Chronology
of
Personal Computers
1976
- January
- David Jackson founds Altos Computer Systems. [163.58]
- Paul Terrell begins signing dealership agreements, allowing
Byte Shop
franchises to open elsewhere in the US. [266.189]
- (month unknown)
- MITS unveils the Altair 680, based on the Motorola 6800
microprocessor.
[192.42] [548.303]
- Steve Wozniak offers his new computer (Apple) to
Hewlett-Packard, who
reject it as a non-viable product. [930.34]
- Hewlett-Packard begins Project Capricorn, to build a
computer-like
calculator. The result will be the HP-85 computer [266.264]
- February 3
- David Bunnell publishes in his "Computer Notes" Altair
newsletter
an article from Bill Gates, complaining of software piracy. [346.30]
[389.28]
[1149.102]
- February
- Bill Gates writes software routines for BASIC on the Altair to
use
diskettes for storage. [346.28]
- Lee Felsenstein and Bob Marsh deliver the first Processor
Technology
Sol computer to Popular Electronics magazine publisher Les Solomon.
[353.242]
- (month unknown)
- MOS Technology ships the 6502 microprocessor. The 6502 was
developed
by Chuck Peddle. [556.11]
- MOS Technology announces the KIM-1 Microcomputer System, with 1
MHz
6502 CPU, 1 KB RAM, 2 KB ROM monitor, 23-key keypad, LED readout,
cassette
and serial interfaces, for US$245. [193.14] [261.304] (1975 [9])
- March
- Steve Wozniak and Steve Jobs finish work on a computer circuit
board,
that they call the Apple I computer. [46]
- March 26
- The World Altair Computer Convention is held, in a hotel near
Albuquerque,
New Mexico, over three days. This is the first such convention for the
microcomputer industry. At the conference, Bill Gates explains his
position
on software piracy. In the hotel's penthouse suite, Processor
Technology
holds its own "booth" to promote their 4-KB memory boards for
the Altair. [123] [266.46] [346.31] [1149.104]
- March
- Paul Terrell incorporates Byte, Inc. [266.189]
- Intel introduces the 5 MHz 8085 microprocessor. Speed is 0.37
MIPS.
It uses 6500 transistors, based on 3-micron technology. It supports an
8-bit bus, and operates on a single 5-volt power supply. [62] (1978
[120])
- (month unknown)
- Bill Gates offers to sell all rights and ownership of his 8080
BASIC
to Ed Roberts and MITS for about US$6500. Roberts declines the offer.
[1149.102]
- April 1
- Steve Jobs and Steve Wozniak incorporate the Apple Computer
Company,
on April Fool's Day. [9] [46] [140] [218] [606.18] [1112.138]
- April
- Apple Computer co-founder Ron Wayne sells his share for US$800.
[1112.138]
- David Bunnell's Computer Notes Altair newsletter publishes Bill
Gates'
"A Second and Final Letter" article on software piracy. [346.32]
[1149.106]
- Microsoft hires its first permanent programmer, Marc McDonald.
[346.34]
[1149.108]
- National Semiconductor releases the SC/MP 8-bit microprocessor,
providing
early advanced multiprocessing. [32] [556.11]
- (month unknown)
- The term "personal computer" first appears in print, in the
May issue of Byte magazine. [1056.372]
- Gary Kildall and wife Dorothy McEwen found Intergalactic
Digital Research.
(The name is soon shortened to Digital Research.) [266.xv]
[346.51]
[346.280] [994.ss48] [1149.175]
- May
- In Japan, IBM Japan announces the IBM 5100 desktop system, with
5-inch
monochrome display. Price is about US$10,000. [902.146]
- Digital Research copyrights the CP/M operating system. [41]
- The Trenton Computer Festival is held, in New Jersey. [266.180]
- June
- Western Digital introduces the MCP-1600 3-chip CPU. [32]
- Texas Instruments introduces the TMS9900, the first 16-bit
microprocessor.
The microprocessor implements the 16-bit architecture used on the TI
990
minicomputer. [32] [556.11]
- Wang Laboratories announces a word-processing system using
advanced
computer technology, rather than traditional electromechanical devices.
The price is US$30,000, more than twice that of the most expensive
competitor's
word-processor. [716.175]
- At the PC '76 conference at the Shelbourne Hotel in Atlantic
City,
Processor Technology unveils the Sol-20 microcomputer. The Sol-20 uses
an Intel 8080 processor, and is sold in a kit form. [205.20] [266.116]
[353.242]
- (month unknown)
- In the USSR, the Elektronika S5-11 microcomputer is introduced.
[949.356]
- Advanced Micro Devices and Intel sign a patent cross-license
agreement,
giving Advanced Micro Devices the right to copy Intel's processor
microcode
and instruction codes. [141] [659.7] [752.1]
- Xerox management rejects two proposals to market the Alto
computer.
[716.174]
- Wang Laboratories updates the Wang WPS word processor, adding a
CRT
display, a large disk storage, and a fast letter-quality printer. [33]
[202.185]
- IBM develops the ink jet printer. [1112.144]
- At Xerox, John Ellenby proposes they build the Alto III, to be
marketed
as an advanced word processing system. The proposal is shelved.
