Apple's first mass-produced personal computer, released in 1977, was called the Apple II.
Designed primarily by Steve Wozniak, the Apple II improved substantially on the earlier Apple I. It arrived as a largely assembled computer with a keyboard, color graphics capability, and a plastic case, making it more accessible to buyers who did not want to build a machine themselves.
Apple introduced the Apple II at the West Coast Computer Faire in April 1977. Its success helped establish Apple as a major personal-computer company and supported the growth of a software market for home and educational users.
The Apple II is sometimes confused with the Apple I, which was sold as a circuit board, or with the later Macintosh line. The Apple II series continued for many years and included models such as the Apple IIe and Apple IIGS. Its importance was not simply its technical design; it helped turn personal computing into a consumer business.