Sunday, August 13, 2006
Happy 25th Birthday – Mr PC
People it would seem are celebrating, or perhaps swearing about the 25th anniversary of a piece of equipment that changed the world: the mass- market personal computer, or PC.
In 1981 — the year Ronald Reagan entered the White House and Margaret Thatcher stunned Britain by raising taxes — IBM launched the 5150. Computer analysts thought that IBM was mad working on the development of such a project and perhaps it is more than a coincidence that the police radio call sign for a person who is criminally insane is “5150”
The machine packed a hugely powerful 4.77Mhz processor and 25 years later the first processor of 4.7gb are rolling off the line.
The 5150 was a huge success. It featured an enhanced version of Microsoft’s BASIC programming language, developed by William Gates, and an 83-key adjustable keyboard. The IBM PC was not the first personal computer: the Apple II came out in 1977 and the Atari 800 in 1979, but both used proprietary components and failed to develop sales into the mass market. IBM were either smart or incredibly stupid and used an Intel processor and Microsoft software, essentially allowing rival companies to clone its product.
Edited down from original source: http://www.timesonline.co.uk/article/0,,11069-2309109,00.html
In 1981 — the year Ronald Reagan entered the White House and Margaret Thatcher stunned Britain by raising taxes — IBM launched the 5150. Computer analysts thought that IBM was mad working on the development of such a project and perhaps it is more than a coincidence that the police radio call sign for a person who is criminally insane is “5150”
The machine packed a hugely powerful 4.77Mhz processor and 25 years later the first processor of 4.7gb are rolling off the line.
The 5150 was a huge success. It featured an enhanced version of Microsoft’s BASIC programming language, developed by William Gates, and an 83-key adjustable keyboard. The IBM PC was not the first personal computer: the Apple II came out in 1977 and the Atari 800 in 1979, but both used proprietary components and failed to develop sales into the mass market. IBM were either smart or incredibly stupid and used an Intel processor and Microsoft software, essentially allowing rival companies to clone its product.
Edited down from original source: http://www.timesonline.co.uk/article/0,,11069-2309109,00.html
# posted by Peter Saville - IT Consultant @ 3:07 AM 
