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id="toc-History-sublist" class="vector-toc-list"> <li id="toc-TTL_precursors" class="vector-toc-list-item vector-toc-level-2"> <a class="vector-toc-link" href="#TTL_precursors"> <div class="vector-toc-text"> <span class="vector-toc-numb">4.1</span> <span>TTL precursors</span> </div> </a> <ul id="toc-TTL_precursors-sublist" class="vector-toc-list"> </ul> </li> <li id="toc-Early_microcomputers" class="vector-toc-list-item vector-toc-level-2"> <a class="vector-toc-link" href="#Early_microcomputers"> <div class="vector-toc-text"> <span class="vector-toc-numb">4.2</span> <span>Early microcomputers</span> </div> </a> <ul id="toc-Early_microcomputers-sublist" class="vector-toc-list"> </ul> </li> <li id="toc-Home_computers" class="vector-toc-list-item vector-toc-level-2"> <a class="vector-toc-link" href="#Home_computers"> <div class="vector-toc-text"> <span class="vector-toc-numb">4.3</span> <span>Home computers</span> </div> </a> <ul id="toc-Home_computers-sublist" class="vector-toc-list"> </ul> </li> </ul> </li> <li id="toc-See_also" class="vector-toc-list-item vector-toc-level-1 vector-toc-list-item-expanded"> <a class="vector-toc-link" href="#See_also"> <div class="vector-toc-text"> <span class="vector-toc-numb">5</span> <span>See also</span> </div> </a> <ul id="toc-See_also-sublist" class="vector-toc-list"> </ul> </li> <li id="toc-Notes_and_references" class="vector-toc-list-item vector-toc-level-1 vector-toc-list-item-expanded"> <a class="vector-toc-link" href="#Notes_and_references"> <div class="vector-toc-text"> <span class="vector-toc-numb">6</span> <span>Notes and references</span> </div> </a> <ul id="toc-Notes_and_references-sublist" class="vector-toc-list"> </ul> </li> </ul> </div> </div> </nav> </div> </div> <div class="mw-content-container"> <main id="content" class="mw-body"> <header class="mw-body-header vector-page-titlebar"> <nav aria-label="Contents" class="vector-toc-landmark"> <div id="vector-page-titlebar-toc" class="vector-dropdown vector-page-titlebar-toc vector-button-flush-left" > <input type="checkbox" id="vector-page-titlebar-toc-checkbox" role="button" aria-haspopup="true" data-event-name="ui.dropdown-vector-page-titlebar-toc" class="vector-dropdown-checkbox " aria-label="Toggle the table of contents" > <label id="vector-page-titlebar-toc-label" for="vector-page-titlebar-toc-checkbox" class="vector-dropdown-label cdx-button cdx-button--fake-button cdx-button--fake-button--enabled cdx-button--weight-quiet cdx-button--icon-only " aria-hidden="true" ><span class="vector-icon mw-ui-icon-listBullet mw-ui-icon-wikimedia-listBullet"></span> <span class="vector-dropdown-label-text">Toggle the table of contents</span> </label> <div class="vector-dropdown-content"> <div id="vector-page-titlebar-toc-unpinned-container" class="vector-unpinned-container"> </div> </div> </div> </nav> <h1 id="firstHeading" class="firstHeading mw-first-heading"><span class="mw-page-title-main">Microcomputer</span></h1> <div id="p-lang-btn" class="vector-dropdown mw-portlet mw-portlet-lang" > <input type="checkbox" id="p-lang-btn-checkbox" role="button" aria-haspopup="true" data-event-name="ui.dropdown-p-lang-btn" class="vector-dropdown-checkbox mw-interlanguage-selector" aria-label="Go to an article in another language. Available in 47 languages" > <label id="p-lang-btn-label" for="p-lang-btn-checkbox" class="vector-dropdown-label cdx-button cdx-button--fake-button cdx-button--fake-button--enabled cdx-button--weight-quiet cdx-button--action-progressive mw-portlet-lang-heading-47" aria-hidden="true" ><span class="vector-icon mw-ui-icon-language-progressive mw-ui-icon-wikimedia-language-progressive"></span> <span class="vector-dropdown-label-text">47 languages</span> </label> <div class="vector-dropdown-content"> <div class="vector-menu-content"> <ul class="vector-menu-content-list"> <li class="interlanguage-link interwiki-ar mw-list-item"><a href="https://ar.wikipedia.org/wiki/%D8%AD%D8%A7%D8%B3%D9%88%D8%A8_%D8%B5%D8%BA%D8%B1%D9%8A" title="حاسوب صغري – Arabic" lang="ar" hreflang="ar" data-title="حاسوب صغري" data-language-autonym="العربية" data-language-local-name="Arabic" class="interlanguage-link-target"><span>العربية</span></a></li><li class="interlanguage-link interwiki-az mw-list-item"><a href="https://az.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mikrokomp%C3%BCter" title="Mikrokompüter – Azerbaijani" lang="az" hreflang="az" data-title="Mikrokompüter" data-language-autonym="Azərbaycanca" data-language-local-name="Azerbaijani" class="interlanguage-link-target"><span>Azərbaycanca</span></a></li><li class="interlanguage-link interwiki-bn mw-list-item"><a href="https://bn.wikipedia.org/wiki/%E0%A6%AE%E0%A6%BE%E0%A6%87%E0%A6%95%E0%A7%8D%E0%A6%B0%E0%A7%8B%E0%A6%95%E0%A6%AE%E0%A7%8D%E0%A6%AA%E0%A6%BF%E0%A6%89%E0%A6%9F%E0%A6%BE%E0%A6%B0" title="মাইক্রোকম্পিউটার – Bangla" lang="bn" hreflang="bn" data-title="মাইক্রোকম্পিউটার" data-language-autonym="বাংলা" data-language-local-name="Bangla" class="interlanguage-link-target"><span>বাংলা</span></a></li><li class="interlanguage-link interwiki-be-x-old mw-list-item"><a href="https://be-tarask.wikipedia.org/wiki/%D0%9C%D1%96%D0%BA%D1%80%D0%B0%D0%BA%D0%B0%D0%BC%D0%BF%D1%83%D1%82%D0%B0%D1%80" title="Мікракампутар – Belarusian (Taraškievica orthography)" lang="be-tarask" hreflang="be-tarask" data-title="Мікракампутар" data-language-autonym="Беларуская (тарашкевіца)" data-language-local-name="Belarusian (Taraškievica orthography)" class="interlanguage-link-target"><span>Беларуская (тарашкевіца)</span></a></li><li class="interlanguage-link interwiki-bg mw-list-item"><a href="https://bg.wikipedia.org/wiki/%D0%9C%D0%B8%D0%BA%D1%80%D0%BE%D0%BA%D0%BE%D0%BC%D0%BF%D1%8E%D1%82%D1%8A%D1%80" title="Микрокомпютър – Bulgarian" lang="bg" hreflang="bg" data-title="Микрокомпютър" data-language-autonym="Български" data-language-local-name="Bulgarian" class="interlanguage-link-target"><span>Български</span></a></li><li class="interlanguage-link interwiki-bs mw-list-item"><a href="https://bs.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mikrora%C4%8Dunar" title="Mikroračunar – Bosnian" lang="bs" hreflang="bs" data-title="Mikroračunar" data-language-autonym="Bosanski" data-language-local-name="Bosnian" class="interlanguage-link-target"><span>Bosanski</span></a></li><li class="interlanguage-link interwiki-ca badge-Q17437798 badge-goodarticle mw-list-item" title="good article badge"><a href="https://ca.wikipedia.org/wiki/Microordinador" title="Microordinador – Catalan" lang="ca" hreflang="ca" data-title="Microordinador" data-language-autonym="Català" data-language-local-name="Catalan" class="interlanguage-link-target"><span>Català</span></a></li><li class="interlanguage-link interwiki-cs mw-list-item"><a href="https://cs.