Personal Computers

MITS Altair 8800

Nov 30, 1974

The first personal computer

Apple 1

Jul 31, 1976

Apple corporations first computer

Apple II

Jun 10, 1977

First color personal computer. First 8-bit computer

VisiCalc

Dec 31, 1978

First spreadsheet software. Made computers useable in business.

Vulcan

Jul 31, 1979

First database.

Hayes

Dec 31, 1979

First modem. 300 bps. Began telecommunications.

Apple III

Dec 31, 1980

Considered the first major recall of personal computers. One of the first computers to have an internal hard drive.

Epson HX-20

Jan 31, 1981

First laptop.

Osborne 1

Apr 3, 1981

First portable computer.

IBM PC

Aug 12, 1981

IBM enters the computer market

Microsoft Word

Dec 31, 1983

Microsoft's first word processor is released

Windows

Nov 20, 1985

Microsoft first ships Windows.

Mac Portable

Dec 31, 1989

First notebook. Only 16 pounds.

Public Internet

Dec 31, 1995

Internet goes public