How the MOS 6502 microprocessor broke the market from a hotel room
Summary
The article recounts the story of the MOS 6502 microprocessor, launched in 1975 at a price of about $25, sold informally from jars in a hotel room during an electronics show. This low-cost chip disrupted the microprocessor market dominated by Intel and Motorola, democratizing access to computing and enabling the rise of home computers like the Apple II, Commodore 64, and Nintendo Entertainment System. The piece explores the engineering decisions, business strategy, and cultural impact of the 6502, highlighting how a small team of former Motorola engineers changed the trajectory of personal computing.
Source
bskyHow the MOS 6502 microprocessor broke the market from a hotel roomgenerationamiga.comKey quotes
· 3 pulledJust chips, engineers, a low price and a sense that something in the market had suddenly shifted.
It changed the mood around what small computers could cost, who could build them and how.
The 6502 didn't just compete on price — it redefined what was possible for an entire generation of hardware designers.
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