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mikropo%C4%8D%C3%ADta%C4%8D" title="Mikropočítač – Czech" lang="cs" hreflang="cs" data-title="Mikropočítač" data-language-autonym="Čeština" data-language-local-name="Czech" class="interlanguage-link-target"><span>Čeština</span></a></li><li class="interlanguage-link interwiki-da mw-list-item"><a href="https://da.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mikrocomputer" title="Mikrocomputer – Danish" lang="da" hreflang="da" data-title="Mikrocomputer" data-language-autonym="Dansk" data-language-local-name="Danish" class="interlanguage-link-target"><span>Dansk</span></a></li><li class="interlanguage-link interwiki-de mw-list-item"><a href="https://de.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mikrocomputer" title="Mikrocomputer – German" lang="de" hreflang="de" data-title="Mikrocomputer" data-language-autonym="Deutsch" data-language-local-name="German" class="interlanguage-link-target"><span>Deutsch</span></a></li><li class="interlanguage-link interwiki-et mw-list-item"><a href="https://et.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mikroarvuti" title="Mikroarvuti – Estonian" lang="et" hreflang="et" data-title="Mikroarvuti" data-language-autonym="Eesti" data-language-local-name="Estonian" class="interlanguage-link-target"><span>Eesti</span></a></li><li class="interlanguage-link interwiki-el mw-list-item"><a href="https://el.wikipedia.org/wiki/%CE%9C%CE%B9%CE%BA%CF%81%CE%BF%CF%8B%CF%80%CE%BF%CE%BB%CE%BF%CE%B3%CE%B9%CF%83%CF%84%CE%AE%CF%82" title="Μικροϋπολογιστής – Greek" lang="el" hreflang="el" data-title="Μικροϋπολογιστής" data-language-autonym="Ελληνικά" data-language-local-name="Greek" class="interlanguage-link-target"><span>Ελληνικά</span></a></li><li class="interlanguage-link interwiki-es mw-list-item"><a href="https://es.wikipedia.org/wiki/Microcomputadora" title="Microcomputadora – Spanish" lang="es" hreflang="es" data-title="Microcomputadora" data-language-autonym="Español" data-language-local-name="Spanish" class="interlanguage-link-target"><span>Español</span></a></li><li class="interlanguage-link interwiki-fa mw-list-item"><a href="https://fa.wikipedia.org/wiki/%D8%B1%DB%8C%D8%B2%D8%B1%D8%A7%DB%8C%D8%A7%D9%86%D9%87" title="ریزرایانه – Persian" lang="fa" hreflang="fa" data-title="ریزرایانه" data-language-autonym="فارسی" data-language-local-name="Persian" class="interlanguage-link-target"><span>فارسی</span></a></li><li class="interlanguage-link interwiki-fr mw-list-item"><a href="https://fr.wikipedia.org/wiki/Micro-informatique" title="Micro-informatique – French" lang="fr" hreflang="fr" data-title="Micro-informatique" data-language-autonym="Français" data-language-local-name="French" class="interlanguage-link-target"><span>Français</span></a></li><li class="interlanguage-link interwiki-ga mw-list-item"><a href="https://ga.wikipedia.org/wiki/Micrir%C3%ADomhaire" title="Micriríomhaire – Irish" lang="ga" hreflang="ga" data-title="Micriríomhaire" data-language-autonym="Gaeilge" data-language-local-name="Irish" class="interlanguage-link-target"><span>Gaeilge</span></a></li><li class="interlanguage-link interwiki-ko mw-list-item"><a href="https://ko.wikipedia.org/wiki/%EB%A7%88%EC%9D%B4%ED%81%AC%EB%A1%9C%EC%BB%B4%ED%93%A8%ED%84%B0" title="마이크로컴퓨터 – Korean" lang="ko" hreflang="ko" data-title="마이크로컴퓨터" data-language-autonym="한국어" data-language-local-name="Korean" class="interlanguage-link-target"><span>한국어</span></a></li><li class="interlanguage-link interwiki-hy mw-list-item"><a href="https://hy.wikipedia.org/wiki/%D5%84%D5%AB%D5%AF%D6%80%D5%B8%D5%B0%D5%A1%D5%B4%D5%A1%D5%AF%D5%A1%D6%80%D5%A3%D5%AB%D5%B9%D5%B6%D5%A5%D6%80" title="Միկրոհամակարգիչներ – Armenian" lang="hy" hreflang="hy" data-title="Միկրոհամակարգիչներ" data-language-autonym="Հայերեն" data-language-local-name="Armenian" class="interlanguage-link-target"><span>Հայերեն</span></a></li><li class="interlanguage-link interwiki-hi mw-list-item"><a href="https://hi.wikipedia.org/wiki/%E0%A4%AE%E0%A4%BE%E0%A4%87%E0%A4%95%E0%A5%8D%E0%A4%B0%E0%A5%8B%E0%A4%95%E0%A4%82%E0%A4%AA%E0%A5%8D%E0%A4%AF%E0%A5%82%E0%A4%9F%E0%A4%B0" title="माइक्रोकंप्यूटर – Hindi" lang="hi" hreflang="hi" data-title="माइक्रोकंप्यूटर" data-language-autonym="हिन्दी" data-language-local-name="Hindi" class="interlanguage-link-target"><span>हिन्दी</span></a></li><li class="interlanguage-link interwiki-io mw-list-item"><a href="https://io.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mikrakomputero" title="Mikrakomputero – Ido" lang="io" hreflang="io" data-title="Mikrakomputero" data-language-autonym="Ido" data-language-local-name="Ido" class="interlanguage-link-target"><span>Ido</span></a></li><li class="interlanguage-link interwiki-id mw-list-item"><a href="https://id.wikipedia.org/wiki/Komputer_mikro" title="Komputer mikro – Indonesian" lang="id" hreflang="id" data-title="Komputer mikro" data-language-autonym="Bahasa Indonesia" data-language-local-name="Indonesian" class="interlanguage-link-target"><span>Bahasa Indonesia</span></a></li><li class="interlanguage-link interwiki-is mw-list-item"><a href="https://is.wikipedia.org/wiki/%C3%96rt%C3%B6lva_(t%C3%B6lva)" title="Örtölva (tölva) – Icelandic" lang="is" hreflang="is" data-title="Örtölva (tölva)" data-language-autonym="Íslenska" data-language-local-name="Icelandic" class="interlanguage-link-target"><span>Íslenska</span></a></li><li class="interlanguage-link interwiki-it mw-list-item"><a href="https://it.wikipedia.org/wiki/Microcomputer" title="Microcomputer – Italian" lang="it" hreflang="it" data-title="Microcomputer" data-language-autonym="Italiano" data-language-local-name="Italian" class="interlanguage-link-target"><span>Italiano</span></a></li><li class="interlanguage-link interwiki-he mw-list-item"><a href="https://he.wikipedia.org/wiki/%D7%9E%D7%99%D7%A7%D7%A8%D7%95-%D7%9E%D7%97%D7%A9%D7%91" title="מיקרו-מחשב – Hebrew" lang="he" hreflang="he" data-title="מיקרו-מחשב" data-language-autonym="עברית" data-language-local-name="Hebrew" class="interlanguage-link-target"><span>עברית</span></a></li><li class="interlanguage-link interwiki-kk mw-list-item"><a href="https://kk.wikipedia.org/wiki/%D0%9C%D0%B8%D0%BA%D1%80%D0%BE%D0%BA%D0%BE%D0%BC%D0%BF%D1%8C%D1%8E%D1%82%D0%B5%D1%80" title="Микрокомпьютер – Kazakh" lang="kk" hreflang="kk" data-title="Микрокомпьютер" data-language-autonym="Қазақша" data-language-local-name="Kazakh" class="interlanguage-link-target"><span>Қазақша</span></a></li><li class="interlanguage-link interwiki-lv mw-list-item"><a href="https://lv.