What was the name of the world's first word-processing program?

MultiMate was an early word processor developed for IBM PC MS-DOS computers in the early 1980s. It was preceded by…

WordStar, which was the first commercially successful word processing software program produced for microcomputers. WordStar was released in 1979 but it was preceded by…

Electric Pencil, the first word processor for home computers, which went on sale in December 1976. However, Electric Pencil, in turn, was preceded by…

Expensive Typewriter, a program that ran on the DEC PDP-1 computer that had been recently delivered at MIT. It was written and improved between 1961 and 1962 by Steve Piner and L. Peter Deutsch. Since it could drive an IBM Selectric typewriter (a letter-quality printer), it is indeed the first word-processing program. It was called "Expensive Typewriter" because at the time the PDP-1 cost a lot -- about $100,000!

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27 Comments

John Moore

WordStar WordStar - The First Word Processor. Released in 1979 by Micropro International Inc., WordStar was the first commercially successful word processing software program produced for microcomputers and the best selling software program of the early eighties.

Rajnish Gautam

Not the appropriate question ,answer and explanation .

Tom Knox

I'm getting sick and tired of the answers being incorrect!! Who is screening these for correctness... Goofy?! Here's the correct answer: The first word processing program for personal computers (microcomputers) was Electric Pencil, from Michael Shrayer Software, which went on sale in December 1976. In 1978 WordStar appeared and because of its many new features soon dominated the market.

John McLardie

Author has been 'selective' with the reference which makes it clear that 'Expensive Typewriter' is/was a text-editing program for an IBM Selectric typewriter. This is not the same as a 'word processor', which are more comprehensive in scope. Very poor question with an incorrect answer made to fit the setter's personal opinions.

Linda D. Fox

WordStar is the correct answer. Poorly worded question and answer.

teacherchicky

Your question was inaccurate for your answer. Wordstar is the correct answer for this question. Expensive Typewriter is for personal computers!

Albertena Stegman Blevins

Tom Knox, yes. They don’t even know answers to their own questions.

Albertena Stegman Blevins

The first word processing program for personal computers (microcomputers) was Electric Pencil, from Michael Shrayer Software, which went on sale in December 1976. In 1978 WordStar appeared and because of its many new features soon dominated the market.

JRW

My memory, like others here, is that it was Wordstar.

gusroy

Again, your info is not accurate.

vonlora

vonlora, sorry, text editor

vonlora

it was sold as a test editor, not a word processor

soldbyjanet

That was going to be my last choice!

Mary Gini Fudge Chapman

I agree with you, John Moore.

Coral Harvey

I answered with electric pencil I was surprised to discover I was wrong!

Liz Hamilton

Many sites say Electric Pencil was the first, while others say WordStar was first. However, I don't see Expensive Typewriter listed anywhere. I would think there should be some fact-checking for these questions are published.

Barb Schmidt

the real maj is right, quiz "right" is completely wrong...

Silvia Levame

Released in 1979 by Micropro International, WordStar was the first commercially successful word processing software program produced for microcomputers. It became the best-selling software program of the early 1980s. Its inventors were Seymour Rubenstein and Rob Barnaby. Rubenstein had been the director of marketing for IMS Associates, Inc. (IMSAI). This was a California-based computer company, which he left in 1978 to start his own software company. He convinced Barnaby, the chief programmer for IMSAI, to join him. Hw gave Barnaby the task of writing a data processing program.

Michael W. Strode

Released in 1979 by Micropro International, WordStar was the first commercially successful word processing software program produced for microcomputers

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What was the name of the world's first word-processing program?

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