The Personal Computer Revolution
Computing comes to the home desktop.
Explore this event on the interactive timeline →The late 1970s saw the release of the "1977 Trinity"—the Apple II, the Commodore PET, and the TRS-80. These machines, specifically the highly successful Apple II designed by Steve Wozniak, transformed computers from massive corporate mainframes into consumer appliances for the home.
Verified Facts
- The Apple II was one of the first computers to offer a color display, making it incredibly appealing for early video games and graphics.
- Its killer app was VisiCalc (1979), the world's first spreadsheet software, which convinced businesses they needed personal computers on every desk.
- It came fully assembled in a plastic case, unlike previous hobbyist kits (like the Altair 8800 or Apple I) that required users to solder their own components.