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mikrodators" title="Mikrodators – Latvian" lang="lv" hreflang="lv" data-title="Mikrodators" data-language-autonym="Latviešu" data-language-local-name="Latvian" class="interlanguage-link-target"><span>Latviešu</span></a></li><li class="interlanguage-link interwiki-lt mw-list-item"><a href="https://lt.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mikrokompiuteris" title="Mikrokompiuteris – Lithuanian" lang="lt" hreflang="lt" data-title="Mikrokompiuteris" data-language-autonym="Lietuvių" data-language-local-name="Lithuanian" class="interlanguage-link-target"><span>Lietuvių</span></a></li><li class="interlanguage-link interwiki-lmo mw-list-item"><a href="https://lmo.wikipedia.org/wiki/Microcomputer" title="Microcomputer – Lombard" lang="lmo" hreflang="lmo" data-title="Microcomputer" data-language-autonym="Lombard" data-language-local-name="Lombard" class="interlanguage-link-target"><span>Lombard</span></a></li><li class="interlanguage-link interwiki-ml mw-list-item"><a href="https://ml.wikipedia.org/wiki/%E0%B4%AE%E0%B5%88%E0%B4%95%E0%B5%8D%E0%B4%B0%E0%B5%8B%E0%B4%95%E0%B4%AE%E0%B5%8D%E0%B4%AA%E0%B5%8D%E0%B4%AF%E0%B5%82%E0%B4%9F%E0%B5%8D%E0%B4%9F%E0%B5%BC" title="മൈക്രോകമ്പ്യൂട്ടർ – Malayalam" lang="ml" hreflang="ml" data-title="മൈക്രോകമ്പ്യൂട്ടർ" data-language-autonym="മലയാളം" data-language-local-name="Malayalam" class="interlanguage-link-target"><span>മലയാളം</span></a></li><li class="interlanguage-link interwiki-ms mw-list-item"><a href="https://ms.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mikrokomputer" title="Mikrokomputer – Malay" lang="ms" hreflang="ms" data-title="Mikrokomputer" data-language-autonym="Bahasa Melayu" data-language-local-name="Malay" class="interlanguage-link-target"><span>Bahasa Melayu</span></a></li><li class="interlanguage-link interwiki-mn mw-list-item"><a href="https://mn.wikipedia.org/wiki/%D0%9C%D0%B8%D0%BA%D1%80%D0%BE_%D0%BA%D0%BE%D0%BC%D0%BF%D1%8C%D1%8E%D1%82%D0%B5%D1%80" title="Микро компьютер – Mongolian" lang="mn" hreflang="mn" data-title="Микро компьютер" data-language-autonym="Монгол" data-language-local-name="Mongolian" class="interlanguage-link-target"><span>Монгол</span></a></li><li class="interlanguage-link interwiki-nl mw-list-item"><a href="https://nl.wikipedia.org/wiki/Microcomputer" title="Microcomputer – Dutch" lang="nl" hreflang="nl" data-title="Microcomputer" data-language-autonym="Nederlands" data-language-local-name="Dutch" class="interlanguage-link-target"><span>Nederlands</span></a></li><li class="interlanguage-link interwiki-ja mw-list-item"><a href="https://ja.wikipedia.org/wiki/%E3%83%9E%E3%82%A4%E3%82%AF%E3%83%AD%E3%82%B3%E3%83%B3%E3%83%94%E3%83%A5%E3%83%BC%E3%82%BF" title="マイクロコンピュータ – Japanese" lang="ja" hreflang="ja" data-title="マイクロコンピュータ" data-language-autonym="日本語" data-language-local-name="Japanese" class="interlanguage-link-target"><span>日本語</span></a></li><li class="interlanguage-link interwiki-no mw-list-item"><a href="https://no.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mikrodatamaskin" title="Mikrodatamaskin – Norwegian Bokmål" lang="nb" hreflang="nb" data-title="Mikrodatamaskin" data-language-autonym="Norsk bokmål" data-language-local-name="Norwegian Bokmål" class="interlanguage-link-target"><span>Norsk bokmål</span></a></li><li class="interlanguage-link interwiki-pl mw-list-item"><a href="https://pl.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mikrokomputer" title="Mikrokomputer – Polish" lang="pl" hreflang="pl" data-title="Mikrokomputer" data-language-autonym="Polski" data-language-local-name="Polish" class="interlanguage-link-target"><span>Polski</span></a></li><li class="interlanguage-link interwiki-ru mw-list-item"><a href="https://ru.wikipedia.org/wiki/%D0%9C%D0%B8%D0%BA%D1%80%D0%BE%D0%BA%D0%BE%D0%BC%D0%BF%D1%8C%D1%8E%D1%82%D0%B5%D1%80" title="Микрокомпьютер – Russian" lang="ru" hreflang="ru" data-title="Микрокомпьютер" data-language-autonym="Русский" data-language-local-name="Russian" class="interlanguage-link-target"><span>Русский</span></a></li><li class="interlanguage-link interwiki-si mw-list-item"><a href="https://si.wikipedia.org/wiki/%E0%B6%9A%E0%B7%8A%E0%B7%82%E0%B7%94%E0%B6%AF%E0%B7%8A%E2%80%8D%E0%B6%BB_%E0%B6%B4%E0%B6%BB%E0%B7%92%E0%B6%9C%E0%B6%AB%E0%B6%9A%E0%B6%BA" title="ක්ෂුද්‍ර පරිගණකය – Sinhala" lang="si" hreflang="si" data-title="ක්ෂුද්‍ර පරිගණකය" data-language-autonym="සිංහල" data-language-local-name="Sinhala" class="interlanguage-link-target"><span>සිංහල</span></a></li><li class="interlanguage-link interwiki-sk mw-list-item"><a href="https://sk.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mikropo%C4%8D%C3%ADta%C4%8D" title="Mikropočítač – Slovak" lang="sk" hreflang="sk" data-title="Mikropočítač" data-language-autonym="Slovenčina" data-language-local-name="Slovak" class="interlanguage-link-target"><span>Slovenčina</span></a></li><li class="interlanguage-link interwiki-sl mw-list-item"><a href="https://sl.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mikrora%C4%8Dunalnik" title="Mikroračunalnik – Slovenian" lang="sl" hreflang="sl" data-title="Mikroračunalnik" data-language-autonym="Slovenščina" data-language-local-name="Slovenian" class="interlanguage-link-target"><span>Slovenščina</span></a></li><li class="interlanguage-link interwiki-ckb mw-list-item"><a href="https://ckb.wikipedia.org/wiki/%D9%88%D8%B1%D8%AF%DB%95%DA%A9%DB%86%D9%85%D9%BE%DB%8C%D9%88%D8%AA%DB%95%D8%B1" title="وردەکۆمپیوتەر – Central Kurdish" lang="ckb" hreflang="ckb" data-title="وردەکۆمپیوتەر" data-language-autonym="کوردی" data-language-local-name="Central Kurdish" class="interlanguage-link-target"><span>کوردی</span></a></li><li class="interlanguage-link interwiki-fi mw-list-item"><a href="https://fi.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mikrotietokone" title="Mikrotietokone – Finnish" lang="fi" hreflang="fi" data-title="Mikrotietokone" data-language-autonym="Suomi" data-language-local-name="Finnish" class="interlanguage-link-target"><span>Suomi</span></a></li><li class="interlanguage-link interwiki-sv mw-list-item"><a href="https://sv.