Apple

10 Major Developments of the Personal Computer

  • The PDP-1

    The PDP-1
    Digital Equipment introduces the first minicomputer. It is the first commercial computer equipped with a keyboard and monitor. The minicomputer represents the movement from mainframe toward personal computers. It would cost about $100,000.
  • Xerox Alto

    Xerox Alto
    Engineers at the Xerox Palo Alto Research Center create the Alto workstation, with a bit-mapped video screen.
  • Microsoft Begins

    Microsoft Begins
    Bill Gates and Paul Allen founded Microsoft after writing a programming language for the world's first microcomputer.
  • Apple is Founded

    Apple is Founded
    Steve Jobs and Steve Wozniak found Apple Computer, and begin selling Apple I computer boards.
  • Apple II

    Apple II
    Apple Computer introduces the Apple II computer It features a 6502 processor, 4 kB RAM, keyboard, game paddles, color graphics and it sold for $1300.
  • IBM 5150

    IBM 5150
    IBM introduces the IBM 5150 Personal Computer. It had a 4.77 MHz 8088 processor, 16 kB RAM, 5.25-inch floppy drive and sold for $1500. The IBM 5150 featured Microsoft software.
  • Microsoft DOS

    Microsoft DOS
    Microsoft announces the Windows graphical user interface for DOS. DOS stands for Microsoft Disk Operating System and is an operating system for x86-based personal computers.
  • Macintosh

    Macintosh
    Apple Computer introduces the Apple Macintosh. It has 512x342 monochrome graphics, 9-inch monitor, mouse, 7.8 MHz Motorola 68000 processor, 128 kB RAM and is sold for $2000.
  • Macintosh Portable

    Macintosh Portable
    The Macintosh Portable is Apple Inc.'s first battery-powered portable Macintosh personal computer.
  • ThinkPad

    ThinkPad
    IBM introduces the IBM ThinkPad line of laptop computers powered by Microsoft.
  • Apple and Microsoft Alliance

    Apple and Microsoft Alliance
    Apple Computer and Microsoft announce a five-year alliance. Apple will make Internet Explorer the default Web browser on its computers and Microsoft will release Office for the Macintosh.
  • iMac

    iMac
    Apple Computer announces new iMac computers. It has a 15-inch flat-panel screen attached by a pivoting arm to a 10.5-inch diameter dome.