History of the Personal Computer

By fairydragon

  • computers got smaller

    computers got smaller because one of its main components - the valve - was replaced by the much smaller transistor.

  • The microchip was replacing the transistor

    the microchip was replacing the transistor. A microchip could have several transistors on it.

  • Blue Box

    A blue box is an electronic device that generates the same tones employed by a telephone operator's dialing console to switch long-distance calls.

  • Spacewar Computer Game

    The first computer game invented.

  • Computer Mouse & Windows

    Nicknamed the mouse because the tail came out the end.

  • ARPAnet

    The original Internet.

  • personal computers were used only by hobbyists.

    The first ‘hobby’ personal computer was the Altair 8800 which cost just under $1509.84 in today’s money

  • The Floppy Disk

  • developed a program for the Altair

    Bill Gates and Paul Allen developed a program for the Altair that allowed people to write their own programs in BASIC program language. Their newly formed company was called Micro-Soft which was later changed to Microsoft.

  • Apple Computers was founded by Steve Jobs and Steve Wozniac

    Apple created the "home/personal computer" that could be used by anybody. The computer - Apple II - was launched in 1977 and was an immediate success. The personal computer was sealed in a neat plastic case, it had a keyboard, video unit and used removable floppy discs.

  • WordStar Software

    Word Processors.

  • 1 million personal computers in the world.

  • IBM launched its own personal computer

    Eventually 85% of all personal computers were to be IBM compatible.

  • Apple Lisa Computer

    The first home computer with a GUI, graphical user interface.

  • Windows

    Microsoft announces Windows, its response to Apple’s GUI. Commodore unveils the Amiga 1000, which features advanced audio and video capabilities.

  • Introduction of Windows 3.1

  • Pentium microprocessor

    The Pentium microprocessor advances the use of graphics and music on PCs.

  • JavaScript development announced by Netscape.

  • JavaScript development announced by Netscape.

  • Wi-Fi

    The term Wi-Fi becomes part of the computing language and users begin connecting to the Internet without wires.

  • Apple unveils the Mac OS X

    Apple unveils the Mac OS X operating system, which provides protected memory architecture and pre-emptive multi-tasking, among other benefits. Not to be outdone, Microsoft rolls out Windows XP, which has a significantly redesigned GUI.

  • Mozilla’s Firefox

    Mozilla’s Firefox 1.0 challenges Microsoft’s Internet Explorer, the dominant web browers.

  • Apple introduces the MacBook Pro

    its first Intel-based, dual-core mobile computer, as well as an Intel-based iMac. Nintendo’s Wii hits the market.

  • iphone

    The iPhone brings many computer functions to the smartphone.

  • Microsoft launches Windows 7

    which offers the ability to pin applications to the taskbar and advances in touch and handwriting recognition, among other features.

  • ipad

    Apple unveils the iPad, changing the way consumers view media and jumpstarting the dormant tablet computer segment.

  • google glass

    Google Glass is a wearable computer with an optical head-mounted display (OHMD). It was developed by Google with the mission of producing a mass-market ubiquitous computer. Google Glass displays information in a smartphone-like hands-free format. Wearers communicate with the Internet via natural language voice commands.