Re: origin of "personal computer"

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2 total messages Started by Mark Crispin Wed, 06 Nov 1985 00:26

#1404

Author: Mark Crispin
Date: Wed, 06 Nov 1985 00:26

8 lines
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1) The term "personal computer" has been around since at least the early
70's.
2) A PDP-n from DEC is a "Programmed Data Processor", not a "Personal Data
Processor."  The name came about because DEC was selling to organizations
which had managerial problems in buying "computers" (which were multi-million
dollar machines even though DEC's machines weren't) but could easily purchase a
"programmed data processor."
-------

Re: origin of "personal computer"

#1425

Author: Vicious Oyster
Date: Thu, 07 Nov 1985 15:28

25 lines
1902 bytes

In article <12156932787.14.MRC@SIMTEL20.ARPA> MRC@SIMTEL20.ARPA (Mark Crispin) writes:
>1) The term "personal computer" has been around since at least the early
>70's.
>2) A PDP-n from DEC is a "Programmed Data Processor", not a "Personal Data
>Processor."  The name came about because DEC was selling to organizations
>which had managerial problems in buying "computers" (which were multi-million
>dollar machines even though DEC's machines weren't) but could easily purchase a
>"programmed data processor."
>-------

Just a few more tidbits (from DEC's _Guide to Personal Computing_):

   DIGITAL made quite a sensation in 1960 by announcing the first "personal"
   computer, the PDP-1.

   The PDP-1 was different in another more important way.  Users could change
   its programming midstream and "talk" to it through a simple keyboard.  It
   answered  by displaying messages or data on a small video screen or by
   typing on a printer.  [Ed. note: What a concept!]  The PDP-1 was the
   first commercial computer to offer this capability.

It also has a picture, which looks sorta like a heathkit product from 
ten years ago.  Interesting.

 - joel ({allegra,ihnp4,seismo}!uwvax!uwmacc!oyster)

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