The Personal Computer A Timeline 1977 The

The Personal Computer A Timeline

1977 The Commodore PET • • • First Personal Computer 1 Mhz processor 4 K 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 • 1 Mhz Processor • 4 K memory standard upgradeable to 64 K • 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 • 4 K memory standard upgradeable to 48 K • Monochrome green • Cassette Recorder for storage • OS was TRS DOS • Cost was $1099

1978 • Atari 400/800 • 1. 79 Mhz Processor • 8 K memory standard, upgradeable to 48 K • 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 16 K memory 16 color display Cassette Recorder for storage Programs on Cartridge OS was TI Basic Cost was $1150

1980 Sinclair ZX 80 • • 3. 25 Mhz Processor 1 k 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 4 K 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 • 128 K memory upgradeable to 512 K • 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 • 5 K memory upgradeable to 32 K • 16 color display • Cassette Recorder or 5. 25” floppy drive for storage • Programs on Cartridge • OS was CBM Basic v 2 • Cost was $299

1981 Osborne 1 • • • 4 Mhz Processor 64 K 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 16 K memory, upgradeable to 640 K 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 64 K 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. 614 Mhz Processor • 16 K memory, upgradeable to 32 k • 20 x 4 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 64 K memory, upgradeable to 640 K 16 color display 5. 25” floppy drives for storage 8 Internal ISA expansion slots 10 MB or 20 MB hard drives OS was MS DOS Cost was $8000 (640 K, 10 MB hard drive)

1983 Coleco. Vision Adam • 3. 58 Mhz Processor • 64 K memory, upgradeable to 144 K • 16 color display • High speed cassette for storage • Compatible with Colec. Vision 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 128 K/512 k memory 9” Monochrome display Internal 400 K 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 256 K memory, expandable to 8 M 4096 max color display 880 K floppy drives for storage 32 bit pre-emptive multi-tasking GUI 4 channel 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 x 86 bus into high and low speeds • 4 M memory, up to 36 M • 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 1400 lt • • 4. 77 or 7. 16 Mhz 32 bit processing 640 kb ram 9” monochrome LCD Hard drive storage OS Tandy Dos 3 Was first real ibm compatible laptop • 1200 baud modem • Cost was $1599

2005 • • • Think. Pad T Series T 43 p • Intel Pentium M 2. 13 Ghz Processor - Centrino • 15” TFT Active Matrix UXGA (1600 x 1200) • 1 GB DDR II SDRAM Memory • 80 GB Hard Drive, 5400 rpm • Hard Drive Auto Protection System • DVD-RW • Integrated Centrino a/b/g Wireless • Integrated Gigabit Ethernet • 56 K Modem • Lithium Ion Battery • 6 lbs Travel Weight • Microsoft Windows XP

2007 HP Compaq dc 7600 • • • 2. 66 Ghz Processor 1 G memory Upgradeable True color display 80 G hard drive for storage DVD/CD drives for storage USB connections for peripherial attachment 128 M Graphics Card Surround sound audio card LCD Display OS Windows Vista Cost was $1695

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