Firsts

From: Joe <rigdonj_at_intellistar.net>
Date: Sun Jan 11 13:58:49 1998

At 09:31 AM 1/11/98 -0800, you wrote:
>On Sun, 11 Jan 1998, Francois Auradon wrote:
>
>> Here's a questionthat is probably going to generate some passionate
debates:
>
>No debates necessary on some of these as there were definite firsts. For
>instance:
>
>> first video game
>
>"Computer Space" which was Atari's first video game. I think someone may
>correct me and tell me it wasn't "Atari" yet, but it was created by Nolan
>Bushnell.
>
>> first TV video game
>
>The Odyssey. Came out in 1972. It used wafer carthridges for games that
>weren't actually ROMs but actually just "patches" to re-configure the
>console to throw different sprites onto the screen.
>
>> first personal computer (I think I know that one)
>
>This is harder to define. The question really is, who's definition of
>"personal" are we referring to? Everyone's got their own. Some people
>consider certain mainframes to have been "personal computers" because you
>could actually sit down at the main console and have the computer all to
>yourself.
>
>If the definition of "personal" is "integrated CPU, keyboard and video
>output" then that would be the Sol-20 from 1976. This was first proposed
>at the First Annual Vintage Computer Festival, and once you've done your
>own research you will tend to agree. Some will argue that the Apple ][
>was the first (by this definition). But the Sol-20 beat it by a few
>months.


    I think the credit on this one has to go to the IBM 5100 again. It was
released in 1975.

  Joe>
Received on Sun Jan 11 1998 - 13:58:49 GMT