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Originally Posted by red-beard View Post
Actually, it even goes back to the original days of the Apple ][. They couldn't get the unit to pass FCC classification due to interference from the RF modulator. So they sold it without the RF modulator, and then you could buy the RF modulator separately. If it caused interference, well, that was the user's problem...
Not quite.

In 1977, there were no video display screens or CRTs available to consumers. All personal computers at the time used a separate box that could convert computer output into something a TV could display. Pre-eminent among them was the "Pixie-Verter" which came as a kit and had instructions that ended with 'don't solder this wire to that terminal, because it would violate FCC rules.' Naturally, that last connection made the Pixie-verter work.

I was at Apple at the time and we had to be very indirect about recommending how a buyer might display graphics.



Steve Jobs, May '77 with Apple II and prospective buyers
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