Computers history
...ame and towards personal computers. After many more advancements in personal computers, in 1968, two important events took place. For one, that was the year Intel was founded. It would soon become a very important company in the industry of PCs. Intel began as a memory chip producer, but soon switched over to the field of microprocessors. Also that year, a man by the name of Engelbart came forth with his computer model demonstrating the system of keyboard, keypad, mouse, and windows. That being the same system we have come to expect in all PCs today. Only a year later in 1969, the first home computer was introduced. It was called the h316 “Kitchen Computer.” That year it went on sale in the Nieman Marcus catalog for a grand total of $10,600. Also that year, IBM produced one of the world’s first personal computers called SCAMP. The actual beginning of the personal computer industry was not until 1975. The MITS Altair was introduced in an issue of Popular Electronics magazine as a construction project. It was the very first 8080 based kit microcomputer. It was the first computer to be produced in large quantities, and it was the first computer to use Microsoft software. The next step forward in the industry was the development of the Imsai 8080. It was created by IMS Associates, and was designed to use the same bus structure as the Altair 8800 with interchangeable circuit boards. It was much better built with a more advanced power supply and front panel. In 1976, work on the first Apple 1 Computer was completed. It was sold in kit forms and placed in stored. It wasn’t until the development of the Apple II that the first true personal computer was came about. In 1977, the two men responsible for the Apple computers, Jobs and Wozniak, introduced their personal computer model and made the Apple Computer Company the fastest growing business in American history. The Apple II was factory made, inexpensive, and easy to use. It came with software and floppy disks and was also capable of color graphics. It however, was a year later when much changed in the personal computer industry when VisiCalc was introduced. VisiCalc was a basic spreadsheet program. It made adoption of the Apple II a common part of business as it made it personal computer an important tool for business rather than simply a machine on which to play games and type on. Some consider the creation of the Apple computer to represent a beginning of what can only be defined as a personal computer revolution. The next important development in software was introduced in 1979; this was the first database and this particular model was called the Vulcan. The first complete desktop that included a monitor, floppy disks, and a keyboard was the Heath Desktop. Shortly after in 1981, the first portable computer was introduced. This computer referred to as the Osborne (after its designer) was equivalent to the size of a suitcase, ran CP/M, included a pair of 5.25” floppies, and had a tiny 5” display. The whole package, with about $1,500-2,000 worth of software was sold for $1,899. 1981 was a very important year for the PC industry. This year, the first lap top computer entered the scene. It was ...