The Rise of Apple II and Commodore 64: Factors Contributing to Their Popularity
Technology evolves in unpredictable ways, and the personal computer revolution provides a fascinating study in the strategies that both succeeded and failed during this era. Among the most popular and influential personal computers in the 1980s were the Apple II and Commodore 64. In contrast, the less popular IBM PC and its clones struggled to achieve similar success. This article explores the factors that contributed to the popularity of the Apple II and Commodore 64.
IBM's Low Sales Expectations
One of the key reasons for the success of the Apple II and Commodore 64 over the IBM PC was IBM's low initial sales expectations. IBM initially designed the IBM PC with commodity chip sets, allowing other manufacturers to easily copy or improve upon the design while maintaining compatibility. If IBM had anticipated the long-term potential of their PC, they might have invested in more innovative or proprietary technology.
Furthermore, early versions of MS-DOS were not significantly better than the Concurrent Peripheral Marketing (CPM) operating system. Communication through RS-232 connections was limited to 1200 baud modems, and dial-up/online costs were higher for IBM PCs compared to Apple and Commodore systems. Nevertheless, the Apple II and Commodore 64 offered dial-up connectivity at lower costs.
Hardware and Software Ecosystem
The Apple II and Commodore 64 had established hardware lines with a rich software ecosystem, thanks to numerous sources and multiple hardware generations. These computers also came at a lower price point and provided better value for consumers than the IBM PC. However, IBM did not have the same level of brand recognition in the business world, especially when compared to Apple and Commodore.
The IBM PC was initially too expensive for home use, and the available software was not as robust. CGA graphics produced lower-quality video because of the inferior separation between luminance and chrominance signals. Sound reproduction on the PC was also subpar for years, far behind Commodore's custom SID chip.
Bootup and General Usability
Bootup times were another significant factor in the success of the Apple II and Commodore 64. Unlike IBM clones, which required booting into MS-DOS from a floppy disk drive or a slower HDD, Apple and Commodore systems could boot into Basic software directly from ROM. This ensured instant-on functionality and made these systems more user-friendly for the home market.
Motherboard memory prices were still high, and the Commodore 64 contained more RAM compared to many initially purchased IBM PCs. This meant that IBM clones often required additional effort to exceed 64KB of memory. Additionally, the availability and affordability of computer peripherals were superior for the Apple and Commodore lines, making complete systems more accessible to consumers.
Learning Curve and Compatibility
The learning curve for the Apple II and Commodore 64 was generally lower than for IBM clones. Plug-and-play functionality was not available on PC clones for another decade, and compatibility issues were non-existent for the Apple and Commodore systems. In contrast, the various IBM PC configurations and competing software drivers added complexity and incompatibility issues that did not exist for the Apple and Commodore lines.
Market Penetration and Growth
The IBM PC/clone business market did not truly flourish until the availability of Lotus 1-2-3 software and the establishment of the EGA graphics standard. The home market was not significantly penetrated until the introduction of VGA graphics, Creative Labs Sound Blaster sound cards, and other improved hardware options.
By this time, Apple had dominated the educational sphere and the needs for image/video/publishing businesses. Commodore, however, was experiencing a rapid decline. The introduction of GEOS window/GUI software from Berkeley Softworks and 512KB REU (RAM Expansion Unit) for disk cache came too late, and later the Amiga series signalized the end of the 8-bit era.
Conclusion: The success of Apple II and Commodore 64 over the IBM PC can be attributed to a combination of lower costs, established hardware systems, better software compatibility, and superior user experience. While IBM's initial strategy and the limitations of MS-DOS contributed to their challenges, the Apple II and Commodore 64 secured their place in technology history.