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mikrodator" title="Mikrodator – 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id="siteSub" class="noprint">From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia</div> </div> <div id="contentSub"><div id="mw-content-subtitle"></div></div> <div id="mw-content-text" class="mw-body-content"><div class="mw-content-ltr mw-parser-output" lang="en" dir="ltr"><div class="shortdescription nomobile noexcerpt noprint searchaux" style="display:none">Small computer with a CPU made out of a microprocessor</div> <style data-mw-deduplicate="TemplateStyles:r1236090951">.mw-parser-output .hatnote{font-style:italic}.mw-parser-output div.hatnote{padding-left:1.6em;margin-bottom:0.5em}.mw-parser-output .hatnote i{font-style:normal}.mw-parser-output .hatnote+link+.hatnote{margin-top:-0.5em}@media print{body.ns-0 .mw-parser-output .hatnote{display:none!important}}</style><div role="note" class="hatnote navigation-not-searchable">"Microcomputing" redirects here. For the hobbyist magazine, see <a href="/wiki/Kilobaud_Microcomputing" title="Kilobaud Microcomputing"><i>Kilobaud Microcomputing</i></a>.</div> <link rel="mw-deduplicated-inline-style" href="mw-data:TemplateStyles:r1236090951"><div role="note" class="hatnote navigation-not-searchable">For a <a href="https://en.wiktionary.org/wiki/micro-" class="extiw" title="wikt:micro-">small</a> computer on an <a href="/wiki/Integrated_circuit" title="Integrated circuit">integrated circuit</a>, see <a href="/wiki/Microcontroller" title="Microcontroller">microcontroller</a>.</div> <figure class="mw-default-size" typeof="mw:File/Thumb"><a href="/wiki/File:Commodore-64-Computer-FL.jpg" class="mw-file-description"><img src="//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/e/e9/Commodore-64-Computer-FL.jpg/220px-Commodore-64-Computer-FL.jpg" decoding="async" width="220" height="124" class="mw-file-element" srcset="//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/e/e9/Commodore-64-Computer-FL.jpg/330px-Commodore-64-Computer-FL.jpg 1.5x, //upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/e/e9/Commodore-64-Computer-FL.jpg/440px-Commodore-64-Computer-FL.jpg 2x" data-file-width="4600" data-file-height="2600" /></a><figcaption>The <a href="/wiki/Commodore_64" title="Commodore 64">Commodore 64</a> was one of the most popular microcomputers of its era, and is the best-selling model of <a href="/wiki/Home_computer" title="Home computer">home computers</a> of all time.<sup id="cite_ref-1" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-1"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>1<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup></figcaption></figure> <figure class="mw-default-size" typeof="mw:File/Thumb"><a href="/wiki/File:Raspberry_Pi_4_Model_B_-_Side.jpg" class="mw-file-description"><img src="//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/f/f1/Raspberry_Pi_4_Model_B_-_Side.jpg/220px-Raspberry_Pi_4_Model_B_-_Side.jpg" decoding="async" width="220" height="129" class="mw-file-element" srcset="//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/f/f1/Raspberry_Pi_4_Model_B_-_Side.jpg/330px-Raspberry_Pi_4_Model_B_-_Side.jpg 1.5x, //upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/f/f1/Raspberry_Pi_4_Model_B_-_Side.jpg/440px-Raspberry_Pi_4_Model_B_-_Side.jpg 2x" data-file-width="4187" data-file-height="2464" /></a><figcaption><a href="/wiki/Raspberry_Pi" title="Raspberry Pi">Raspberry Pi</a>, a popular modern-class microcomputer</figcaption></figure> <p>A <b>microcomputer</b> is a small, relatively inexpensive <a href="/wiki/Computer" title="Computer">computer</a> having a <a href="/wiki/Central_processing_unit" title="Central processing unit">central processing unit</a> (CPU) made out of a <a href="/wiki/Microprocessor" title="Microprocessor">microprocessor</a>.<sup id="cite_ref-2" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-2"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>2<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup> The computer also includes <a href="/wiki/Computer_memory" title="Computer memory">memory</a> and <a href="/wiki/Input/output" title="Input/output">input/output</a> (I/O) circuitry together mounted on a <a href="/wiki/Printed_circuit_board" title="Printed circuit board">printed circuit board</a> (PCB).<sup id="cite_ref-3" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-3"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>3<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup> Microcomputers became popular in the 1970s and 1980s with the advent of increasingly powerful microprocessors. The predecessors to these computers, <a href="/wiki/Mainframe_computer" title="Mainframe computer">mainframes</a> and <a href="/wiki/Minicomputer" title="Minicomputer">minicomputers</a>, were comparatively much larger and more expensive (though indeed present-day mainframes such as the <a href="/wiki/IBM_System_z" class="mw-redirect" title="IBM System z">IBM System z</a> machines use one or more custom microprocessors as their CPUs). Many microcomputers (when equipped with a <a href="/wiki/Computer_keyboard" title="Computer keyboard">keyboard</a> and <a href="/wiki/Computer_monitor" title="Computer monitor">screen</a> for input and output) are also <a href="/wiki/Personal_computer" title="Personal computer">personal computers</a> (in the generic sense). An early use of the term "personal computer" in 1962 predates microprocessor-based designs. <i>(See "Personal Computer: Computers at Companies" reference below)</i>. A "microcomputer" used as an embedded control system may have no human-readable input and output devices. "Personal computer" may be used generically or may denote an <a href="/wiki/IBM_PC_compatible" class="mw-redirect" title="IBM PC compatible">IBM PC compatible</a> machine. </p><p>The abbreviation "micro" was common during the 1970s and 1980s,<sup id="cite_ref-microvalid_4-0" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-microvalid-4"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>4<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup> but has since fallen out of common usage. </p> <meta property="mw:PageProp/toc" /> <div class="mw-heading mw-heading2"><h2 id="Origins">Origins</h2><span class="mw-editsection"><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">[</span><a href="/w/index.php?title=Microcomputer&action=edit&section=1" title="Edit section: Origins"><span>edit</span></a><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">]</span></span></div> <p>The term <i>microcomputer</i> came into popular use after the introduction of the <a href="/wiki/Minicomputer" title="Minicomputer">minicomputer</a>, although <a href="/wiki/Isaac_Asimov" title="Isaac Asimov">Isaac Asimov</a> used the term in his short story "<a href="/wiki/The_Dying_Night" title="The Dying Night">The Dying Night</a>" as early as 1956 (published in <i><a href="/wiki/The_Magazine_of_Fantasy_%26_Science_Fiction" title="The Magazine of Fantasy & Science Fiction">The Magazine of Fantasy and Science Fiction</a></i> in July that year).