SMRTR TechJul 16, 2025Daring Fireball

More on Commodore, Apple, and the Inchoate Personal Computer Era

SMRTR summary

In the 1980s PC market, Commodore and Apple targeted different price points. The Commodore 64, initially $600, quickly dropped to $200, while the Apple IIe cost $1,400. This significant price gap, equivalent to about $620 vs. $4,300 today, explains the Commodore 64's popularity among families. The situation parallels the current difference between Meta Quest and Apple Vision Pro. Although rivals, the Apple II was seen as a premium computer, costing nearly 10 times more than the C64.

SMRTR provides this summary for quick context. The original article belongs to Daring Fireball.

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