The article explores a fascinating alternate history where the Apple II computer ran on CBS's field-sequential color system instead of NTSC. This thought experiment imagines how the 1970s computer industry would have evolved if the United States had stuck with CBS's 144Hz color technology rather than switching to RCA's compatible color system.

The author identifies the Korean War as the critical turning point. The war's resource demands pushed the FCC to abandon field-sequential color in 1951, just as CBS was beginning broadcasts. Without this conflict, CBS would have had more time to gain market share with their spinning-disc technology, fundamentally altering the trajectory of both television and computer development.

This alternate timeline produces the 'Columbia ][' - a fantasy computer that uses the MOS 6502 processor but must work within the constraints of field-sequential color. The author works through technical specifications, noting that CBS's system operated at 144Hz with progressive color frames at 48Hz, compared to NTSC's 59.94Hz. The piece concludes by examining what 1970s monitors might have looked like, speculating that shadow mask technology could have replaced the mechanical spinning disc while maintaining the unique color timing.