<sup id="cite_ref-5" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-5"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>5<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup> Most notably, the microcomputer replaced the many separate components that made up the minicomputer's CPU with one integrated microprocessor <a href="/wiki/Integrated_circuit" title="Integrated circuit">chip</a>. </p><p>In 1973, the French <a href="/wiki/Institut_National_de_la_Recherche_Agronomique" class="mw-redirect" title="Institut National de la Recherche Agronomique">Institut National de la Recherche Agronomique</a> (INRA) was looking for a computer able to measure agricultural <a href="/wiki/Hygrometry" class="mw-redirect" title="Hygrometry">hygrometry</a>. To answer this request, a team of French engineers of the computer technology company R2E, led by its Head of Development, <a href="/wiki/Fran%C3%A7ois_Gernelle" title="François Gernelle">François Gernelle</a>, created the first available microprocessor-based microcomputer, the <a href="/wiki/Micral" title="Micral">Micral</a> N. The same year the company filed their patents with the term "Micro-ordinateur", a literal equivalent of "Microcomputer", to designate a solid state machine designed with a microprocessor. </p><p>In the US the earliest models such as the <a href="/wiki/Altair_8800" title="Altair 8800">Altair 8800</a> were often sold as kits to be assembled by the user, and came with as little as 256 <a href="/wiki/Byte" title="Byte">bytes</a> of <a href="/wiki/Random-access_memory" title="Random-access memory">RAM</a>, and no <a href="/wiki/Input/output" title="Input/output">input/output</a> devices other than indicator lights and switches, useful as a <a href="/wiki/Proof_of_concept" title="Proof of concept">proof of concept</a> to demonstrate what such a simple device could do.<sup id="cite_ref-6" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-6"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>6<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup> As microprocessors and <a href="/wiki/Semiconductor_memory" title="Semiconductor memory">semiconductor memory</a> became less expensive, microcomputers grew cheaper and easier to use. </p> <ul><li>Increasingly inexpensive logic chips such as the <a href="/wiki/7400_series" class="mw-redirect" title="7400 series">7400 series</a> allowed cheap dedicated circuitry for improved <a href="/wiki/User_interface" title="User interface">user interfaces</a> such as <a href="/wiki/Keyboard_(computing)" class="mw-redirect" title="Keyboard (computing)">keyboard</a> input, instead of simply a row of switches to toggle bits one at a time.</li> <li>Use of <a href="/wiki/Audio_cassette" class="mw-redirect" title="Audio cassette">audio cassettes</a> for inexpensive <a href="/wiki/Data_storage" title="Data storage">data storage</a> replaced manual re-entry of a program every time the device was powered on.</li> <li>Large cheap arrays of silicon <a href="/wiki/Logic_gates" class="mw-redirect" title="Logic gates">logic gates</a> in the form of <a href="/wiki/Read-only_memory" title="Read-only memory">read-only memory</a> and <a href="/wiki/EPROM" title="EPROM">EPROMs</a> allowed utility programs and self-<a href="/wiki/Booting" title="Booting">booting</a> <a href="/wiki/Kernel_(operating_system)" title="Kernel (operating system)">kernels</a> to be stored within microcomputers. These <a href="/wiki/Stored_program" class="mw-redirect" title="Stored program">stored programs</a> could automatically load further more complex software from external storage devices without user intervention, to form an inexpensive <a href="/wiki/Turnkey_system" class="mw-redirect" title="Turnkey system">turnkey system</a> that does not require a computer expert to understand or to use the device.</li> <li><a href="/wiki/Random-access_memory" title="Random-access memory">Random-access memory</a> became cheap enough to afford dedicating approximately 1–2 kilobytes of memory to a <a href="/wiki/Video_display_controller" title="Video display controller">video display controller</a> <a href="/wiki/Frame_buffer" class="mw-redirect" title="Frame buffer">frame buffer</a>, for a 40x25 or 80x25 text display or blocky color graphics on a common household <a href="/wiki/Television" title="Television">television</a>. This replaced the slow, complex, and expensive <a href="/wiki/Teletypewriter" class="mw-redirect" title="Teletypewriter">teletypewriter</a> that was previously common as an interface to minicomputers and mainframes.</li></ul> <p>All these improvements in cost and usability resulted in an explosion in their popularity during the late 1970s and early 1980s. A large number of computer makers packaged microcomputers for use in small business applications. By 1979, many companies such as <a href="/wiki/Cromemco" title="Cromemco">Cromemco</a>, <a href="/wiki/Processor_Technology" title="Processor Technology">Processor Technology</a>, <a href="/wiki/IMSAI" class="mw-redirect" title="IMSAI">IMSAI</a>, <a href="/wiki/North_Star_Computers" title="North Star Computers">North Star Computers</a>, <a href="/wiki/SWTPC" title="SWTPC">Southwest Technical Products Corporation</a>, <a href="/wiki/Ohio_Scientific" title="Ohio Scientific">Ohio Scientific</a>, <a href="/wiki/Altos_Computer_Systems" title="Altos Computer Systems">Altos Computer Systems</a>, <a href="/wiki/Morrow_Designs" class="mw-redirect" title="Morrow Designs">Morrow Designs</a> and others produced systems designed for resourceful end users or consulting firms to deliver business systems such as accounting, database management and word processing to small businesses. This allowed businesses unable to afford leasing of a minicomputer or <a href="/wiki/Time-sharing" title="Time-sharing">time-sharing</a> service the opportunity to automate business functions, without (usually) hiring a full-time staff to operate the computers. A representative system of this era would have used an <a href="/wiki/S100_bus" class="mw-redirect" title="S100 bus">S100 bus</a>, an <a href="/wiki/8-bit_computing" title="8-bit computing">8-bit</a> processor such as an <a href="/wiki/Intel_8080" title="Intel 8080">Intel 8080</a> or <a href="/wiki/Zilog_Z80" title="Zilog Z80">Zilog Z80</a>, and either <a href="/wiki/CP/M" title="CP/M">CP/M</a> or <a href="/wiki/MP/M" title="MP/M">MP/M</a> operating system. The increasing availability and power of <a href="/wiki/Desktop_computer" title="Desktop computer">desktop computers</a> for personal use attracted the attention of more