History of Pc

1947

Scientists at Bell Telephone Laboratories invent the transistor. Miniaturization of electronic circuits via the transistor is a key development making personal desktop computers small, reliable, and affordable.

1958

At Texas Instruments, Jack Kilby completes building the first integrated circuit.

1960

Digital Equipment introduces the first minicomputer, the PDP-1. It is the first commercial computer equipped with a keyboard and monitor. The minicomputer represents an important size and power step from mainframe toward personal computers.

1964

John Kemeny and Thomas Kurtz develop the BASIC programming language at Dartmouth College. BASIC becomes the most popular introductory programming language for microcomputers.

1968

Douglas C. Engelbart, of the Stanford Research Institute, demonstrates his system of keyboard, keypad, mouse, and windows at the Joint Computer Conference in San Francisco's Civic Center. He demonstrates use of a word processor, a hypertext system, and remote collaborative work with colleagues.

1970

Engineers at Intel turn a calculator chip-set design into the first commercial 4-bit CPU architecture, the 4004 microprocessor.

1973

Engineers at the Xerox Palo Alto Research Center (PARC) create the Alto workstation, with a bit-mapped video screen.

In France, the Micral microcomputer is introduced, based on the Intel 8008 processor.

The Scelbi Computer Consulting Company introduces the Scelbi-8H microcomputer kit, using an Intel 8008 microprocessor, for US$565, with 1 kB programmable memory.

Gary Kildall writes the CP/M operating system.

1974

Intel releases the 2 MHz 8080 processor, capable of directly addressing 64 kB of memory.

MITS creates the Altair microcomputer, based on the Intel 8080 processor. Kits are sold for about US$400.

1975

Bill Gates and Paul Allen implement BASIC for the Altair, and found Microsoft.

1976

Steve Jobs and Steve Wozniak found Apple Computer, and begin selling Apple I computer boards.

1977

Commodore introduces the PET 2001 computer, featuring a 6502 processor, 4 kB RAM, keyboard, display, and tape drive, for US$600.

Apple Computer introduces the Apple II computer, featuring a 6502 processor, 4 kB RAM, keyboard, game paddles, color graphics/text interface, for US$1300.

Radio Shack introduces the TRS-80 computer, featuring Z80 processor, 4 kB RAM, keyboard, black-and-white video display, and tape drive, for US$600.

1978

Intel releases the 4.77 MHz 8086 processor, with 16-bit data bus, and direct addressing of 1 MB of RAM.

Atari introduces the Atari 400 and 800 computers, based on the 6502 processor.

1979

Texas Instruments introduces the TI-99/4 personal computer.

MicroPro International releases the WordStar word processor.

Software Arts ships the VisiCalc spreadsheet software for the Apple II.

1980

Sinclair Research introduces the ZX-80 microcomputer, with 3.25 MHz processor and 1 kB RAM.

Radio Shack introduces the TRS-80 Color Computer, for US$400.

1981

Commodore introduces the VIC-20 computer with 5 kB RAM, for US$300.

Osborne Computer introduces the Osborne 1 portable computer, with built-in 5-inch monitor, 64 kB RAM, two 5.25-inch disk drives, and US$1500 worth of software, for US$1800.

IBM introduces the IBM 5150 Personal Computer, with 4.77 MHz 8088 processor, 16 kB RAM, 5.25-inch floppy drive, for US$1500. Microsoft DOS is available as an option.

1982

Commodore introduces the Commodore 64, with 64 kB RAM, 16-color graphics, sound synthesizer, for US$600.

Intel ships the 6 MHz 80286 processor.

Epson