When did the first personal computer go on sale and what was its name?

Brainyblonde

The IBM 610 was the first personal computer, in the sense that it was the first computer intended for use by one person (e.g. in an office) and controlled from a keyboard. Sometimes the refrigerator-size Bendix G-15 (1956) is called the "first personal computer", but the 610 was running at least two years earlier. In any case the 610 was intended to be personal, whereas the G-15 was intended to be inexpensive. (Another device sometimes named the first personal computer is Simon -- also associated with Columbia University! -- but it was a limited-function demonstration device. http://www.columbia.edu/acis/history/610.html http://www.blinkenlights.com/pc.shtml http://www.columbia.edu/acis/history/index.html#simon Sep 12 04, 3:11 PM

mochyn

this was the APPLE 2 Sep 13 04, 2:41 AM

McGruff

This site explores many of the early computers and determines that "Simon" was the first personal computer. Simon was a desktop relay computer introduced in 1950 by Berkeley Enterprises and cost about $300 to build. http://www.blinkenlights.com/pc.shtml Was it Simon? BINGO! Edmund Berkeley first described Simon in his 1949 book, "Giant Brains, or Machines That Think" and went on to publish plans to build Simon in a series of Radio Electronics issues in 1950 and 1951. Simon touched such pioneering computer scientists as Ivan Sutherland, who went on to influence development of interactive graphical personal computers. By 1959, over 400 Simon plans were sold. Apr 21 05, 2:41 AM