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Date: Thu, 09 Nov 2000 11:01:03 -0500
From: Dave Tweed <dtweed AT acm DOT org>
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To: opendos AT delorie DOT com
Subject: Re: Trivia
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Reply-To: opendos AT delorie DOT com

Robert W Moss wrote:
> YES, the first personal computer was published in
> Radio Electronics in 1950 and 1951.  It was only a
> schematic and you had to find all the parts to build
> it.  The cost was variously quoted as "Under $1,000",
> "about $600", and "about $300".
> 
> I didn't get too many takers so I guess most of the people
> on the list are  not interested in trivia or surfing the net.
> 
> It was NOT:
>  IBM PC - 1981,  IBM Datamaster - 1981, IBM 5120 - 1980,
>  IBM 5110 - 1978, Apple ][? - 1976/1977, IBM 5100 - 1975,
> Altair - 1975, Mark 8 - 1974, Scelbi-8H - 1973, HP 65 - 1973,
> Xerox Alto - 1973, Micral - 1973, Intel SIM 4 - 1972,
> HP 9830 - 1972, Kenback-1 - 1971, IMLACK PDS-1 - 1970,
> Arkay CT-650 - 1969, Paperclip Computer - 1967,
> Honeywell Kitchen Computer - 1966, DEC PDP-8 - 1965,
> Minivac 601 - 1961, Heathkit EC-1 - 1959, GENIAC - 1955,
> 
> What it WAS:
> The SIMON. By Edmund Berkley.

I think you're using the terms a little too loosely. To me, a
"personal computer" is a tool that can actually be used to
accomplish something, not just a learning toy. Also, you did
use the term "microcomputer", which implies integrated circuit
(single-chip CPU at a minimum) to everyone I know.

Under these criteria, the Scelbi-8H and the Micral would have
to be the answer, since they slightly predate the Mark 8. I
would disqualify the SIM4 as a development platform for
embedded systems, not a usable stand-alone computer.

-- Dave Tweed