Who Invented the Personal Computer? A Tech Revolution

When you study the history of the personal computer, the records will show that Ed Roberts was the first to use the term. He used it to describe his invention, the Altiair 8800 which appeared in 1975. However some experts believe the Kenback- 1 (made in 1971) was the first PC although the term was not used to describe it.

The Earliest Computers

Before the term personal computer was used, machines that could be operated by a single individual were called microcomputers. These machines became widespread when the microprocessor was invented in the 1970s.

But as far back as 1968, STI researcher Douglas Englebart (inventor of the mouse) had demonstrated the use of a mouse, video and typing on computers. In the history of the personal computer, this event has come to be known as the mother of all demos.

But during the 70s, computers were available only in electronic shops. Most of them made use of switches and panels. The keyboards and disks had to be purchased separately. The Micral is regarded as the first non assembly, commercially available computer. It used the Intel 8008 processor. It came out in 1973.

The Apple II and IBM PCs

In 1976, Steve Jobs and Steve Wozniak produced the Apple Computer. A hit, they followed it up with the Apple II. Its success was the turning point in the history of the personal computer. Computers were now sold as complete packages.

Software for business and education also started coming out. Word processors, spreadsheets and games were also beginning to appear.

Apple’s success inspired IBM to do the same thing. The company went on to make computers using an open bus and open architecture system. This design would ensure that software developers would make applications for the computer. In addition, the IBM PC used Intel’s 8088 chip.

It was slower than the 8086 but more widely available. It also allowed IBM to sell the computers more cheaply. These decisions had a great effect in the history of the personal computer; it allowed IBM to take away Apple’s edge in the market.

The open architecture system also allowed clones (non IBM PCs) to appear in the market. The 1981 IBM PC came with 16K of RAM and a 160K disk drive. The display was monochrome and couldn’t display graphics. The system was eventually upgraded to include a color graphics adapter. The memory onboard was also increased to 256 K.

Emergence of Windows

IBM didn’t make an operating system for their PC. Instead they hired a company called Microsoft to create one. Microsoft came out with MS DOS. While it had its limitations, PCs became very popular as they were less expensive than the Macintosh.

In the 1990s, Microsoft released Windows, a GUI operating system for the PC. It would sell millions of copies and change the face of personal computing.

The history of the personal computer has moved so fast. The PCs of today bear very little resemblance to those in the past. With technological advancements ongoing, the PCs will only get more powerful in the years ahead.

Who invented the personal computer?
Ed Roberts is credited with inventing the personal computer in 1975 with the creation of the Altair 8800. He was the first to use the term “personal computer” to describe a single-user device.
While the Altair 8800 popularized the term “personal computer,” some experts argue the Kenbak-1 (released in 1971) deserves the title of the first PC—though the term wasn’t used at the time.
Before the term “personal computer” became common, small, single-user computers were called microcomputers. These machines grew in popularity after the invention of the microprocessor in the early 1970s.
In 1968, researcher Douglas Engelbart showcased the use of a mouse, keyboard, and graphical interface—an event now famously known as the Mother of All Demos. It laid the foundation for modern computing.
Released in 1977, the Apple II was among the first PCs sold as a complete package—including display, keyboard, and storage. It marked a major turning point in the history of personal computing.
IBM released its own PC in 1981 using Intel’s 8088 processor and an open architecture. This design encouraged software and hardware developers to build compatible systems, spawning a market of IBM PC clones.

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Microsoft Windows, the first graphical user interface (GUI) for PCs, launched in the 1990s. It replaced command-line navigation with a user-friendly interface, transforming the way people used computers.
IBM’s use of open architecture and Intel’s cost-effective chips made PCs cheaper and more flexible than Apple’s Macintosh, helping them dominate the business and home computing markets.
Today’s PCs are far more powerful, compact, and versatile than their 1970s counterparts. Innovations in processing speed, memory, and graphics continue to push the boundaries of what PCs can do.

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