Altair 8800 - Revision history

Jnc: Add further reading, links

2026-09-27T10:31:34Z

Add further reading, links

← Older revision		Revision as of 10:31, 27 September 2026
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	The '''Altair 8800''' from ~~MITS (~~Micro Instrumentation and Telemetry Systems) was the first mass-produced [[personal computer]] to be openly available. It was introduced in January, 1975, as a kit; later, pre-assembled units were made available.		The '''Altair 8800''' from [[Micro Instrumentation and Telemetry Systems]] (MITS) was the first mass-produced [[personal computer]] to be openly available. It was introduced in January, 1975, as a kit; later, pre-assembled units were made available.

	It was a [[microcomputer]], built around an [[Intel 8080]] [[microprocessor]]. The early 8800's were unreliable, and had a weak [[power supply]]; the later 8800a was better, but it was only with the 8800b that it became really reliable. It originally came with no [[peripheral]]s, just a [[front panel]]; later, a variety of optional add-on units, including a [[floppy disk]] drive, were made available.		It was a [[microcomputer]], built around an [[Intel 8080]] [[microprocessor]]. The early 8800's were unreliable, and had a weak [[power supply]]; the later 8800a was better, but it was only with the 8800b that it became really reliable. It originally came with no [[peripheral]]s, just a [[front panel]]; later, a variety of optional add-on units, including a [[floppy disk]] drive, were made available.
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	It is famous for being the machine that got [[Bill Gates]] and [[Paul Allen]] started; MITS did a deal with them to write a [[BASIC]] [[interpreter]] for it (Allen was actually hired as a MITS employee).		It is famous for being the machine that got [[Bill Gates]] and [[Paul Allen]] started; MITS did a deal with them to write a [[BASIC]] [[interpreter]] for it (Allen was actually hired as a MITS employee).

	The Altair 8800 was implemented as a set of ~~cards~~ (a [[Central Processing Unit\|CPU]] card, a [[main memory]] card, optional [[serial line]] or [[disk]] [[device controller\|controller]] cards, etc) connected by a [[bus]] on a 100-pin [[backplane]]. Both MITS and third-party companies produced cards using this bus; this 100-pin Altair bus led to the standardization of the [[S-100]] bus, which is very similar, but not 100% compatible.		The Altair 8800 was implemented as a set of [[printed circuit board]]s (a [[Central Processing Unit\|CPU]] card; a [[main memory]] card; optional [[serial line]] or [[disk]] [[device controller\|controller]] cards; etc) connected by a [[bus]] on a 100-pin [[backplane]]. Both MITS and third-party companies produced cards using this bus; this 100-pin Altair bus led to the standardization of the [[S-100]] bus, which is very similar, but not 100% compatible.

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	==Further reading==		==Further reading==

			* Gordon Laing, [https://www.cameralabs.com/digitalretro/ ''Digital Retro: The Evolution and Design of the Personal Computer''], Sybex, Alameda, 2004
	* Michael Nadeau, ''Collectible Microcomputers'' (Schiffer Book for Collectors), Schiffer, Atglen, 2002		* Michael Nadeau, ''Collectible Microcomputers'' (Schiffer Book for Collectors), Schiffer, Atglen, 2002
			* Mark Richards; John Alderman, ''Core Memory: A Visual Survey of Vintage Computers'', Chronicle, San Francisco, 2007

	==External links==		==External links==

Jnc: /* Further reading */ +Collectible Microcomputers

2025-04-29T15:22:42Z

Further reading: +Collectible Microcomputers

← Older revision		Revision as of 15:22, 29 April 2025
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	{{semi-stub}}		{{semi-stub}}

			==Further reading==

			* Michael Nadeau, ''Collectible Microcomputers'' (Schiffer Book for Collectors), Schiffer, Atglen, 2002

	==External links==		==External links==

Jnc: /* External links */ +another one from Allen's collection

2025-04-28T11:28:35Z

External links: +another one from Allen's collection

← Older revision		Revision as of 11:28, 28 April 2025
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	** [http://www.bitsavers.org/pdf/mits/8800/Altair_PriceList_19750401.pdf MITS Altair Price List]		** [http://www.bitsavers.org/pdf/mits/8800/Altair_PriceList_19750401.pdf MITS Altair Price List]
	* [https://www.christies.com/en/lot/lot-6495019 MITS Altair 8800 microcomputer] - one from [[Paul Allen]]'s collection at the [[Living Computer Museum\|LCM]], includes several images		* [https://www.christies.com/en/lot/lot-6495019 MITS Altair 8800 microcomputer] - one from [[Paul Allen]]'s collection at the [[Living Computer Museum\|LCM]], includes several images
			* [https://onlineonly.christies.com/s/firsts-history-computing-paul-g-allen-collection/mits-altair-8800b-microcomputer-131/230069 MITS Altair 8800B microcomputer] - another one from Allen's collection

