1980s Computer Technology

Seagate ST506 Hard Disk Drive

1980

This 5.25 -inch hard disk drive, invented by Alan Shugart and Finis Conner, could fit into a floppy disk drive bay in a microcomputer and had a 5MB capacity. This would take the place of floppy disks or cassettes for storage.

First Portable Computer: Osborne 1

1981

Though described as "more 'luggable' than portable", this computer weighed 24lbs and came with a carrying case. Adam Osborne, the creator, was a computer columnist and was viewed as an "anti-Steve Jobs" due to his critical review of his own products.

Commodore 64

1982

The infamous next generation game system was created by a construction team of Bob Russell, Bob Yannes, and David A. Ziembicki. This 8-bit single computer was not the first computer but the first to be produced for home use, due to being relatively inexpensive and compatible with home televisions.

Apple Lisa Computer with the first Graphical User Interface (GUI)

1983

Designed as a personal computer during a project initiated with Steve Jobs, this computer was the first to display and use icons for commands.

C++

1985

Bjarnes Stroustrup from Bell Labs created this object-oriented programming language based on the previously invented C. This language is the backbone to many famous software but isn't well suited for GUI type tasks.

HyperCard

1985

This software created by Bill Atkinson allowed users to jump from one virtual card to another by point and click. This program led to the development of hyperlink protocols for web browsing.