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Commodore releases the VIC-20 home computer
The VIC-20 computer was launched as a follow-up to the Commodore PET personal computer, with the aim of providing a more affordable option. It achieved remarkable success by selling over a million units, making it the first computer to reach that milestone. Commodore even enlisted the popular Star Trek actor, William Shatner, for promotional campaigns. -
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Technological Advancements in Computers (1980-1990)
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IBM introduces its Personal Computer (PC)
The personal computer market experienced rapid expansion due to IBM's strong brand recognition and an extensive marketing campaign when they introduced their own personal computer (PC). The inaugural IBM PC, officially named the IBM Model 5150, was built around an Intel 8088 microprocessor clocked at 4.77 MHz and utilized Microsoft's MS-DOS operating system. By gaining widespread adoption in the business sector, the IBM PC revolutionized the landscape of corporate computing. -
Apple Launches the Macintosh
Apple introduced the Macintosh through a television commercial during the 1984 Super Bowl. The advertisement showcased the symbolic destruction of "Big Brother," subtly referring to IBM, using the transformative power of personal computing offered by the Macintosh. Setting it apart from its competitors, the Macintosh was the first mouse-driven computer with a user-friendly graphical interface, powered by the Motorola 68000 microprocessor. Priced at $2,500. -
Steve Jobs unveils the NeXT Cube
Following his departure from Apple in 1985, Steve Jobs embarked on a new venture by establishing a company called NeXT. The NeXT computer boasted three Motorola microprocessors and 8 MB of RAM, with a starting price of $6,500. The NeXTSTEP operating system was a pioneering advancement in the realm of object-oriented multitasking. Eventually, NeXTSTEP served as a fundamental building block for the new Mac OS operating system when Apple acquired NeXT in 1996. -
Intel 80486 Microprocessor
Intel unveiled two groundbreaking chips: the 80486 microprocessor and the i860 RISC/coprocessor chip, both surpassing the remarkable milestone of 1 million transistors. These technological advancements marked a significant leap forward in computing power and performance.