Which company released its first personal computer on August 12, 1981?

The IBM Personal Computer, commonly known as the IBM PC, is the original version and progenitor of the IBM PC compatible hardware platform. It is IBM model number 5150, and was introduced on August 12, 1981. It was created by a team of engineers and designers under the direction of Don Estridge of the IBM Entry Systems Division in Boca Raton, Florida.

The generic term personal computer was in use before 1981, applied as early as 1972 to the Xerox PARC's Alto, but because of the success of the IBM Personal Computer, the term "PC" came to mean more specifically a desktop microcomputer compatible with IBM's Personal Computer branded products. Within a short time of the introduction, third-party suppliers of peripheral devices, expansion cards, and software proliferated and the influence of the IBM PC on the personal computer market was substantial in standardizing a platform for personal computers.

More Info: en.wikipedia.org

Test your knowledge

What are your thoughts on this subject?

44 Comments

beth

I liked DOS

Christopher John Goddard

Telsa Alset is a very intelligent,very knowledgeable person who doesn't get caught up in the pettiness of others.

Wyla Reedy

That and dial up internet was it. Now, we have all that and more in the palm of our hand.

Iancompat

I better get this right - I was a Computer Engineer for IBM at the time! (Customer Engineer, officially.)

Iancompat

Todd Van Dell, sorry Todd, the processor was the 8088!

allysweets

IBM sounds so much classier then “international business machines”

littledick

Nicholas Miernicki, Well, I'll be hornswoggled! And guess what, I share a birthday with Osama bin Laden.

Todd Van Dell

Interesting that the IBM PC was called the 5150. The police number for the criminally insane. Also the number associated with Eddie Van Halen's company (chosen because it denotes the criminally insane). Also, if memory serves, the 5150 was the processor used in the computer. The original processing platform.

Lesley (Dalrymple) O'Neil

lphilipson, Yes, it was! I bought myself a Commodore 64 with the drive etc and it cost me about $1500 CDN. But it was worth it!

Lesley (Dalrymple) O'Neil

Robin Heckler, the Commodore 64 was my first computer as well. That, with accompanying drive et al, cost me the $1500 (Canadian) that I had won as the top grad in my professional life’s learning curve. I loved that little computer! Then the 128, and after that a clutzy IBM. But onward!