I specifically mentioned the HP9830 becasue it _is_
IMHO similar to many
early micros. A rough spec :
-- All-in-one desktop machine, just plug into the mains and go
-- Built-in QWERTY keyboard, 1-line (upper case) alphanumeic display and
digital cassette drive
-- Built-in ROM BASIC.. OK, the built-in BASIC was pretty minimal, there
weren't even stirng variables, for example, but it was still BASIC. You
turned on the machine and started programming
-- Plug-in ROM modules to extend the BASIC (string variables/operations,
matris operations, plotter cotnrol, extended I/O are the ones I have in
my machine)
-- 16-bit bit-serial proecessor
-- 2K words to 8K words of RAM (IIRC). A word is 16 bits.
-- Built-in interface to a thermal 80-column printer
-- And slots for 4 more interface modules to intruments, paper tape,
other printers, modem, etc. I have the 8-bit parallel I/O, BCD input (to
link to DVMs, etc), serial printer (half-duplex RS232), modem (bit-banged
RS232, advanced modem (a hardware RS232 interface handling async and sync
modes) and another parallel printer interface. There wrre many others.
And that was in early 1973. OK, it was called a 'calculator' but IMHO
that was for marketting rasons. It's a computer, surely. And it is, IMHO,
a reasonable candidate for 'first personal computer'
I am NOT going to attempt to create an
exhaustive, nor thorough, list so
assume that lack of inclusion of your favorites is not intended to
diminish their importance. Each of us KNOWS what the most important and
significant machine was.
So I? I am not sure I do....
Although you did just make a reasonably good case for the HP9830 :-)
--
Grumpy Ol' Fred cisin at