software developers. As the industry matured, the market for <a href="/wiki/Personal_computer" title="Personal computer">personal computers</a> standardized around <a href="/wiki/IBM_PC_compatible" class="mw-redirect" title="IBM PC compatible">IBM PC compatibles</a> running <a href="/wiki/DOS" title="DOS">DOS</a>, and later <a href="/wiki/Microsoft_Windows" title="Microsoft Windows">Windows</a>. Modern desktop computers, <a href="/wiki/Video_game_console" title="Video game console">video game consoles</a>, <a href="/wiki/Laptop" title="Laptop">laptops</a>, <a href="/wiki/Tablet_computer" title="Tablet computer">tablet PCs</a>, and many types of <a href="/wiki/Handheld_device" class="mw-redirect" title="Handheld device">handheld devices</a>, including <a href="/wiki/Mobile_phone" title="Mobile phone">mobile phones</a>, pocket <a href="/wiki/Calculator" title="Calculator">calculators</a>, and industrial <a href="/wiki/Embedded_system" title="Embedded system">embedded systems</a>, may all be considered examples of microcomputers according to the definition given above. </p> <div class="mw-heading mw-heading2"><h2 id="Colloquial_use_of_the_term">Colloquial use of the term</h2><span class="mw-editsection"><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">[</span><a href="/w/index.php?title=Microcomputer&action=edit&section=2" title="Edit section: Colloquial use of the term"><span>edit</span></a><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">]</span></span></div> <figure typeof="mw:File/Thumb"><a href="/wiki/File:Home_or_Personal_Computers_from_1977_-_Commodore_PET_2001,_Apple_II,_TRS-80_Model_I,_together_called_%27Trinity77%27_(edited_image).jpg" class="mw-file-description"><img src="//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/8/82/Home_or_Personal_Computers_from_1977_-_Commodore_PET_2001%2C_Apple_II%2C_TRS-80_Model_I%2C_together_called_%27Trinity77%27_%28edited_image%29.jpg/330px-Home_or_Personal_Computers_from_1977_-_Commodore_PET_2001%2C_Apple_II%2C_TRS-80_Model_I%2C_together_called_%27Trinity77%27_%28edited_image%29.jpg" decoding="async" width="330" height="108" class="mw-file-element" srcset="//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/8/82/Home_or_Personal_Computers_from_1977_-_Commodore_PET_2001%2C_Apple_II%2C_TRS-80_Model_I%2C_together_called_%27Trinity77%27_%28edited_image%29.jpg/495px-Home_or_Personal_Computers_from_1977_-_Commodore_PET_2001%2C_Apple_II%2C_TRS-80_Model_I%2C_together_called_%27Trinity77%27_%28edited_image%29.jpg 1.5x, //upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/8/82/Home_or_Personal_Computers_from_1977_-_Commodore_PET_2001%2C_Apple_II%2C_TRS-80_Model_I%2C_together_called_%27Trinity77%27_%28edited_image%29.jpg/660px-Home_or_Personal_Computers_from_1977_-_Commodore_PET_2001%2C_Apple_II%2C_TRS-80_Model_I%2C_together_called_%27Trinity77%27_%28edited_image%29.jpg 2x" data-file-width="3973" data-file-height="1300" /></a><figcaption>Three microcomputer systems frequently associated with the first wave of commercially successful 8-bit home computers: The Commodore PET 2001, the Apple II, and the TRS-80 Model 1</figcaption></figure> <p>By the early 2000s, everyday use of the expression "microcomputer" (and in particular "micro") declined significantly from its peak in the mid-1980s.<sup id="cite_ref-7" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-7"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>7<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup> The term is most commonly associated with the most popular <a href="/wiki/8-bit_computing" title="8-bit computing">8-bit</a> <a href="/wiki/Home_computer" title="Home computer">home computers</a> (such as the <a href="/wiki/Apple_II" title="Apple II">Apple II</a>, <a href="/wiki/ZX_Spectrum" title="ZX Spectrum">ZX Spectrum</a>, <a href="/wiki/Commodore_64" title="Commodore 64">Commodore 64</a>, <a href="/wiki/BBC_Micro" title="BBC Micro">BBC Micro</a>, and <a href="/wiki/TRS-80" title="TRS-80">TRS-80</a>) and small-business <a href="/wiki/CP/M" title="CP/M">CP/M</a>-based microcomputers. </p><p>In colloquial usage, "microcomputer" has been largely supplanted by the term "<a href="/wiki/Personal_computer" title="Personal computer">personal computer</a>" or "PC", which specifies a computer that has been designed to be used by one individual at a time, a term first coined in 1959.<sup id="cite_ref-8" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-8"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>8<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup> IBM first promoted the term "personal computer" to differentiate the <a href="/wiki/IBM_Personal_Computer" title="IBM Personal Computer">IBM PC</a> from <a href="/wiki/CP/M" title="CP/M">CP/M</a>-based microcomputers likewise targeted at the small-business market, and also IBM's own mainframes and minicomputers.<sup class="noprint Inline-Template Template-Fact" style="white-space:nowrap;">[<i><a href="/wiki/Wikipedia:Citation_needed" title="Wikipedia:Citation needed"><span title="This claim needs references to reliable sources. (February 2014)">citation needed</span></a></i>]</sup> However, following its release, the IBM PC itself was widely imitated, as well as the term.<sup class="noprint Inline-Template Template-Fact" style="white-space:nowrap;">[<i><a href="/wiki/Wikipedia:Citation_needed" title="Wikipedia:Citation needed"><span title="This claim needs references to reliable sources. (February 2014)">citation needed</span></a></i>]</sup> The component parts were commonly available to producers and the <a href="/wiki/BIOS" title="BIOS">BIOS</a> was <a href="/wiki/Reverse_engineered" class="mw-redirect" title="Reverse engineered">reverse engineered</a> through <a href="/wiki/Cleanroom_design" class="mw-redirect" title="Cleanroom design">cleanroom design</a> techniques. <a href="/wiki/IBM_PC_compatible" class="mw-redirect" title="IBM PC compatible">IBM PC compatible</a> "clones" became commonplace, and the terms "personal computer", and especially "PC", stuck with the general public, often specifically for a computer compatible with DOS (or nowadays Windows). </p> <div class="mw-heading mw-heading2"><h2 id="Description">Description</h2><span class="mw-editsection"><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">[</span><a href="/w/index.php?title=Microcomputer&action=edit&section=3" title="Edit section: Description"><span>edit</span></a><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">]</span></span></div> <style data-mw-deduplicate="TemplateStyles:r1251242444">.mw-parser-output .ambox{border:1px solid #a2a9b1;border-left:10px