1. The Personal Computer A Timeline

2. 1977 The Commodore PET First Personal Computer 1Mhz processor 4K memory Tape drive for storage Capable of displaying Uper and lowercase text as well as graphics Used the Basic operating system Initial cost was $595

3. 1977 Apple II 1Mhz Processor 4K memory standard upgradeable to 64K 16 color graphics Sound Ports for video, tape recorder, and game paddles OS was Integer Basic Cost was $1298

4. 1977 Radio Shack TRS-80 1.7 Mhz Processor 4K memory standard upgradeable to 48K Monochrome green Cassette Recorder for storage OS was TRS DOS Cost was $1099

5. 1978 Atari 400/800 1.79 Mhz Processor 8K memory standard, upgradeable to 48K First to use co processors for I/O 128 color display Cassette recorders and 5.25” disk drives for storage OS was Atari Dos Cost was $999.95

6. 1979 Texas Instruments TI-99/4 3 Mhz Processor 16K memory 16 color display Cassette Recorder for storage Programs on Cartridge OS was TI Basic Cost was $1150

7. 1980 Sinclair ZX80 3.25 Mhz Processor 1k memory, upgradeable to 64 No color display No sound Cassette Recorder for storage Programs on Cartridge OS was Basic that only dealt with real numbers Cost was $199.95

8. 1980 TRS-80 Color Computer.89 Mhz Processor 4K memory 4 color display Cassette Recorder for storage Programs on Cartridge OS was Tandy Color Basic Cost was $399

9. 1980 TRS-80 Color Computer 2 Mhz Processor 128K memory upgradeable to 512K 16 color display 5.25” Floppy Drives for storage OS was Apple SOS Built with businesses in mind Cost was $3815

10. 1981 Commodore VIC-20 1 Mhz Processor 5K memory upgradeable to 32K 16 color display Cassette Recorder or 5.25” floppy drive for storage Programs on Cartridge OS was CBM Basic v2 Cost was $299

11. 1981 Osborne 1 4 Mhz Processor 64K memory Monochrome Dual 5.25” floppy drives for storage Pre installed software OS CP/M First Portable Computer Had optional Battery Pack Cost was $1795

12. 1981 IBM PC 4.77 Mhz Processor 16K memory, upgradeable to 640K monochrome display 5.25” floppy drives or cassette drive for storage Internal ISA expansion slots Had a professional feel OS was PC-DOS Cost was $399

13. 1982 Commodore 64 1 Mhz Processor 64K memory 16 color display 3 channels complex sound Cassette Recorder or 5.25 “floppy drive for storage Programs on Cartridge OS was Basic Regarded highly for gaming 17 million sold Cost was $595

14. 1982 Epson HX-20 Two.614Mhz Processor 16K memory, upgradeable to 32k 20x4 LCD display Built in tape drive for storage Rechargeable Batteries First Laptop Design OS was Basic Cost was $795

15. 1983 IBM PC/XT 4.77 Mhz Processor 64K memory, upgradeable to 640K 16 color display 5.25” floppy drives for storage 8 Internal ISA expansion slots 10MB or 20MB hard drives OS was MS DOS Cost was $8000 (640K,10MB hard drive)

16. 1983 ColecoVision Adam 3.58 Mhz Processor 64K memory, upgradeable to 144K 16 color display High speed cassette for storage Compatible with ColecVision game system Cartridges Letter Quality Printer included OS was Smart Basic from cassette Goal was to be all in one family computer Cost was $700

17. 1984 Apple Macintosh.89 Mhz Processor 128K/512k memory 9” Monochrome display Internal 400K Floppy drive for storage Introduces The Graphical User Interface (GUI) Introduces GUI pointing device “Mouse” OS was Macintosh GUI Cost was $2495

18. 1985 Commodore Amiga 1000 7.14 Mhz Processor 256K memory, expandable to 8M 4096 max color display 880K floppy drives for storage 32bit pre-emptive multi-tasking GUI 4channel Stereo sound OS was Amiga Dos Workbench GUI Far superior to any system of the time Failed due to MS DOS incompatibility and poor marketing Cost was $1790

19. 1986 Compaq Deskpro 386 16 Mhz Processor 32 bit processing Split x86 bus into high and low speeds 4M memory, up to 36M 16 color display Hard drive storage OS was MS DOS / Windows Was turning point for IBM PC dominance Ushered in modern era of PC Cost was $6195

20. 1987 Tandy 1400lt 4.77 or 7.16 Mhz 32 bit processing 640kb ram 9” monochrome LCD Hard drive storage OS Tandy Dos 3 Was first real ibm compatible laptop 1200 baud modem Cost was $1599

21. 2005 ThinkPad T Series T43p Intel Pentium M 2.13Ghz Processor - Centrino 15” TFT Active Matrix UXGA (1600x1200) 1GB DDR II SDRAM Memory 80GB Hard Drive, 5400 rpm Hard Drive Auto Protection System DVD-RW Integrated Centrino a/b/g Wireless Integrated Gigabit Ethernet 56K Modem Lithium Ion Battery 6 lbs Travel Weight Microsoft Windows XP

22. 2007 HP Compaq dc7600 2.66 Ghz Processor 1G memory Upgradeable True color display 80G hard drive for storage DVD/CD drives for storage USB connections for peripherial attachment 128M Graphics Card Surround sound audio card LCD Display OS Windows Vista Cost was $1695

23. ? Questions

24. Conclusion Since the Compaq Deskpro 386 Design has been very similar in personal computers of today. Processors have gotten faster and Storage has increased but the overall look and feel is still reminiscent of the Deskpro.

25. Refrences (2007). PC Museum. Retrieved April 5, 2007, from PC Museum Web site: http://www.thepcmuseum.net/timeline.php Polsson, K (2007). Chronology of personal computers. Retrieved April 5, 2007, from Chronology of Personal Computers Web site:http://www.islandnet.com/~kpolsson/com phist/ (2007). Old-Computers.com: History. Retrieved April 5, 2007, from Old-Computers.Com Web site:http://www.oldcomputers.com/history/tim eline.asp