On 2021-11-16 4:41 p.m., Fred Cisin via cctalk wrote:
Yes, there were prior machines, but the 4004 is ARGUABLY the first
successful commercial mass-produced one.
There were others, from TI, Fairchild, Four-Phase?, etc.
As usual, the label "FIRST" is questionable due to whether we count
announcement, prototypes, demos, shipping, etc.
I think the first to sell at $5 or some other magic price number was most
important. For $75 more you can get a state of the art toaster, with one
touch browning and a free remote.
Some call the 5150, the start of the END of classic computing, or at
least of the hobby dominated field.
The lack of good front panel I say was end of classic computing.
After that every thing was the same black box computer,
and C compiler.
Happy computing all.
Murray 🙂
IBM IS EVIL. LIKE BIG BROTHER FROM 1984.
Well regards to in my view to open ideas in computing hardware and
software up until the internet.
--
Grumpy Ol' Fred ci...@xenosoft.com
Ben.
