apple I more than just a proof of concept programming machine.

Difficult. The Apple-1 does not have addressable video memory, just two ports to get a key and print a character. It can't even backspace, and clearing the screen is actually done with a hardwired circuit. Additionally, because of the way the shift registers used to generate the screen are maintained, it is only possible to add one character to the screen per frame (approximately 60fps, so 60cps).

An Apple-1 Tetris would have to be constantly printing a new screen and scrolling off the old one, and it would take a few seconds to redraw. You could play that way but I suspect it would be very distracting.

 

[JDW]

Yikes! The Apple I certainly can't do much. Well... except sell for outrageous prices if it's an original.

That's too bad.

 

[joevt]

Add Apple II graphics using the Apple I expansion slot?