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The Beginnings of Apple Computer

Posted by Soulskill on from the as-yet-unripe dept.

John Burek points out an article written by Stan Veit, former editor-in-chief of Computer Shopper magazine, and one of the first retailers to deal with the fledgling Apple Computer in the late 1970s. Veit describes his introduction to the Apple I and his early interactions with Steve Jobs and Steve Wozniak as they developed their early models. Quoting: "After Woz hooked his haywire rig up to the living-room TV, he turned it on, and there on the screen I saw a crude Breakout game in full color! Now I was really amazed. This was much better than the crude color graphics from the Cromemco Dazzler. ... 'How do you like that?' said Jobs, smiling. 'We're going to dump the Apple I and only work on the Apple II.' 'Steve,' I said, 'if you do that you will never sell another computer. You promised BASIC for the Apple I, and most dealers haven't sold the boards they bought from you. If you come out with an improved Model II they will be stuck. Put it on the back burner until you deliver on your promises.'"

4 of 181 comments (clear)

  1. Re:Interesting about Wozniak by maxume · · Score: 0, Flamebait

    As if they wouldn't have had time to do something about it after he actually died.

    It demonstrates them to be in a pretty calculating mind-set at that point in their lives. I understand why they were doing it, but if they had any taste, Allen wouldn't have heard them.

    --
    Nerd rage is the funniest rage.
  2. Re:Interesting about Wozniak by maxume · · Score: 0, Flamebait

    Fail what? The evidence used to claim that I was being dishonest came from the damn link I posted. What a cover up. I see the point that being incredibly explicit about the fact that they were talking about if-he-died would have been a good idea on the internets, where everybody knows you are a dog, but I wasn't trying to do a frame up or manipulate anything, I was just being terse.

    The part where I said "According to Cringely" was intended to get people to read the article for themselves before seizing on what I said about it, so whatever to you sir.

    --
    Nerd rage is the funniest rage.
  3. Re:Interesting about Wozniak by maxume · · Score: 0, Flamebait

    I would see it completely differently if they had had the decency to go to him about it, rather than talking about it behind his back.

    --
    Nerd rage is the funniest rage.
  4. Re:Interesting about Wozniak by AppleOSuX · · Score: 0, Flamebait

    Right, because it's "incredibly explicit" to put what you're talking about into context. That's just too explicit.

    But anyway, could you maybe cry some and be more defensive? I would really enjoy that.

    Thanks.