Lee Felsenstien

  • Birth Of Lee

    Birth Of Lee
    Lee Felsenstien was born April 27, 1945
  • Interest In Technology

    Interest In Technology
    Lee's interest's have been sparked in electronics and computer technology
  • Dropped Out Of College

    Dropped Out Of College
    Lee dropped out of college and continued to work as a engineer at a Amex Cooperation
  • Founding of the Homebrew Computer Club (HCC)

    Founding of the Homebrew Computer Club (HCC)
    Lee Felsenstein became an influential member of the Homebrew Computer Club, an informal group of computer enthusiasts in Silicon Valley
  • Development of the "People's Computer"

    Development of the "People's Computer"
    Felsenstein advocated for making computers more accessible to the general public, envisioning a future where personal computers were not just for businesses but for individuals, educational institutions, and communities.
  • Development of the SOL-20

    Development of the SOL-20
    In 1975, Felsenstein played a key role in the development of the SOL-20, one of the first personal computers to feature a monitor, keyboard, and built-in BASIC interpreter
  • HCC and Altair 8800

    HCC and Altair 8800
    Felsenstein’s work at the Homebrew Computer Club coincided with the release of the Altair 8800 by MITS, which inspired many club members to develop personal computers.
  • Launch of the Apple I

    Launch of the Apple I
    Felsenstein was directly involved in supporting the development of early personal computers like the Apple I
  • The People's Computer Company

    The People's Computer Company
    Felsenstein helped found The People's Computer Company in 1976, with the aim of providing affordable, accessible computers for individuals and communities. The company focused on education and user engagement with computing technology.
  • Keynote Speech

    Keynote Speech
    Felsenstein gave a keynote speech at the First West Coast Computer Faire in 1978, advocating for the vision of the personal computer being a tool for people’s empowerment rather than corporate or government control
  • Work at the Byte Shop

    Work at the Byte Shop
    Felsenstein worked closely with Paul Terrell of the Byte Shop to help market personal computers and further the notion of "home computers" for personal use, establishing the idea of computers as household items.
  • Contributions to the Development of the Commodore 64

    Contributions to the Development of the Commodore 64
    Felsenstein was involved in the development of the Commodore 64, one of the most successful personal computers of the 1980s.
  • Release of the "Fred" Personal Computer System

    Release of the "Fred" Personal Computer System
    Felsenstein’s work on the "Fred" personal computer system offered a revolutionary alternative to the existing personal computing paradigms
  • Promotion of Open-Source Software

    Promotion of Open-Source Software
    Felsenstein became an early advocate for open-source software, aligning with the growing movement for user empowerment through free and open software development.
  • Editor's Choice Award

    Editor's Choice Award
    Lee Felsenstein was given the Editors Choice Award for Creative Excellence and recognized by EE Times Magazine