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The emergence of information technology: A state of practice report
Published in F.B.J. Barends, J. Lindenberg, H.J. Luger, L. de Quelerij, A. Verruijt, Geotechnical Engineering for Transportation Infrastructure, 2017
Computers small and inexpensive enough to be purchased by individuals for use in their homes first became feasible in the 1970s, when large-scale integration made it possible to construct a sufficiently powerful microprocessor on a single semiconductor chip. The personal computer industry began in 1977, when Apple Computer, introduced the Apple II, one of the first pre-assembled, mass-produced personal computers. Radio Shack and Commodore Business Machines also introduced personal computers that year. In 1981, IBM introduced the Personal Computer, or IBM PC. The IBM PC became the world’s most popular personal computer, and both its microprocessor, the Intel 8088, and its operating system, which was adapted from the Microsoft Corporation’s MS-DOS system, became industry standards.
Force-System Resultants and Equilibrium
Published in Richard C. Dorf, The Engineering Handbook, 2018
Apple Computers was founded by Steve Jobs, Steve Wozniak, and Ron Wayne in April 1976. The Apple I computer, based on the MOStek 6502 microprocessor, was first introduced in kit form at the homebrew computer club in Palo Alto, California, in May 1976. Paul Terrell of The Byte Shop was so impressed he ordered 50 units at $500 apiece [12].
History of personal computers in Japan
Published in International Journal of Parallel, Emergent and Distributed Systems, 2020
NEC's PC-8000 series personal computer was the first one that acquired a large share in the Japanese personal computer market (see Section 4.1). It had an 8-bit CPU and was a computer of the same class as Apple II, Commodore PET, and Tandy TRS-80. It should be noted that PC-8000 series was manufactured and sold by the NEC's semiconductor division, though NEC was a manufacturer of a mainframe computer. Its reason seems that the early 8-bit personal computer was considered as a toy for hobbyist from the computer department who was manufacturing a large computer for business use. However, as it became possible to use a 16-bit CPU, it turned out that personal computers are usable for business. IBM was aware of it and entered into this market in 1981. Under such circumstance, the section which was in charge of NEC's office computer developed and released the PC-9800 series personal computer in 1982, an upward compatible machine with PC-8000 series.