By: Roshonda Levine

 the first freely programmable computer is designed.  the Harvard Mark One computer is designed.  the ENIAC One computer is invented relying on vacuum tube technology.  computer memory is designed and utilized for the first time.  the first computer to predict Presidential election winners is used.  IBM lands in the computer scene.  FORTRAN brought into use, the first high level programming language.  first computer game invented.  mouse invented  ARPAnet created (the original Internet).  first dynamic RAM chip available  first microprocessor brought into use.  the floppy disk hits the scene.  networking brought into use.  first consumer computers brought onto the market.  Apple Computer consumer products reach the general market.  word processors hit the market  home computers begin their march into the mainstream  Apple Macintosh makes home computers affordable  Microsoft Windows reaches the consumer.

 The MITS Altair was the first 8080 based kit microcomputer. It was first introduced in the January, 1975 issue of Popular Electronics magazine as a construction project. Although not the first available microcomputer, it was the start of the industry.

 Processor Technology company designed and sold a full line of boards for the S-100 computers. In 1977 they designed the SOL Computer which used most of their circuit boards. The SOL had a video terminal built-in, only requiring a video monitor. In a very attractive case with walnut wood sides, the SOL became a very popular computer that influenced the design of future computers. Pro. Tech did not provide a low cost floppy disk system so users turned to North Star for their disk storage.

The Early Days of the Apple Computer  The Apple II was the first true"personal computer" it was factory built, in-expensive and easy to learn and use. Provided with the most extensive set of software and low cost floppy disks, the Apple II was also the first personal computer capable of color graphics and easy modem operation.. Development of the Visicalc spreadsheet program created a business tool that made adoption of Apple II a regular part of business.

 Radio Shack's TRS-80 selling for about $500 complete with video monitor and BASIC took the personal computer market by storm. Using a fast Z-80 processor it use a cassette recorder for program and data storage. Later models incorporated disk drives and more memory. the Model III, housed in one case became the most popular personal computer in schools and homes rivaling the Apple II. Radio Shack also built other types of personal computers including the first practical laptop, the Model 100.

 The Atari Models 400 and 800 were considered the best personal computers for games and color graphics. They had a very large family of game software, but not much business software. Lack of good disk and peripheral support cased these machines to have a short life.

 The Commodore 64 was the best-selling personal computer of all time. It had a large memory capacity, low cost floppy disks and peripherals and color graphics. It could use a TV for a monitor and there was all the software anyone could want. Commodore in a price war with Texas Instruments, reduced the prices of the C-64 as low as $260 and more of them were sold than any computer in history.

 The Texas Instruments 99-4A used a TI 16-bit processor and was an excellent graphics computer. It lacked easy expansion capabilities and required proprietary software

 The Heath Desktop was one of the first computers designed as complete desktop machines including monitor, floppy disks and keyboard. Heath made a full line of computers and was later bought by Zenith.

 The Morrow computer was one of last powerful Z-80 powered S-100 computers. Representative of the designs supplanted by the IBM PC, this machine was sold as a complete system including a video terminal and printer. It ran the CP/M operating system and the MP/M multi-user operating system.  The Morrow Company was a leading supplier of disk systems for CP/M computers.

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