Computerhistory

The Evolution of the Computer

By gkschmidt

  • Steam-Driven Computer

    Steam-Driven Computer
    Charles Babbage created a steam-driven computer that is able to compute tables of numbers. However, the project was a failure until the computer was perfected a year later.

  • Freely Programable Computer

    Freely Programable Computer
    Konrad Zuse Konrad Zuse designed the Z1, which ended up being the first freely programmable computer in the world.

  • UNIVAC 101

    UNIVAC 101
    The UNIVAC 101 was created in the 1950's and was the first stored-program computer. This was a huge step in the evolution of the computer.

  • IBM 701

    IBM 701
    This was IBM's first commercial computer. In May 1953 the rental charge for the IBM 701 was $12,000 a month.

  • The First Personal Computer

    The First Personal Computer
    Altair 8800 The Altair 8800 was said to be the first personal computer by inventor Ed Roberts. For $439 the Alltair 8800 included everything in one kit for the buyer to put together. It took many days and nights to (hopefully) create this wonderful machine.

  • Apple I

    Apple I
    Apple IIn July of 1976 the first Apple computer went for sale, Apple I. The retail price was $666.66; one because Steve Jobs liked repearting digits, and two because it included the 1/3 markup on the $500 cost to create the device.

  • Operating Systems

    Operating Systems
    Mac and Microsoft both released their operating systems, Mac OS X and Windows XP respectively.

  • Macbook Pro

    Macbook Pro
    MacBook Evolution Apple released the Macbook Pro in January of 2006 which would replace their PowerBook G4. The switch to Intel technology created 4x as much speed and power for the computer compared the the G4.

  • The Release of the iPad

    The Release of the iPad
    Evolution of iPad Apple released its first tablet PC. Dell and Windows soon would follow suit with their own versions of this technological marvel.