The first LowSpec Processor

In 1975 San Francisco, the unveiling of an affordable microprocessor sparked chaos at an electronics show. This device promised a new era for consumer technology. Unbeknownst to the crowd, the real story was the yearlong battle fought by a group of engineers, led by a young engineer named Chuck from Maine, who envisioned a future with distributed local intelligence in every device. Chuck's journey began with General Electric during the space race, where he was designing systems for missile and space vehicles. Despite General Electric exiting the computer business, Chuck's belief in a microprocessor led him to Motorola, where he worked on the 6800 microprocessor. However, the high cost of the 6800 led Chuck to a revelation: a need for a cheaper, simpler microprocessor that could democratize technology.

After realizing that the Motorola 6800 was too expensive for the market, Chuck Peddle decided to create a new microprocessor based on a reduced instruction set that would be affordable. Despite facing opposition from Motorola's marketing team and executives, who were preoccupied with the economic crisis of 1974, Chuck persisted. His vision led to the development of the MOS 6501 and 6502 microprocessors, which were significantly cheaper than the 6800. However, Motorola's legal action against MOS for patent infringement and trade secret misappropriation threatened the future of these innovative chips, resulting in a halt of the 6501's production and significant financial and legal challenges for MOS.

MOS Technology, once a company on the brink of collapse due to the calculator market's downfall, took a gamble on Chuck Peddle's team and their affordable microprocessor. The MOS 6502 became the cornerstone of their strategy. At Wescon75, MOS executed a clever marketing plan, advertising their microprocessors as a cheaper alternative to competitors' offerings. Despite Wescon's rules against direct sales, MOS redirected interested buyers to a secondary location where they could purchase the chips. This unconventional approach generated significant buzz and attracted the attention of notable attendees, including Steve Wozniak and Steve Jobs, who would later play a pivotal role in the personal computer revolution.

The success of MOS's microprocessors drew the ire of Motorola, leading to a lawsuit that nearly bankrupted MOS. However, the company's strategy to focus Motorola's attention on the 6501 allowed the 6502 to remain on the market. Desperate for a lifeline, MOS found an unlikely savior in Commodore, a calculator company looking to secure its future by controlling its own microprocessor supply. Jack Tramiel's hard-nosed negotiation tactics led to the acquisition of MOS at a low price, giving Commodore a new direction and Chuck Peddle a chance to continue pursuing his vision of affordable home computers.

With MOS now part of Commodore, Chuck Peddle set his sights on creating a personal computer using the 6502 microprocessor. He saw an opportunity in the burgeoning market for home computers and believed that a simple, ready-to-use system was the key to success. However, his initial attempt to acquire Apple Computers for this purpose failed due to disagreements with Steve Jobs and Steve Wozniak over the company's direction and technology choices. Undeterred, Chuck and Commodore pivoted to developing their own computer, which would eventually become the Commodore PET, setting the stage for the home computer revolution.

The first West Coast Computer Faire in 1977 marked a turning point for the home computer industry, with both Apple and Commodore showcasing their innovative products. The Apple II and the Commodore PET represented the dawn of accessible home computing. Meanwhile, Atari's release of the 2600 further solidified the concept of home video gaming. At the heart of these groundbreaking devices was the MOS 6502, the original LowSpec processor that made this technological revolution possible. Chuck Peddle's belief in simpler, more affordable technology as a catalyst for progress remains a relevant philosophy in the ever-evolving tech industry.