Origin of the term minicomputer (was Re: PDP-1 as minicomputer [was RE: OT - sort of])

18 Aug 2010

...
   But it all
depends on how you define "minicomputer" as to what
 specifically falls in the category. 
 Who originally created the term?  marketing??

The earliest use of the term as we use it today was an ad in
Datamation announcing the (Varian) Data 520i in April, 1968.

Before that the class was called "small computers",
ie. the PDP-8 "Small Computer Handbook".

Fall JCC, December 1968 had several papers using the term
"mini-computer" or "minicomputer".

Spring 1970 JCC is the first time DEC uses the term with the
annoucement of the PDP-11 and the paper "A new architecture
for mini-computers -- the DEC PDP-11"

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Origin of the term minicomputer (was Re: PDP-1 as minicomputer [was RE: OT - sort of])