Steve Wozniak (born 1950) is an American electronics engineer who co-founded Apple Computer and single-handedly designed the Apple I and Apple II. His engineering genius made personal computing accessible to ordinary people.
Homebrew Computer Club
Wozniak was a member of the Homebrew Computer Club, a Silicon Valley group of electronics hobbyists. Inspired by early microprocessors, he designed a computer he could afford—using minimal chips through clever engineering.
The Apple I
In 1976, Wozniak showed his computer design to Steve Jobs, who proposed selling it. Working from Jobs’s garage, they built and sold Apple I computers to hobbyists. Wozniak did all the engineering; Jobs handled business.
The Apple II
The Apple II (1977) showcased Wozniak’s engineering brilliance:
- First personal computer with color graphics
- Efficient design using minimal components
- Disk drive controller using fraction of typical chips
- Built-in BASIC interpreter
Engineering Philosophy
Wozniak valued elegant engineering—solving problems with minimal hardware. His designs were noted for doing more with less, reflecting both engineering skill and limited budgets.
Later Life
After a plane crash in 1981, Wozniak stepped back from Apple. He has since taught, done philanthropy, and remained a beloved figure in technology. Unlike Jobs, Wozniak was always more engineer than businessman—happiest when building things.