Firsts

From: Philip.Belben_at_powertech.co.uk <(Philip.Belben_at_powertech.co.uk)>
Date: Mon Jan 12 11:02:19 1998

>>> Then there is the "first solid state electronic calc" which I think goes to
>>> the Busicom from Japan that employed the first production run of the intel
>>> 4000 chip set: the 4001 (2048 bit ROM), 4002 (320 bit RAM), 4003 (10 bit
>>> shift register), and the 4004 (4 bit CPU). That chip set was shipped to
>>> Busicom in March 1971 according to Michael S. Malone's "The Microprocessor:
>>> A Biography" ISBN 0-387-94342-0

Um. What date was the Casio AL1000? For that matter, what date was the
AL2000? OK, the AL1000 had nixie tubes in the display, so was not all
solid state, but it comes close, I'm sure. (Other people have commented
on the HP 9100 and the earlier Busicoms)


We've also had some strange definitions of Personal Computer flying
around here. One I don't like, but am going to comment on anyway, is
the "system, terminal and video circuitry all in one box" definition. I
don't think it quite makes it, but personal loyalty compels me to put in
a word for the Tektronix 4051. This was announced in November 1975 (I
think - have to look this up). I've never seen one but I get the
impression the prototype was a Tek graphics terminal with a 6800
development system stuck in the bottom of the case... Anyway, Tek 4051
was intended as single user, one-to-a-desk graphics micro, so I claim it
is a "personal computer".

And if you're interested in portability, a carrying case was an option
you could buy.

When did 6800 start shipping anyway?

Philip.
Received on Mon Jan 12 1998 - 11:02:19 GMT