New subject: The "FIRST PC" and personal timelines (Was: And what were the 80s

22 Apr 1999

Upon the date 02:12 AM 4/22/99 -0700, Sellam Ismail said something like:
...
 On Wed, 21 Apr 1999, Christian Fandt wrote:
   -- snip --
...
   To try to
solve that First Microcomputer question, a set of attributes must
 first be set just like the set was to determine the 1st PC as shown in the
 above URL. Methinks that will be a bit troublesome as nobody seemed to
 agree on that during the last go-around of discussing the 1st Microcomputer
 here awhile back. 
Well, first what?  First computer built around a microprocessor?  That 
Yes, 'first what?' That's pretty much my point in writing that paragraph
above because there's no apparently clear concensus on the set of attributes.

...
 would probably be Intel's development machines.  Or
should it include an 
Intel's devel machines would be a logical choice if one holds to the first
microcomputer machine in question using a microprocessor. After all, since
Intel is the "inventor" of the uP and the Busicom calculator product was
probably not "programmable", then the first ones could have been from Intel. 

However, your F14 CADC computer choice below holds the most water when
considering uP-based machines. Therefore, as a result of recently disclosed
confidential information as many of us had already seen months ago on the
microcomputerhistory.com site, the MP944 chipset-based computer should
indeed be considered the first microcomputer.

Ultimately, an etymology of the word 'microcomputer' should be undertaken
with respect to its' being attached to a *particular* machine, whether
uP-based or not, in order to answer the question clearly. I suggest we
start there. What does the OED say?

...
 integrated CRT and keyboard?  Or did it just have to
have a serial
interface for a terminal?  Or are lights and switches good enough for
output and input?

Arguing firsts is mostly pointless because people have a problem agreeing
on the definition.  I vote for the F14 CADC computer, since it was built
around what could be considered a "microprocessor" and was in production
and flying in the F14 in 1970.

http://www.microcomputerhistory.com 

Regards, Chris
-- --
Christian Fandt,         Electronic/Electrical Historian
Jamestown, NY  USA      cfandt(a)netsync.net
Member of Antique Wireless Association
        URL: http://www.ggw.org/awa