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The Kenbak-1 is created
[Visit the site for the kenbak-1!](http:///www.kenbak-1.net)The Kenbak-1 was the first personal computer. It was invented in early 1971 by John Blankenbaker. It had only 256 bytes of memory, not even a thousandth of the memory on modern computers. It could not do much, it had toggle switches for input, and flashing lights as a data bank. Invented before microprocessors, it did not have the technology to be much smaller. Nevertheless, it was a great advancement in computers, and gave future engineers something to work off of. -
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PCs are introduced
The computers produced in this time period did not sell very well, as John Blankenbaker, creator of the Kenbak-1, said, "In 1955, it was thought that twenty computers would suffice for most of the nation's commercial business. At least, Hughes Aircraft Company who was developing a business data." processor thought that twenty was about all that they could sell." -
Microprocessors
Although not a computer, microprocessors may have had the greatest impact on PCs. They greatly reduced the space needed to process information, and they made the modern day laptop a realistic idea. -
The Micral
"The Micral was the earliest commercial, non-kit personal computer based on a micro-processor, the Intel 8008." -Computer
The Micral costed a lot more that other PCs, so it never sold well. -
The Alto
(exact date not known) in 1974, "Researchers at the Xerox Palo Alto Research Center designed the Alto — the first work station with a built-in mouse for input." -computer -
Scelbi 8H
The Scelbi 8H was the first computer to use a microprocessor. It used Intel's 8008. it had 4 kilobytes of memory, but the 8B model, which was intended for business use, had 8 kilobytes of memory. -
Period: to
PCs Take off
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The Apple 1
The Apple 1 was designed by Steve Wozniak and Steve jobs. only about 200 of them sold. -
The Apple 2
(Date of creation not known) The Apple II quickly surpassed the Apple 1. It had a more professional look, replacing wood with plastic. -
The Atari 400 and 800
The Atari 400 and the Atari 800 were announced in december of 1979, but were not releaced until november of that year. The 400's main purpose was for games, while the 800's was to function as a home computer. -
The Osborne-1
the Osborne-1 was first portable computer, it weighed only 24 pounds and may have been approved for use on an airplane.
