Ken Shirriff takes an in-depth look at the history and design of computer power supplies in this well-written piece over at his blog, and takes a moment to question the conventional wisdom held by fans and historians, that Rod Holt’s design for the Apple II power supply revolutionized the industry, a view which was also repeated in Walt Isaacson’s Steve Jobs biography.  Whether or not you agree with Shirriff’s conclusions, the post is worth a read for the technical and historical information alone.  Check it out here.

Em is the former editor-in-chief of A2Central, as well as a blogger and rescuer of classic manuals and books.