	[[Category: 8-bit Personal Computers]]		[[Category: 8-bit Personal Computers]]

Jnc: /* External links */ trim URL

2025-04-22T17:49:08Z

External links: trim URL

← Older revision		Revision as of 17:49, 22 April 2025
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	** [http://www.bitsavers.org/pdf/mits/8800/Altair_Computer_Report_1975.pdf MITS Altair Computer Report]		** [http://www.bitsavers.org/pdf/mits/8800/Altair_Computer_Report_1975.pdf MITS Altair Computer Report]
	** [http://www.bitsavers.org/pdf/mits/8800/Altair_PriceList_19750401.pdf MITS Altair Price List]		** [http://www.bitsavers.org/pdf/mits/8800/Altair_PriceList_19750401.pdf MITS Altair Price List]
	* [https://www.christies.com/en/lot/lot-6495019~~?ldp_breadcrumb=back~~ MITS Altair 8800 microcomputer] - one from [[Paul Allen]]'s collection at the [[Living Computer Museum\|LCM]], includes several images		* [https://www.christies.com/en/lot/lot-6495019 MITS Altair 8800 microcomputer] - one from [[Paul Allen]]'s collection at the [[Living Computer Museum\|LCM]], includes several images

	[[Category: 8-bit Personal Computers]]		[[Category: 8-bit Personal Computers]]

Jnc: /* External links */ +one from Paul Allen's collection at the LCM; add some links

2025-04-22T12:08:39Z

External links: +one from Paul Allen's collection at the LCM; add some links

← Older revision		Revision as of 12:08, 22 April 2025
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	It was a [[microcomputer]], built around an [[Intel 8080]] [[microprocessor]]. The early 8800's were unreliable, and had a weak [[power supply]]; the later 8800a was better, but it was only with the 8800b that it became really reliable. It originally came with no [[peripheral]]s, just a [[front panel]]; later, a variety of optional add-on units, including a [[floppy disk]] drive, were made available.		It was a [[microcomputer]], built around an [[Intel 8080]] [[microprocessor]]. The early 8800's were unreliable, and had a weak [[power supply]]; the later 8800a was better, but it was only with the 8800b that it became really reliable. It originally came with no [[peripheral]]s, just a [[front panel]]; later, a variety of optional add-on units, including a [[floppy disk]] drive, were made available.

	It is famous for being the machine that got [[Bill Gates]] and [[Paul Allen]] started; MITS did a deal with them to write a [[BASIC]] [[interpreter]] for it (Allen was actually hired as a MITS employee).		It is famous for being the machine that got [[Bill Gates]] and [[Paul Allen]] started; MITS did a deal with them to write a [[BASIC]] [[interpreter]] for it (Allen was actually hired as a MITS employee).

	The Altair 8800 was implemented as a set of cards (~~ex:~~ a CPU card, a memory card, optional serial or disk controller cards, etc) connected by a 100-pin backplane. Both MITS and third-party companies produced cards using this bus~~. This~~ 100-pin Altair bus led to the standardization of the [[S-100]] bus, which is very similar, but not 100% compatible.		The Altair 8800 was implemented as a set of cards (a [[Central Processing Unit\|CPU]] card, a [[main memory]] card, optional [[serial line]] or [[disk]] [[device controller\|controller]] cards, etc) connected by a [[bus]] on a 100-pin [[backplane]]. Both MITS and third-party companies produced cards using this bus; this 100-pin Altair bus led to the standardization of the [[S-100]] bus, which is very similar, but not 100% compatible.

