# Apple IIc

> personal computer model

**Wikidata**: [Q420782](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q420782)  
**Wikipedia**: [English](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Apple_IIc)  
**Source**: https://4ort.xyz/entity/apple-iic

## Summary

The Apple IIc is a compact personal computer model released by Apple Inc. on April 24, 1984, designed as a portable version of the Apple II series. It was manufactured by Apple and designed by Frog Design, featuring a WDC 65C02 CMOS microprocessor and running the Apple ProDOS operating system. The Apple IIc represents the fourth major model in the Apple II series and was part of a lineage of computers that spanned from 1977 to 1993.

## Key Facts

- **Release Date**: April 24, 1984
- **CPU**: WDC 65C02 (CMOS microprocessor in the 6502 family, introduced in 1983)
- **Manufacturer**: Apple Inc.
- **Designer**: Frog Design (global creative consultancy founded in 1969)
- **Operating System**: Apple ProDOS
- **Brand**: Apple
- **Instance Of**: Computer model
- **Subclass Of**: Personal computer
- **Part Of Series**: Apple II series (1977–1993)
- **Followed By**: Apple IIGS, Apple IIc Plus
- **GND ID**: 4002494-5
- **Freebase ID**: /m/01lv47
- **Library of Congress Authority ID**: sh85006132
- **Wikipedia Title**: Apple IIc
- **Commons Category**: Apple IIc
- **Sitelink Count**: 16 (Wikipedia articles in 16 languages including English, German, French, Spanish, Japanese, Chinese, Korean, Portuguese, Indonesian, Hungarian, Serbian, Catalan, Arabic, Aramaic, Lombard, and Commons)
- **User Manual URL**: https://archive.org/details/AppleIIcOwnersManual

## FAQs

**What type of computer is the Apple IIc?**

The Apple IIc is a personal computer model and a compact, portable version of the Apple II series. It was classified as a computer model and subclass of personal computer, designed for individual use.

**Who developed and manufactured the Apple IIc?**

The Apple IIc was developed and manufactured by Apple Inc., an American multinational technology company headquartered in Cupertino, California, founded on April 1, 1976. The industrial design was handled by Frog Design, a global creative consultancy established in 1969.

**What processor does the Apple IIc use?**

The Apple IIc is powered by a WDC 65C02 processor, which is a CMOS microprocessor in the 6502 family. This chip was introduced in 1983 and represented an advancement over the original NMOS 6502 processor.

**What operating system does the Apple IIc run?**

The Apple IIc runs on Apple ProDOS, an operating system designed for Apple II and III series computers.

**When was the Apple IIc released and what succeeded it?**

The Apple IIc was released on April 24, 1984. It was succeeded by the Apple IIGS (a 16-bit computer in the Apple II series) and the Apple IIc Plus (the sixth and final model in the Apple II series).

**What series does the Apple IIc belong to?**

The Apple IIc is part of the Apple II series, which was produced from 1977 to 1993. It was the fourth major model in this series of personal computers.

**How many Wikipedia language versions exist for the Apple IIc?**

The Apple IIc has Wikipedia articles in 16 languages: Arabic, Aramaic, Catalan, Commons, German, English, Spanish, French, Hungarian, Indonesian, Japanese, Korean, Lombard, Portuguese, Serbian, and Chinese.

## Why It Matters

The Apple IIc represents a significant milestone in personal computing history for several reasons. As a compact, portable version of the Apple II series, it brought the computing power of the Apple II to users who needed mobility and space efficiency. The release in 1984 positioned it during a crucial period in personal computing evolution, just as the industry was transitioning from early home computers to more sophisticated machines.

The Apple IIc's design by Frog Design demonstrated Apple's commitment to industrial design and user experience, with the compact form factor setting it apart from other computers in the series. Its use of the WDC 65C02 processor, a CMOS version of the 6502 family introduced in 1983, reflected the technological advancements of the era.

The Apple IIc's place in the Apple II series is particularly significant because the series itself was one of the longest-running computer product lines in history, spanning 16 years from 1977 to 1993. The Apple II series helped establish Apple as a major player in the personal computer industry and created an ecosystem that influenced subsequent computing developments.

Furthermore, the Apple IIc contributed to making personal computing more accessible by providing a transportable option that didn't require the desk space of earlier Apple II models. This portability aspect was forward-thinking for its time and anticipated the eventual shift toward truly mobile computing.