solid #36c;background-color:#fbfbfb;box-sizing:border-box}.mw-parser-output .ambox+link+.ambox,.mw-parser-output .ambox+link+style+.ambox,.mw-parser-output .ambox+link+link+.ambox,.mw-parser-output .ambox+.mw-empty-elt+link+.ambox,.mw-parser-output .ambox+.mw-empty-elt+link+style+.ambox,.mw-parser-output .ambox+.mw-empty-elt+link+link+.ambox{margin-top:-1px}html body.mediawiki .mw-parser-output .ambox.mbox-small-left{margin:4px 1em 4px 0;overflow:hidden;width:238px;border-collapse:collapse;font-size:88%;line-height:1.25em}.mw-parser-output .ambox-speedy{border-left:10px solid #b32424;background-color:#fee7e6}.mw-parser-output .ambox-delete{border-left:10px solid #b32424}.mw-parser-output .ambox-content{border-left:10px solid #f28500}.mw-parser-output .ambox-style{border-left:10px solid #fc3}.mw-parser-output .ambox-move{border-left:10px solid #9932cc}.mw-parser-output .ambox-protection{border-left:10px solid #a2a9b1}.mw-parser-output .ambox .mbox-text{border:none;padding:0.25em 0.5em;width:100%}.mw-parser-output .ambox .mbox-image{border:none;padding:2px 0 2px 0.5em;text-align:center}.mw-parser-output .ambox .mbox-imageright{border:none;padding:2px 0.5em 2px 0;text-align:center}.mw-parser-output .ambox .mbox-empty-cell{border:none;padding:0;width:1px}.mw-parser-output .ambox .mbox-image-div{width:52px}@media(min-width:720px){.mw-parser-output .ambox{margin:0 10%}}@media print{body.ns-0 .mw-parser-output .ambox{display:none!important}}</style><table class="box-Unreferenced_section plainlinks metadata ambox ambox-content ambox-Unreferenced" role="presentation"><tbody><tr><td class="mbox-image"><div class="mbox-image-div"><span typeof="mw:File"><a href="/wiki/File:Question_book-new.svg" class="mw-file-description"><img alt="" src="//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/thumb/9/99/Question_book-new.svg/50px-Question_book-new.svg.png" decoding="async" width="50" height="39" class="mw-file-element" srcset="//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/thumb/9/99/Question_book-new.svg/75px-Question_book-new.svg.png 1.5x, //upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/thumb/9/99/Question_book-new.svg/100px-Question_book-new.svg.png 2x" data-file-width="512" data-file-height="399" /></a></span></div></td><td class="mbox-text"><div class="mbox-text-span">This section <b>does not <a href="/wiki/Wikipedia:Citing_sources" title="Wikipedia:Citing sources">cite</a> any <a href="/wiki/Wikipedia:Verifiability" title="Wikipedia:Verifiability">sources</a></b>.<span class="hide-when-compact"> Please help <a href="/wiki/Special:EditPage/Microcomputer" title="Special:EditPage/Microcomputer">improve this section</a> by <a href="/wiki/Help:Referencing_for_beginners" title="Help:Referencing for beginners">adding citations to reliable sources</a>. Unsourced material may be challenged and <a href="/wiki/Wikipedia:Verifiability#Burden_of_evidence" title="Wikipedia:Verifiability">removed</a>.</span> <span class="date-container"><i>(<span class="date">July 2008</span>)</i></span><span class="hide-when-compact"><i> (<small><a href="/wiki/Help:Maintenance_template_removal" title="Help:Maintenance template removal">Learn how and when to remove this message</a></small>)</i></span></div></td></tr></tbody></table> <p>Monitors, keyboards and other devices for input and output may be integrated or separate. Computer memory in the form of <a href="/wiki/Random-access_memory" title="Random-access memory">RAM</a>, and at least one other less volatile, memory storage device are usually combined with the CPU on a <a href="/wiki/System_bus" title="System bus">system bus</a> in one unit. Other devices that make up a complete microcomputer system include batteries, a <a href="/wiki/Power_supply" title="Power supply">power supply</a> unit, a keyboard and various input/output devices used to convey information to and from a human operator (<a href="/wiki/Computer_printer" class="mw-redirect" title="Computer printer">printers</a>, <a href="/wiki/Computer_display" class="mw-redirect" title="Computer display">monitors</a>, <a href="/wiki/Human_interface_device" title="Human interface device">human interface devices</a>). Microcomputers are designed to serve only one user at a time, although they can often be modified with software or hardware to concurrently serve more than one user. Microcomputers fit well on or under desks or tables, so that they are within easy access of users. Bigger computers like <a href="/wiki/Minicomputer" title="Minicomputer">minicomputers</a>, <a href="/wiki/Mainframe_computer" title="Mainframe computer">mainframes</a>, and <a href="/wiki/Supercomputer" title="Supercomputer">supercomputers</a> take up large <a href="/wiki/Cabinet_(computer)" class="mw-redirect" title="Cabinet (computer)">cabinets</a> or even dedicated rooms. </p><p>A microcomputer comes equipped with at least one type of data storage, usually <a href="/wiki/Random-access_memory" title="Random-access memory">RAM</a>. Although some microcomputers (particularly early 8-bit home micros) perform tasks using RAM alone, some form of <a href="/wiki/Secondary_storage" class="mw-redirect" title="Secondary storage">secondary storage</a> is normally desirable. In the early days of home micros, this was often a data <a href="/wiki/Cassette_deck" title="Cassette deck">cassette deck</a> (in many cases as an external unit). Later, secondary storage (particularly in the form of <a href="/wiki/Floppy_disk" title="Floppy disk">floppy disk</a> and <a href="/wiki/Hard_disk" class="mw-redirect" title="Hard disk">hard disk</a> drives) were built into the microcomputer case. </p> <div class="mw-heading mw-heading2"><h2 id="History">History</h2><span class="mw-editsection"><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">[</span><a href="/w/index.php?title=Microcomputer&action=edit&section=4" title="Edit section: History"><span>edit</span></a><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">]</span></span></div> <figure class="mw-halign-right" typeof="mw:File/Thumb"><a href="/wiki/File:Early_Personal_Computers.jpg" class="mw-file-description"><img src="//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/8/8a/Early_Personal_Computers.jpg/320px-Early_Personal_Computers.jpg" decoding="async" width="320" height="363" class="mw-file-element" srcset="//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/8/8a/Early_Personal_Computers.jpg/480px-Early_Personal_Computers.jpg 1.5x, //upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/8/8a/Early_Personal_Computers.jpg/640px-Early_Personal_Computers.jpg 2x" data-file-width="992" data-file-height="1124" /></a><figcaption>A