Available software included a line-oriented machine code monitor, BASIC interpreter, assembler, Pascal, PL/65, and Forth development system.

Rockwell advertised the $375 AIM-65, with 1K RAM, as an "easy, inexpensive [computer] ... for learning, designing, work or just fun".

Rockwell was also a pioneer in solid-state storage devices, introducing "bubble memory" non-volatile expansion boards in 1980.

Micro Technology Unlimited (MTU) made a "Visible Memory" card in 1978 that worked with the KIM-1 and AIM-65 computers, providing raster graphics display capability.

MTU also made the first real-time music synthesizer for a microcomputer; it worked with the KIM-1 and AIM-65 and featured a DAC with software providing 4 voices of wavetable-lookup synthesis.

In the late 1970s, the Rockwell AIM-65 and its successor, System 65, became the first computers used to board a float in the Tournament of Roses Parade.

[3] It is based on a mix of ALGOL and PL/I, simplified where possible in order to adapt to the limited processing environment afforded by the 6502 (64k memory for instance).