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	** [http://www.bitsavers.org/pdf/mits/8800/Altair_Computer_Report_1975.pdf MITS Altair Computer Report]		** [http://www.bitsavers.org/pdf/mits/8800/Altair_Computer_Report_1975.pdf MITS Altair Computer Report]
	** [http://www.bitsavers.org/pdf/mits/8800/Altair_PriceList_19750401.pdf MITS Altair Price List]		** [http://www.bitsavers.org/pdf/mits/8800/Altair_PriceList_19750401.pdf MITS Altair Price List]
			* [https://www.christies.com/en/lot/lot-6495019?ldp_breadcrumb=back MITS Altair 8800 microcomputer] - one from [[Paul Allen]]'s collection at the [[Living Computer Museum\|LCM]], includes several images

	[[Category: 8-bit Personal Computers]]		[[Category: 8-bit Personal Computers]]

Flx: mention Altair bus -> S-100 bus development

2024-02-05T03:27:07Z

mention Altair bus -> S-100 bus development

← Older revision		Revision as of 03:27, 5 February 2024
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	It is famous for being the machine that got [[Bill Gates]] and [[Paul Allen]] started; MITS did a deal with them to write a [[BASIC]] [[interpreter]] for it (Allen was actually hired as a MITS employee).		It is famous for being the machine that got [[Bill Gates]] and [[Paul Allen]] started; MITS did a deal with them to write a [[BASIC]] [[interpreter]] for it (Allen was actually hired as a MITS employee).

			The Altair 8800 was implemented as a set of cards (ex: a CPU card, a memory card, optional serial or disk controller cards, etc) connected by a 100-pin backplane. Both MITS and third-party companies produced cards using this bus. This 100-pin Altair bus led to the standardization of the [[S-100]] bus, which is very similar, but not 100% compatible.

	{{semi-stub}}		{{semi-stub}}

Jnc: /* External links */ fix link

2023-05-23T23:36:02Z

External links: fix link

← Older revision		Revision as of 23:36, 23 May 2023
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	* [http://www.bitsavers.org/pdf/mits/8800/ 8800] - documentation at [[Bitsavers]]		* [http://www.bitsavers.org/pdf/mits/8800/ 8800] - documentation at [[Bitsavers]]
	** [http://www.bitsavers.org/pdf/mits/8800/Altair_Age_Of_Altair_Catalog-1975.pdf The Age of Altair] - catalog		** [http://www.bitsavers.org/pdf/mits/8800/Altair_Age_Of_Altair_Catalog-1975.pdf The Age of Altair] - catalog
	** [http://www.bitsavers.org/pdf/mits/8800/Altair_Computer_Report_1975.pdf		** [http://www.bitsavers.org/pdf/mits/8800/Altair_Computer_Report_1975.pdf MITS Altair Computer Report]
	** [http://www.bitsavers.org/pdf/mits/8800/Altair_PriceList_19750401.pdf MITS Altair Price List]		** [http://www.bitsavers.org/pdf/mits/8800/Altair_PriceList_19750401.pdf MITS Altair Price List]

	[[Category: 8-bit Personal Computers]]		[[Category: 8-bit Personal Computers]]

Jnc: Short, but covers the basics

2023-05-23T23:33:46Z

Short, but covers the basics

New page

The '''Altair 8800''' from MITS (Micro Instrumentation and Telemetry Systems) was the first mass-produced [[personal computer]] to be openly available. It was introduced in January, 1975, as a kit; later, pre-assembled units were made available.

It was a [[microcomputer]], built around an [[Intel 8080]] [[microprocessor]]. The early 8800's were unreliable, and had a weak [[power supply]]; the later 8800a was better, but it was only with the 8800b that it became really reliable. It originally came with no [[peripheral]]s, just a [[front panel]]; later, a variety of optional add-on units, including a [[floppy disk]] drive, were made available.

It is famous for being the machine that got [[Bill Gates]] and [[Paul Allen]] started; MITS did a deal with them to write a [[BASIC]] [[interpreter]] for it (Allen was actually hired as a MITS employee).

{{semi-stub}}

==External links==

* [http://www.bitsavers.org/pdf/mits/8800/ 8800] - documentation at [[Bitsavers]]
** [http://www.bitsavers.org/pdf/mits/8800/Altair_Age_Of_Altair_Catalog-1975.pdf The Age of Altair] - catalog
** [http://www.bitsavers.org/pdf/mits/8800/Altair_Computer_Report_1975.pdf
** [http://www.bitsavers.org/pdf/mits/8800/Altair_PriceList_19750401.pdf MITS Altair Price List]

[[Category: 8-bit Personal Computers]]