The "FIRST PC" and personal timelines (Was: And what were the80s - test-drb@ccmp.vtda.org

22 Apr 1999

One aspect of this matter I'm already seeing ignored is the COST.  That
so-called FIRST personal computer which cost $300 in the early '50's, for
example, cost quite a lot of money.  In the '50's, it was unusual for anyone
to earn $100 a week.  A mid-priced Chevrolet cost less than $2000 and $10 a
week was plenty for a week's groceries for a family of 4.

Not even DEC's so-called personal computers were competitive enough to
interest an industry professional.  The DEC mini's weren't even a good buy
as they became obsolete.  I doubt DEC equipment was EVER used where there
wasn't a third party present who profited from its use.  That doesn't mean
they weren't appropriate and suitable for a wide range of uses, but it
certainly doesn't characterize a personal computer.

Just to put things into perspective, a week's groceries, these days, for a
family of four, cost about $150, a decent mid-priced car costs $15000, and a
farily well equipped and appropriately designated personal computer with a
400MHz pentium, 8GB HDD, 64MB of RAM, OS installed, all the multimedia
features, plus a current-generation modem (V.90) costs $400 less the monitor
with monitors costing $139 for a 15" and $300 for a 20" type.  These prices
are from Best-Buy's ad in last Sunday's paper.  You can probably do better
if you shop.

Dick

-----Original Message-----
From: Sellam Ismail &lt;dastar(a)ncal.verio.com&gt;
To: Discussion re-collecting of classic computers
&lt;classiccmp(a)u.washington.edu&gt;
Date: Thursday, April 22, 1999 3:21 AM
Subject: Re: The "FIRST PC" and personal timelines (Was: And what were
the80s

...
 On Wed, 21 Apr 1999, Christian Fandt wrote:

  This seems to be a well researched trail leading
up to the Simon, IMO. 
Yes, Doug did a fantastic job.

> However, any good guess as to how many Simons were actually made and
> successfully run from the over 400 plan sets sold? Any known to exist now?
...

Doug is still looking for one, but he and another local Doug are looking
into building one.  They've acquired a nice pile of relays and are hoping
to have one built by VCF 3.0 for exhibit.

> 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
would probably be Intel's development machines.  Or should it include an
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

Sellam                                    Alternate e-mail: dastar(a)siconic.com
...

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