Personal computer - Revision history

Jnc: /* External links */ Add a couple of early investigations into the 'first'

2025-04-27T11:50:35Z

‎External links: Add a couple of early investigations into the 'first'

Jnc: /* See also */ Add a couple

2025-04-26T00:33:47Z

‎See also: Add a couple

Jnc: Now usually a synonym

2023-06-12T17:13:13Z

Now usually a synonym

Jnc: /* See also */ +Datapoint 2200, IBM-compatible PC

2023-06-01T02:27:43Z

‎See also: +Datapoint 2200, IBM-compatible PC

Jnc: /* Further reading */ Two good reference books

2023-05-23T21:42:36Z

‎Further reading: Two good reference books

Jnc: typo

2021-12-04T00:44:50Z

typo

Jnc: +cat

2018-12-15T23:39:34Z

+cat

Jnc: fix typo

2018-06-16T21:27:55Z

fix typo

Jnc: Redo link

2018-04-26T02:58:22Z

Redo link

Jnc: Add smart phone

2016-12-19T18:07:33Z

Add smart phone

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 * Gordon Laing, ''Digital Retro: The Evolution and Design of the Personal Computer'', Sybex, Alameda, 2004
-* Michael Nadeau, ''Collectible Microcomputers'' (Schiffer Book for Collectors), Schiffer, Atglen, 2002
 [[Category: Computer Basics]]
 [[Category: Personal Computers]]

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 ==See also==
 * [[Datapoint 2200]] - the first mass-produced personal computer intended for ordinary people
 * [[IBM-compatible PC]]

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 A '''personal computer''' is one designed for use by a single person at a time (even though it may be running a [[time-sharing]] [[operating system]] for technical reasons).
-In comtemporary parlance (where the abbreviation '''PC''' is often used), the term generally refers to either a '''desk-top''' (fixed location) machine, or a '''lap-top''' (portable personal computer).
+In comtemporary parlance (where the abbreviation '''PC''' is often used), the term generally refers to either a '''desk-top''' (fixed location) machine, or a '''lap-top''' (portable personal computer). The term 'PC' is now usually a synonym for [[IBM-compatible PC]]'s.
 A '''note-pad''' is effectively a small lap-top, but one without a keyboard, using a [[touch-screen]] for user input. Recently, portable PC's have merged with portable phones, producing the now-ubiquitous [[smart-phone]].

← Older revision		Revision as of 02:27, 1 June 2023
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	Very slightly later, the first PC's (in the sense of 'small computer which an ordinary person could afford'), using the first microprocessor appeared. Eventually the two merged; the [[Apple]] [[Lisa]], although not commercially successful, pointed the way, and the Apple [[Macintosh]] confirmed the unification of the two groups of 'personal computers'.		Very slightly later, the first PC's (in the sense of 'small computer which an ordinary person could afford'), using the first microprocessor appeared. Eventually the two merged; the [[Apple]] [[Lisa]], although not commercially successful, pointed the way, and the Apple [[Macintosh]] confirmed the unification of the two groups of 'personal computers'.
		+
		+	==See also==
		+
		+	* [[Datapoint 2200]] - the first mass-produced personal computer intended for ordinary people
		+	* [[IBM-compatible PC]]

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

← Older revision		Revision as of 21:42, 23 May 2023
Line 16:		Line 16:

	Very slightly later, the first PC's (in the sense of 'small computer which an ordinary person could afford'), using the first microprocessor appeared. Eventually the two merged; the [[Apple]] [[Lisa]], although not commercially successful, pointed the way, and the Apple [[Macintosh]] confirmed the unification of the two groups of 'personal computers'.		Very slightly later, the first PC's (in the sense of 'small computer which an ordinary person could afford'), using the first microprocessor appeared. Eventually the two merged; the [[Apple]] [[Lisa]], although not commercially successful, pointed the way, and the Apple [[Macintosh]] confirmed the unification of the two groups of 'personal computers'.
		+
		+	==Further reading==
		+
		+	* Gordon Laing, ''Digital Retro: The Evolution and Design of the Personal Computer'', Sybex, Alameda, 2004
		+	* Michael Nadeau, ''Collectible Microcomputers'' (Schiffer Book for Collectors), Schiffer, Atglen, 2002

	[[Category: Computer Basics]]		[[Category: Computer Basics]]
		+	[[Category: Personal Computers]]

@@ Line 13: / Line 13: @@
 This melded well with a fortuitous contemporary development, that of the [[microprocessor]]. Some early 'personal computers' (in the general sense of the term, that they were intended for use by one person at a time) were built out of many [[integrated circuit]]s, held on a number of [[PCB]]s, like other computers of the era.
-The earliest was probably the [[LINC]]; an even more influential early personal computer was the [[Xerox Alto]], which pioneered the screen-based interface now ubiquitous among personal computer.
+The earliest was probably the [[LINC]]; an even more influential early personal computer was the [[Xerox Alto]], which pioneered the screen-based interface now ubiquitous among personal computers.
 Very slightly later, the first PC's (in the sense of 'small computer which an ordinary person could afford'), using the first microprocessor appeared. Eventually the two merged; the [[Apple]] [[Lisa]], although not commercially successful, pointed the way, and the Apple [[Macintosh]] confirmed the unification of the two groups of 'personal computers'.
 [[Category: Computer Basics]]

← Older revision		Revision as of 23:39, 15 December 2018
Line 16:		Line 16:

	Very slightly later, the first PC's (in the sense of 'small computer which an ordinary person could afford'), using the first microprocessor appeared. Eventually the two merged; the [[Apple]] [[Lisa]], although not commercially successful, pointed the way, and the Apple [[Macintosh]] confirmed the unification of the two groups of 'personal computers'.		Very slightly later, the first PC's (in the sense of 'small computer which an ordinary person could afford'), using the first microprocessor appeared. Eventually the two merged; the [[Apple]] [[Lisa]], although not commercially successful, pointed the way, and the Apple [[Macintosh]] confirmed the unification of the two groups of 'personal computers'.
		+
		+	[[Category: Computer Basics]]

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 Changing technology made personal computers both possible, and also desirable, instead of sharing a [[mainframe]] using time-sharing - the previous model of computer usage.
-One principal driver of personal computers was the advent of high-performance
+One principal driver of personal computers was the advent of high-performance displays (in particular, [[bit-mapped display]]s). While allowing all manner of powerful new applications, they used a lot of computing power to drive them.
-This melded well with a fortuitous contemporary development, that of the microprocessor]]. Some early 'personal computers' (in the general sense of the term, that they were intended for use by one person at a time) were built out of many [[PCB]]s, like other computers of the era.
+This melded well with a fortuitous contemporary development, that of the [[microprocessor]]. Some early 'personal computers' (in the general sense of the term, that they were intended for use by one person at a time) were built out of many [[integrated circuit]]s, held on a number of [[PCB]]s, like other computers of the era.
 The earliest was probably the [[LINC]]; an even more influential early personal computer was the [[Xerox Alto]], which pioneered the screen-based interface now ubiquitous among personal computer.
 Very slightly later, the first PC's (in the sense of 'small computer which an ordinary person could afford'), using the first microprocessor appeared. Eventually the two merged; the [[Apple]] [[Lisa]], although not commercially successful, pointed the way, and the Apple [[Macintosh]] confirmed the unification of the two groups of 'personal computers'.