The "FIRST PC" and personal timelines (Was: And what were the80s

From: Merle K. Peirce <at258_at_osfn.org>
Date: Fri Apr 23 18:17:20 1999

In the 30 years from 1952 to 1982, many older systems became redundant;
minicomputers appeared, matured and were surplused, and the micro appeared.
at the end of this period, it would have been possible to acquire a
computer that actually did something, possibly at a reasonable cost.
Also, to help keep things in persepctive, the new computer I would buy
today would cost in the $2700-4400 range., although I'm waiting for the
new models in the next 12-18 months.

On Fri, 23 Apr 1999, Hans Franke wrote:

>
> > Just a couple of stray thoughts. While a person could possibly have
> > purchased a $300 computer in the 50's, why would they? What could they
> > have done with it? The answer is almost nothing. The only people who
> > might have been interested would have been ham radio or electronics
> > hobbysists, and they would very likely have built there own. I don't
> > even believe there was a viable used market for low cost computers in
> > the 50's, they would all have been enormous mainframes.
>
> Where is the difference to the 70s and 80s ?
>
>
> Gruss
> H.
>
> --
> Der Kopf ist auch nur ein Auswuchs wie der kleine Zeh.
> H.Achternbusch
>

M. K. Peirce
Rhode Island Computer Museum, Inc.
215 Shady Lea Road,
North Kingstown, RI 02852

"Casta est qui nemo rogavit."
              
              - Ovid
Received on Fri Apr 23 1999 - 18:17:20 BST