Apple III computer, 1984. The Apple III was one of the first microcomputers. It went on sale from 1980, but was a commercial flop. It was predicted at the time that the desktop computer would revolutionize medicine, and this image (with a pestle and mortar and text on the screen) was intended to illustrate this potential. This photograph was published in the November 1984 issue of the 'FDA Consumer', produced by the US Food and Drug Administration.