History of the PC

First PC Connection

Apr 25, 1947

* Scientists at Bell Telephone Laboratories invent the transistor. Miniaturization of electronic circuits via the transistor is a key development making personal desktop computers small, reliable, and affordable.

first IC

Apr 25, 1958

At Texas Instruments, Jack Kilby completes building the first integrated circuit.

First Minicomputer

Apr 25, 1960

Digital Equipment introduces the first minicomputer, the PDP-1. It is the first commercial computer equipped with a keyboard and monitor. The minicomputer represents an important size and power step from mainframe toward personal computers.

First Programming language

Apr 25, 1964

John Kemeny and Thomas Kurtz develop the BASIC programming language at Dartmouth College. BASIC becomes the most popular introductory programming language for microcomputers.

first mouse and keyboard

Apr 25, 1968

Douglas C. Engelbart, of the Stanford Research Institute, demonstrates his system of keyboard, keypad, mouse, and windows at the Joint Computer Conference in San Francisco's Civic Center. He demonstrates use of a word processor, a hypertext system, and remote collaborative work with colleagues.

first 4 BIT CPU

Apr 25, 1970

Engineers at Intel turn a calculator chip-set design into the first commercial 4-bit CPU architecture, the 4004 microprocessor.

Microprocessor

Apr 30, 1971

Faggin, Hoff & Mazor invented the first microprocessor

Floppy

Apr 30, 1971

Alan Shugart &IBM made the first floppy

Networking

Apr 30, 1973

Robert Metcalfe & Xerox the first enthernet networking

first consumer computer

Apr 30, 1974

Scelbi & Mark-8 Altair & IBM 5100 Computers The first consumer computers.

Apple computer

Apr 30, 1976

Apple I, II & TRS-80 & Commodore Pet Computers

spreadsheet

Apr 30, 1978

Dan Bricklin & Bob Frankston
VisiCalc Spreadsheet Software

First word processor

Apr 30, 1979

Seymour Rubenstein & Rob Barnaby WordStar Software

computer revolution starts

Apr 30, 1981

IBM
The IBM PC - Home Computer

Microsoft starts

Apr 30, 1981

Microsoft MS-DOS Computer Operating System