Ascent of the personal computer. (Chronology) David H. Ahl.
1974 Intel announces the 8080 microprocessor Motorola announces the 6800 microprocessor Nat Wadsworth markets Scelbi-8H computer kit David Ahl publishes first issue of Creative Computing Ted Nelson publishes computer Lib/Dream Machines Radio Electronics publishes plans for Mark-8 computer
1975 Ed Roberts' Altair 8800 kit is featured in Popular Electronics cover story Cromemco founded; introduces PROM programming board Processor Technology founded; introduces video display board Polymorphic founded; introduces A/D board Wavemate founded; introduces Jupiter II kit IMSAI founded; introduces 8080 computer Sphere founded; introduces line of 6800-based computers Southwest Technical Products introduces 6800 computer Bill Gates and Paul Allen write Basic for the Altair First computer clubs founded (Homebrew in San Francisco, SCCS in Los Angeles, ACGNJ in New Jersey) Dick Heiser opens first retail computer store in Santa Monica Paul Terrell opens first Byte Shop in Mountain View Wayne Green publishes first issue of Byte Adam Osborne publishes An Introduction to Microcomputers
1976 Zilog announces Z80 microprocessor MOS Technology announces 6502 microprocessor; Chuck Peddle sells them at Wescon for $20 each Processor Technology introduces Sol Cromemco introduces Z-1 microcomputer Steve Wozniak designs Apple I; Apple founded by Wozniak and Steve Jobs George Morrow founds MicroStuff (later Thinker Toys and Morrow Designs) Steve Leininger joins Radio Shack to design a computer Gary Kildall founds Intergalactic Digital Research (Intergalactic dropped later); introduces CP/M Michael Shrayer announces Electric Pencil David Bunnell organizes World Altair Computer Convention John Dilks organizes first national trade show in Atlantic City David Ahl organizes first personal computing sesions at NCC First issues of Dr. Dobb's Journal, SCCS Interface 100 companies active in field by year end 132 computer clubs in existence by year end
1977 Commodore announces Pet designed by Chuck Peddle Apple II announced Radio Shack TRS-80 announced Heathkit announces H8 and H11 computer kits North Star Horizon announced Vector Graphic announces S-100 system Technical Design Labs announces Xitan Ohio Scientific announces line of Challenger computers Ed Roberts sells MITS to Pertec Structured Systems announces CBasic Scientific Research sells first applications software disks Software Records announce 12" LP of programs first Microsoft ads for Basic and fortran Scott Adams founds Adventure International Jim Warren organizes First West Coast Computer Faire First Computerland franchise store opened in Morristown, NJ; 24 stores open by year end First issues of Kilobaud, Personal Computing, ROM, Microtrek Over 200 active manufacturers by year end
1978 Atari announces the 400 and 800 computers Exidy announces the Sorcerer Video Brain computer introduced More than 20 S-100 bus computers announced Alpha Micro announces 16-bit S-100 boards Apple and Radio Shack announce 5-1/4" disk drives Ithaca Audio (later, Ithaca Intersystems) founded; announces memory chips for TRS-80 Houston Instruments announces HiPlot plotter Summagraphics announces Bit Pad, first digitizer Micro Works announces Digisector, first video imaging product SubLogic announces 3-D graphics software Personal Software founded; announces two games packages Ed Zaron founds Muse (Microcomputer Users Software Exchange) Computer Headware announces Whatsit database manager package MicroPro International founded; announces Word-Master and Super-Sort Dan Bricklin and Bob Franston write VisiCalc Micro Systems Services announces Dial-A-Program (software by phone) NCC holds first Personal Computing Festival
1979 Texas Instruments introduces 99/4 Radio Shack announces Model II business computer APF introduces the Imagination Machine Mattel announces keyboard unit for Intellivision Commodore offers a standard keyboard with the Pet First Apple knockoff, the Orange, shown at West Coast Faire ALF announces first music synthesizer for Apple Heuristics introduces Speechlab, first voice recognition system Hayes announces Micromodem 100 Novation introduces the Cat acoustic modem Automated Simulations (now Epyx) offers first package, Starfleet Orion MicroNet announces CompuServe service The Source founded Microcomputer Industry Trade Association formed Introl announces first home control system MicroPro announces WordStar Sesame Place Theme Park includes a computer center David Ahl's Basic Computer Games becomes first million selling computer book
1980 Sinclair ZX80 introduced--first computer under $200 Radio Shack introduces the Color Computer Hewlett Packard introduces HP-85 Apple introduces the Apple III Epson announces the MX-80 Exatron introduces "stringy floppy" tapes system Digital Research introduces CP/M-86 Microsoft agrees to work with IBM Ken Williams founds OnLine Systems Doug and Gary Carlston found Broderbund Personal Software introduces Zrok Zerox, DEC, and Intel announce Ethernet Near banishment from NCC for American Used Computer (for sandwich board signs) and Creative Computing (for taking subscriptions) Creative Computing does giant 74-page April fool parody section
1981 Osborne introduces the first transportable computer Commodore announces the Vic-20 IBM announces the PC Microsoft produces MS-DOS (PC-DOS) Bally computer acquired by Astrovision; re-introduced with Z-Grass Okidata introduces Microline 82 printer First color printers announced Sirius Software founded Big Five Software founded Zork relinquished to game writers at Infocom; Zork II introduced Logo finally licensed for commercial release by TI and others
1982 Commodore 64 announced Epson announces HX-20, first notebook computer Grid announces Grid compass Wang announces Professional Computer DEC announce Rainbow 100, professional 325 and 350 computers Kaypro announced Apple announces Lisa Franklin introduces Apple compatible Ace 100 NEC announces 16-bit Advanced Personal Computer Seven IBM "compatible" computers announced More than 20 companies announce expansion boards and hard disks for IBM PC Teleram announces first S-100 bubble memory systems Sony announce 3-1/2" microfloppy drive Japanese Fifth Generation Project launched Three colleges require students to have personal computers Peak year for computer games--more than 300 introduced Software Arts announces TK!Solver First integrated software packages announced--Context MBA and Lotus 1-2-3
1983 IBM announces PCjr and PC XT Radio Shack announces Model 100; NEC announces 8201 Sharp announces PC-5000 Epson announces QX-10 computer with Valdocs ACT announces Apricot Atari announces 600XL, 800XL, 1200XL, 1450XL computers Coleco announces Adam SpectraVideo announces 318, 328 computers Mattel announces Aquarius computer Timex announces Timex/Sinclair 2000; withdraws from market eight months later Androbot announces four home robots 14 Japanese MSX standard computers introduced; none sold in U.S. TI announces Professional Computer, CC-40 Portable TI withdraws 99/4A Osborne Computer files for Chapter 11 Four Atari VCS-to-computer conversion units announced; none successful American Bell exhibits at West Coast Computer Faire Number of personal computing magazines tops 150; starts to decline PC publishes largest monthly magazine in history with 774 pages
1984 Apple announces macintosh, Apple IIc Hewlett Packard introduces Model 110 Portable Commodore announces 264 (now the Plus 4) ACT introduces first upward compatible line of seven computers Amiga announces Lorraine Mattel, Timex, Spectra-Video, Victor, Actrix, Computer Devices leave market or sell out Warner sells Atari to Jack Tramiel Electronic software distribution systems introduced First national TV advertising for software (Lotus Symphony and Ashton-Tate Framework) Human Edge Software introduces first psychological analysis packages Peak year for educational software Number of software manu-facturers tops 500