The Personal Computer

A Timeline

1977

The Commodore PET• First Personal Computer• 1Mhz processor• 4K memory• Tape drive for storage• Capable of displaying Uper

and lowercase text as well as graphics

• Used the Basic operating system

• Initial cost was $595

1977

• Apple II• 1Mhz Processor• 4K memory standard

upgradeable to 64K• 16 color graphics• Sound• Ports for video, tape

recorder, and game paddles

• OS was Integer Basic• Cost was $1298

1977

Radio Shack TRS-80• 1.7 Mhz Processor• 4K memory standard

upgradeable to 48K• Monochrome green• Cassette Recorder for

storage• OS was TRS DOS• Cost was $1099

1978

• Atari 400/800• 1.79 Mhz Processor• 8K memory standard,

upgradeable to 48K• First to use co processors

for I/O• 128 color display• Cassette recorders and

5.25” disk drives for storage

• OS was Atari Dos• Cost was $999.95

1979

• Texas Instruments TI-99/4• 3 Mhz Processor• 16K memory • 16 color display• Cassette Recorder for storage• Programs on Cartridge• OS was TI Basic• Cost was $1150

1980

Sinclair ZX80• 3.25 Mhz Processor• 1k memory, upgradeable to 64 • No color display• No sound• Cassette Recorder for storage• Programs on Cartridge• OS was Basic that only dealt

with real numbers• Cost was $199.95

1980

TRS-80 Color Computer• .89 Mhz Processor• 4K memory • 4 color display• Cassette Recorder for

storage• Programs on Cartridge• OS was Tandy Color

Basic• Cost was $399

1980

TRS-80 Color Computer• 2 Mhz Processor• 128K memory

upgradeable to 512K • 16 color display• 5.25” Floppy Drives for

storage• OS was Apple SOS• Built with businesses in

mind• Cost was $3815

1981

Commodore VIC-20• 1 Mhz Processor• 5K memory upgradeable

to 32K• 16 color display• Cassette Recorder or

5.25” floppy drive for storage

• Programs on Cartridge• OS was CBM Basic v2• Cost was $299

1981

Osborne 1• 4 Mhz Processor• 64K memory • Monochrome• Dual 5.25” floppy drives for

storage• Pre installed software• OS CP/M• First Portable Computer• Had optional Battery Pack• Cost was $1795

1981

IBM PC• 4.77 Mhz Processor• 16K memory, upgradeable

to 640K • monochrome display• 5.25” floppy drives or

cassette drive for storage• Internal ISA expansion slots• Had a professional feel• OS was PC-DOS• Cost was $399

1982

Commodore 64• 1 Mhz Processor• 64K memory • 16 color display• 3 channels complex sound• Cassette Recorder or 5.25

“floppy drive for storage• Programs on Cartridge• OS was Basic• Regarded highly for gaming• 17 million sold• Cost was $595

1982

Epson HX-20• Two .614Mhz Processor• 16K memory,

upgradeable to 32k • 20x4 LCD display• Built in tape drive for

storage• Rechargeable Batteries• First Laptop Design• OS was Basic• Cost was $795

1983

IBM PC/XT• 4.77 Mhz Processor• 64K memory, upgradeable to

640K • 16 color display• 5.25” floppy drives for storage• 8 Internal ISA expansion slots• 10MB or 20MB hard drives• OS was MS DOS• Cost was $8000 (640K,10MB

hard drive)

1983

ColecoVision Adam• 3.58 Mhz Processor• 64K memory, upgradeable to

144K • 16 color display• High speed cassette for

storage• Compatible with ColecVision

game system Cartridges• Letter Quality Printer included• OS was Smart Basic from

cassette• Goal was to be all in one

family computer• Cost was $700

1984

Apple Macintosh• .89 Mhz Processor• 128K/512k memory • 9” Monochrome display• Internal 400K Floppy drive for

storage• Introduces The Graphical User

Interface (GUI)• Introduces GUI pointing device

“Mouse”• OS was Macintosh GUI• Cost was $2495

1985

Commodore Amiga 1000• 7.14 Mhz Processor• 256K memory, expandable to 8M • 4096 max color display• 880K floppy drives for storage• 32bit pre-emptive multi-tasking

GUI• 4channel Stereo sound• OS was Amiga Dos Workbench

GUI• Far superior to any system of the

time• Failed due to MS DOS

incompatibility and poor marketing• Cost was $1790

1986

Compaq Deskpro 386• 16 Mhz Processor• 32 bit processing• Split x86 bus into high and low

speeds• 4M memory, up to 36M • 16 color display• Hard drive storage• OS was MS DOS / Windows• Was turning point for IBM PC

dominance• Ushered in modern era of PC• Cost was $6195

1987

Tandy 1400lt• 4.77 or 7.16 Mhz• 32 bit processing• 640kb ram• 9” monochrome LCD• Hard drive storage• OS Tandy Dos 3• Was first real ibm compatible

laptop• 1200 baud modem• Cost was $1599

2005ThinkPad T Series T43p

• • Intel Pentium M 2.13Ghz Processor - Centrino

• • 15” TFT Active Matrix UXGA (1600x1200)

• • 1GB DDR II SDRAM Memory• • 80GB Hard Drive, 5400 rpm• • Hard Drive Auto Protection

System• • DVD-RW• • Integrated Centrino a/b/g

Wireless• • Integrated Gigabit Ethernet• • 56K Modem• • Lithium Ion Battery• • 6 lbs Travel Weight• • Microsoft Windows XP

2007

HP Compaq dc7600• 2.66 Ghz Processor• 1G memory Upgradeable • True color display• 80G hard drive for storage• DVD/CD drives for storage • USB connections for

peripherial attachment• 128M Graphics Card• Surround sound audio card• LCD Display• OS Windows Vista• Cost was $1695

?Questions

Conclusion

Since the Compaq Deskpro 386 Design has been very similar in personal computers of today. Processors have gotten faster and Storage has increased but the overall look and feel is still reminiscent of the Deskpro.

Refrences

(2007). PC Museum. Retrieved April 5, 2007,from PC Museum Web site: http://www.thepcmuseum.net/timeline.php

Polsson, K (2007). Chronology of personal computers. Retrieved April 5, 2007, from Chronology of Personal Computers Web site:http://www.islandnet.com/~kpolsson/comphist/

(2007). Old-Computers.com: History. Retrieved April 5, 2007, from Old-Computers.Com Web site:http://www.oldcomputers.com/history/timeline.asp