13 Dec
1998
13 Dec
'98
6:17 p.m.
On Mon, 14 Dec 1998 Innfogra(a)aol.com wrote:
In the 386 issue of PC Magazine, May 30, 1989, there
is a two page spread
(p98&99) called "Another Kind of Memory." It is a timeline from 1890 to
1990
of historical milestones on the path to computerdom. Of special interest to
this group they list the Kenbak PC, 1971 as the first personal computer.
I believe the Kenbak claim to "first pc" came as the result of a contest
held by TCM in Boston. I don't remember what their criteria was, but I
think it had to be nationally advertised, for one.
Before calling anything the "first pc", you need to first define "pc."
We generally agree here that by no sensible definition can the Altair be
called the "first pc." Maybe the Kenbak was the first transistorized
computer that was nationally advertised for under $1000, I dunno.
Does that mean the 1961 relay-based minivac, for example, isn't a "pc"?
Maybe it isn't a computer. It depends on who you ask. Personally, I'm
more interested in the rich and varied forms of computers than calling one
"the first."
I'm also interested in "personal" in trying to understand how we got to
where we are today. To me, the early attempts to get "normal" people to
*understand and experiment* with computers on their own is just as
important as the role played by cheap microcomputers and the wide variety
of microcomputer software that made machines *useful* to individuals.
-- Doug