| The Apple III, introduced in May 1980, was Apple’s first business-oriented personal computer. It featured a Synertek 6502A processor running at around 2 MHz and came with 128 KB of RAM, expandable to 512 KB. It used Apple’s SOS (Sophisticated Operating System) and supported both text and graphics display modes. The machine had a built-in 5.25-inch floppy drive, four internal expansion slots compatible with Apple II cards, and two serial ports. The Apple III was designed without a cooling fan, leading to frequent overheating issues. This caused physical warping of the motherboard and dislodged chips, prompting Apple to advise users to drop the machine slightly to reseat components. After recalling early units, Apple released improved versions, including the Apple III Plus in 1983. Despite high expectations, the Apple III sold poorly—about 65,000 to 75,000 units total—and was discontinued in 1984. However, the SOS operating system was noted for its advanced design and influenced later Apple systems. |
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