[716.206]
- Processor Technology releases VDM, a video display module. It
works
on the Altair, IMSAI, Sol, Polymorphic computers, and any other with an
S-100 bus. [266.133]
- Dynalogic of Canada creates its own advanced microcomputer.
[615.170]
- Gary Kildall grants a license to CP/M to GNAT Computers for
US$90.
[346.51]
- Kentucky Fried Computers is founded. [266.xv]
- Tom Snyder's "Tomorrow" TV show features the Sol computer,
playing a game called "Target". [353.243]
- IMS is renamed IMSAI. [647.95]
- John Martin sells Bill Millard on the idea of a chain of
computer stores.
Bill promises John shares in the company in exchange for the idea. The
chain later becomes ComputerLand. [647.95]
- U.S. Robotics is founded, in Skokie, Illinois. [235]
- Chuck Peddle designs the Commodore PET. [713.29]
- Steve Wozniak proposes that Hewlett-Packard create a personal
computer.
The idea is rejected. [9]
- Steve Jobs proposes that Atari create a personal computer. The
idea
is rejected. [9]
- Lore Harp and Carole Ely form Vector Graphic Incorporated,
selling
memory boards for S-100 bus systems. [202.201]
- George Morrow founds the MicroStuf company. [266.xv]
- The first issue of Dr. Dobbs magazine is published. [266.xv]
- IMSAI begins shipping the IMSAI 8080 microcomputer. [266.48]
- Polymorphic Systems introduces the Polymorphic 8800. It is the
first
microcomputer with an interface for a video monitor, a connection for a
cassette tape recorder, and its basic operating system in ROM. [266.48]
[714.83]
- Stephen Wozniak demonstrates the Apple I at the Homebrew
Computer Club.
[266.xv]
- The bus of the Altair is named (or renamed) the S-100 bus.
[266.48]
- July
- The Apple I computer board is sold in kit form, and delivered
to stores
by Steve Jobs and Steve Wozniak. Price: US$666.66. [46] [218] [593.350]
- Paul Terrell orders 50 Apple computers from Steve Jobs, for his
Byte
Shop. [266.213]
- Zilog releases the 2.5 MHz Z80, an 8-bit microprocessor whose
instruction
set is a superset of the Intel 8080. [32] [202.168] (early 1975 [9])
(1975
[556.11]) (1975 December [346.257] [1038.150])
- August
- Paul Terrell receives his order of 50 Apple computers.
[266.213]
- iCOM advertises their "Frugal Floppy" in BYTE magazine, an
8-inch floppy drive, selling for US$1200. [9]
- In Atlantic City, New Jersey, the Personal Computing Festival
is held.
Several computer hobbyist clubs hold their first convention there.
[185.111]
[266.181]
- Steve Wozniak begins work on the Apple II. [266.218]
- September
- Computer Shack is incorporated. The name is later changed to
ComputerLand,
due to objections from Radio Shack. [266.xv] (ComputerLand is
incorporated
[647.95])
- October
- Commodore International buys MOS Technology. [261.304] [266.49]
[548.302]
[624.172] [824] (1978 [1061.D6])
- Mike Markkula, ex-marketing wizard at Intel, visits Steve Jobs'
garage,
to see the Apple computers. [266.215] [930.34]
- Steve Wozniak decides to remain at Hewlett-Packard, but is soon
convinced
that he should leave and join Apple Computer permanently. [266.218]
- November
- The tradename "Microsoft" is registered. [123] [389.28]
- ComputerLand opens a pilot store in Hayward, California, as a
retail
outlet and a training facility for franchise owners. [266.194]
[346.258]
[548.433]
- Paul Allen resigns from MITS. [266.50] [346.35] [1149.110]
- Paul Allen begins full time work at Microsoft. [346.35]
[1149.110]
- December
- Bill Gates drops out of Harvard, to devote his full attention
to Microsoft.
[346.35] (January 1976 [1149.110])
- Michael Shrayer completes writing the Electric Pencil
word-processing
program for microcomputers. [9] [266.148] [346.258] [662.33] (1975
[1112.144])
- Shugart Associates announces its Model SA400 5 1/4 inch
"minifloppy"
disk drive for US$390. Disk capacity is 110 KB. The disk size is based
on a cocktail napkin which a customer requested, rather than the usual
eight inch size. [9] [346.29] [363.46] [264.50] [346.258] [1084.396]
- Dick Wilcox demonstrates his Alpha Micro, a multi-user CPU
board, at
a meeting of the Homebrew Computer Club. [266.116]
- Don French and Steve Leininger are given official approval to
develop
and sell a microcomputer for Radio Shack. [266.197] [548.413]
- Steve Wozniak and Randy Wigginton demonstrate the first
prototype Apple
II at a Homebrew Computer Club meeting. [353.254]
- (month unknown)
- At Xerox, the Display Word Processing Task Force recommends
that Xerox
produce an office information system like the Alto. Code name for the
project
is Janus. The result will be the Star computer. [716.230]
- December 31
- To date, MITS has shipped over 10,000 Altair 8800 kits.
[208.67]
