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The Apple II Age

How the Computer Became Personal
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( 164 ratings, 33 reviews)
Book Hero Magic crafted this summary to help describe this book. While it's new and still learning, it may not be perfect - your feedback is welcome! Summary
The Apple II Age by Laine Nooney explores the history and cultural impact of the Apple II computer, highlighting its role in shaping personal computing. The book examines the technological advancements and community-driven innovations that emerged during this era, illustrating how the Apple II became a pivotal force in the development of the computing landscape. Through a blend of historical analysis and personal anecdotes, it paints a vibrant picture of this transformative period in technology.
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Format: Hardback
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Book Hero Magic created this recommendation. While it's new and still learning, it may not be perfect - your feedback is welcome! IS THIS YOUR NEXT READ?

You might enjoy this book if you're interested in the pioneering days of personal computing and want to explore the history and cultural impact of one of the most iconic early computers. It offers a detailed and engaging narrative about the evolution of technology and its influence on society, making it ideal for tech enthusiasts and historians alike.

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Book Hero Magic formatted this description to make it easier to read. While it's new and still learning, it may not be perfect - your feedback is welcome! Description

An engrossing origin story for the personal computer—showing how the Apple II’s software helped a machine transcend from hobbyists’ plaything to essential home appliance.

Skip the iPhone, the iPod, and the Macintosh. If you want to understand how Apple Inc. became an industry behemoth, look no further than the 1977 Apple II. Designed by the brilliant engineer Steve Wozniak and hustled into the marketplace by his Apple cofounder Steve Jobs, the Apple II became one of the most prominent personal computers of this dawning industry.

The Apple II was a versatile piece of hardware, but its most compelling story isn’t found in the feat of its engineering, the personalities of Apple’s founders, or the way it set the stage for the company’s multi-billion-dollar future. Instead, historian Laine Nooney suggests that what made the Apple II iconic was its software. In software, we discover the material reasons people bought computers. Not to hack, but to play. Not to code, but to calculate. Not to program, but to print. The story of personal computing in the United States is not about the evolution of hackers—it’s about the rise of everyday users.

Recounting a constellation of software creation stories, Nooney offers a new understanding of how the hobbyists’ microcomputers of the 1970s became the personal computer we know today. From iconic software products like VisiCalc and The Print Shop to historic games like Mystery House and Snooper Troops to long-forgotten disk-cracking utilities, The Apple II Age offers an unprecedented look at the people, the industry, and the money that built the microcomputing milieu—and why so much of it converged around the pioneering Apple II.

Book Hero Magic summarised reviews for this book. While it's new and still learning, it may not be perfect - your feedback is welcome! HOW HAS THIS BEEN REVIEWED?

The Apple II Age by Laine Nooney is praised for offering a unique and insightful perspective on the history of personal computing, focusing on the Apple II era. Reviewers highlight its shift from glorifying the technological inventors to celebrating the everyday users who interacted with computing for the sheer joy of exploration. The book is noted for its well-researched narrative that challenges common Silicon Valley myths, combining rigorous scholarship with engaging storytelling to underscore the transformation brought about by consumer software on personal computing.

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Book Details

INFORMATION

ISBN: 9780226816524

Publisher: The University of Chicago Press

Format: Hardback

Date Published: 09 May 2023

Country: United States

Imprint: University of Chicago Press

Illustration: 19 color plates, 29 halftones

Audience: General / adult

DIMENSIONS

Spine width: 30.0mm

Width: 152.0mm

Height: 229.0mm

Weight: 653g

Pages: 352

About the Author

Laine Nooney is associate professor of media and information industries at New York University. Their research has been featured by outlets such as the Atlantic, Motherboard, and NPR. They live in New York City, where their hobbies include motorcycles, tugboats, and Texas Hold’em.

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    An engrossing origin story for the personal computer—showing how the Apple II's software helped a machine transcend from hobbyists' plaything to essential home appliance. Skip the iPhone, the iPod, and the Macintosh. If you want to understand how Apple Inc. became an industry behemoth, look no further than the 1977 Apple II. Designed by the brilliant engineer Steve Wozniak and...
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