The Apple Graphics Tablet is a graphics tablet that was designed, manufactured, and sold by Apple in 1979. The Graphics Tablet has been introduced on June 1, 1979, and its price started at $645.
The Apple Graphics Tablet offered a possibility to use Apple II as an artist tool. Graphics Tablet could be used to create for example canvas, illustrations, diagram blocks, architectural renderings, logic diagrams, schematics, mechanical shapes, or fine art just by dedicated applications.
The Apple Graphics Tablet features a large flat surface with a printed grid, wired stylus, and graphics tablet software on a floppy disk. This tablet could create graphics with a resolution of up to 280 x 192 pixels.
The first generation of Graphics Tablet has been discontinued by FCC due to radio frequency interference problems. Shortly after that Apple released the second version of this tablet which features a lack of frequency interference problems and a new DB-9 connection port.
Today Apple Graphics Tablet is 42 years old!
Apple Graphics Tablet Release Date and Original Price
| Introduced | June 1, 1979 (1st version) January 16, 1983 (2nd version) |
| Discontinued | Unknown |
| Order Number | A2M0029 |
| Internal Price | $649 |
| Weight | Unknown |
| Dimensions | 15.5” H x 15.5” W x 1” D 39.5 cm H x 39.5 cm W x 2.5 cm D |
System Requirements
- Apple II computer
Graphics Tablet
| Input method | Stylus |
| Data range | Up to 120 coordinate pairs per second |
| Digitizing area | 11″ x 11″ 28 cm x 28 cm |
| Resolution | Up to 280 x 192 pixels |
| Tablet Modes | RESET CLEAR WINDOW BKGND COLOR DELTA SOFT RESET VIEWPORT CALIBRATE REDUCER |
| Stylus Modes | PEN COLOR DRAW LINES DOTS FRAME BOX |
Connections
| Connection | Unknown (1st version) DB-9 (2nd version) |
Power
| Maximum Continuous Power | Unknown |