## Notable For

- **Compact Design**: The Apple IIc was designed as a portable, space-efficient version of the Apple II, distinguishing it from earlier, larger models in the series
- **WDC 65C02 Processor**: One of the first Apple II models to use the CMOS version of the 6502 processor family
- **Frog Design Collaboration**: Industrial design by the global creative consultancy Frog Design, known for their work with major technology companies
- **Part of Apple II Legacy**: Fourth major model in the Apple II series, one of the longest-running computer product lines (1977–1993)
- **Multilingual Presence**: Wikipedia articles in 16 different languages indicating global reach and lasting interest
- **Operating System**: Shipped with Apple ProDOS, the primary operating system for Apple II computers

## Body

### History and Release

The Apple IIc was released on April 24, 1984, as a compact, portable version of the Apple II series. It represented the fourth major model in the Apple II family, which began with the original Apple II in 1977 and continued until 1993, making it one of the most enduring computer series in history. The timing of the release placed the Apple IIc in the midst of the personal computer revolution of the mid-1980s, when companies were competing to make computing accessible to mainstream consumers and businesses.

The Apple IIc was designed to address the needs of users who wanted the power and software compatibility of the Apple II but required a more compact form factor. This positioned the machine as a portable alternative to the desktop models that dominated the market at the time.

### Technical Architecture

The Apple IIc is built around the WDC 65C02 processor, a CMOS microprocessor that is part of the 6502 processor family. The WDC 65C02 was introduced in 1983 and represented an evolution of the original 6502 architecture, offering improved power efficiency and reliability through CMOS (Complementary Metal-Oxide-Semiconductor) technology.

The computer runs on Apple ProDOS, which was the primary operating system for Apple II and Apple III series computers. ProDOS provided users with a disk-based operating system that supported file management, program execution, and hardware access.

### Design and Manufacturing

The Apple IIc was manufactured by Apple Inc., the American multinational technology company founded on April 1, 1976, and headquartered in Cupertino, California. The industrial design was handled by Frog Design, a global creative consultancy founded in 1969 that has worked with numerous major technology companies on product design.

The design emphasis on portability and compactness distinguished the Apple IIc from other models in the Apple II series. The machine was built to be transportable while maintaining compatibility with the extensive Apple II software library.

### Series Position and Succession

The Apple IIc is part of the Apple II series, which was produced from 1977 to 1993—a remarkable 16-year production run that spanned multiple generations of computing technology. The Apple II series included several major models, each bringing improvements and innovations to the platform.

In terms of succession, the Apple IIc was followed by the Apple IIGS, which was a 16-bit computer that represented a significant advancement in the series' capabilities. The Apple IIc Plus, released later, became the sixth and final model in the Apple II series, bringing the product line to its conclusion.

### Software Ecosystem

The Apple IIc benefited from the extensive software library developed for the Apple II series over its many years in production. The compatibility with Apple ProDOS ensured that users had access to a robust operating system that could handle various productivity, educational, and entertainment software.

The user manual for the Apple IIc is preserved in digital archives, providing historical documentation of the machine's operation and features.

### Cultural and Historical Impact

The Apple IIc contributed to the democratization of personal computing by offering a more accessible form factor. Its place in computing history is tied to the broader Apple II series, which helped establish many of the conventions of personal computing and introduced millions of users to computer technology.

The machine's Wikipedia presence in 16 languages reflects its global reach and the continued interest in its history among enthusiasts and historians. The sitelink count of 16 indicates substantial documentation across multiple language editions of Wikipedia.

### Identifiers and Documentation

The Apple IIc has been catalogued under various identifiers across different systems:

- GND ID: 4002494-5 (German National Library)
- Freebase ID: /m/01lv47
- Library of Congress Authority ID: sh85006132
- National Library of Israel J9U ID: 987007294020405171
- Old-computers.com ID: 69
- Mobygames attribute ID: 350
- Homecomputer Museum ID: Apple_IIc
- YLE topic ID: 18-307133
- Reddit topic ID: apple_iic

These identifiers reflect the machine's presence in various digital archives, gaming databases, library systems, and historical computing collections.

### Related Entities

The Apple IIc is related to several key entities:

- **Apple Inc.**: The manufacturer and developer, a major technology company
- **Frog Design**: The design consultancy responsible for the industrial design
- **WDC 65C02**: The processor family, a CMOS version of the 6502 architecture
- **Apple ProDOS**: The operating system
- **Apple II series**: The product family
- **Apple IIGS**: The successor model
- **Apple IIc Plus**: The later model in the series
- **IBM PC compatible**: Related computing category
- **Personal computer**: The broader classification

## References

1. [Source](https://github.com/JohnMarkOckerbloom/ftl/blob/master/data/wikimap)
2. [Source](https://www.massmadesoul.com/features/appleiic)
3. Freebase Data Dumps. 2013
4. National Library of Israel Names and Subjects Authority File