collection of early microcomputers, including a <a href="/wiki/Processor_Technology" title="Processor Technology">Processor Technology</a> SOL-20 (top shelf, right), an MITS <a href="/wiki/Altair_8800" title="Altair 8800">Altair 8800</a> (second shelf, left), a <a href="/wiki/TV_Typewriter" title="TV Typewriter">TV Typewriter</a> (third shelf, center), and an <a href="/wiki/Apple_I" title="Apple I">Apple I</a> in the case at far right</figcaption></figure> <div class="mw-heading mw-heading3"><h3 id="TTL_precursors">TTL precursors</h3><span class="mw-editsection"><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">[</span><a href="/w/index.php?title=Microcomputer&action=edit&section=5" title="Edit section: TTL precursors"><span>edit</span></a><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">]</span></span></div> <p>Although they did not contain any microprocessors, but were built around <a href="/wiki/Transistor-transistor_logic" class="mw-redirect" title="Transistor-transistor logic">transistor-transistor logic</a> (TTL), <a href="/wiki/Hewlett-Packard" title="Hewlett-Packard">Hewlett-Packard</a> calculators as far back as 1968 had various levels of programmability comparable to microcomputers. The HP 9100B (1968) had rudimentary conditional (if) statements, statement line numbers, jump statements (<a href="/wiki/Go_to" class="mw-redirect" title="Go to">go to</a>), registers that could be used as variables, and primitive subroutines. The programming language resembled <a href="/wiki/Assembly_language" title="Assembly language">assembly language</a> in many ways. Later models incrementally added more features, including the <a href="/wiki/BASIC" title="BASIC">BASIC</a> programming language (HP 9830A in 1971). Some models had tape storage and small printers. However, displays were limited to one line at a time.<sup id="cite_ref-9" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-9"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>9<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup> The <a href="/wiki/Hewlett_Packard_9100A" class="mw-redirect" title="Hewlett Packard 9100A">HP 9100A</a> was referred to as a <a href="/wiki/Personal_computer" title="Personal computer">personal computer</a> in an advertisement in a 1968 <a href="/wiki/Science_(journal)" title="Science (journal)">Science</a> magazine,<sup id="cite_ref-10" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-10"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>10<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup> but that advertisement was quickly dropped.<sup id="cite_ref-11" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-11"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>11<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup> HP was reluctant to sell them as "computers" because the perception at that time was that a computer had to be big in size to be powerful, and thus decided to market them as calculators. Additionally, at that time, people were more likely to buy calculators than computers, and, purchasing agents also preferred the term "calculator" because purchasing a "computer" required additional layers of purchasing authority approvals.<sup id="cite_ref-12" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-12"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>12<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup> </p><p>The <a href="/wiki/Datapoint_2200" title="Datapoint 2200">Datapoint 2200</a>, made by <a href="/wiki/Datapoint" title="Datapoint">CTC</a> in 1970, was also comparable to microcomputers. While it contains no microprocessor, the <a href="/wiki/Instruction_set" class="mw-redirect" title="Instruction set">instruction set</a> of its custom TTL processor was the basis of the instruction set for the <a href="/wiki/Intel_8008" title="Intel 8008">Intel 8008</a>, and for practical purposes the system behaves approximately as if it contains an 8008. This is because Intel was the contractor in charge of developing the Datapoint's CPU, but ultimately CTC rejected the 8008 design because it needed 20 support chips.<sup id="cite_ref-13" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-13"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>13<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup> </p><p>Another early system, the <a href="/wiki/Kenbak-1" title="Kenbak-1">Kenbak-1</a>, was released in 1971. Like the Datapoint 2200, it used <a href="/wiki/Integrated_circuit#SSI" title="Integrated circuit">small-scale integrated</a> <a href="/wiki/Transistor%E2%80%93transistor_logic" title="Transistor–transistor logic">transistor–transistor logic</a> instead of a microprocessor. It was marketed as an educational and hobbyist tool, but it was not a commercial success; production ceased shortly after introduction.<sup id="cite_ref-14" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-14"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>14<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup> </p> <div class="mw-heading mw-heading3"><h3 id="Early_microcomputers">Early microcomputers</h3><span class="mw-editsection"><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">[</span><a href="/w/index.php?title=Microcomputer&action=edit&section=6" title="Edit section: Early microcomputers"><span>edit</span></a><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">]</span></span></div> <p>In late 1972, a French team headed by <a href="/wiki/Fran%C3%A7ois_Gernelle" title="François Gernelle">François Gernelle</a> within a small company, Réalisations & Etudes Electroniques (R2E), developed and patented a computer based on a microprocessor – the Intel 8008 8-bit microprocessor. This <a href="/wiki/Micral" title="Micral">Micral-N</a> was marketed in early 1973 as a "Micro-ordinateur" or <i>microcomputer</i>, mainly for scientific and process-control applications. About a hundred <a href="/wiki/Micral" title="Micral">Micral-N</a> were installed in the next two years, followed by a new version based on the Intel 8080. Meanwhile, another French team developed the Alvan, a small computer for office automation which found clients in banks and other sectors. The first version was based on LSI chips with an Intel 8008 as peripheral controller (keyboard, monitor and printer), before adopting the <a href="/wiki/Zilog_Z80" title="Zilog Z80">Zilog Z80</a> as main processor. </p><p>In late 1972, a <a href="/wiki/California_State_University,_Sacramento" title="California State University, Sacramento">Sacramento State University</a> team led by Bill Pentz built the Sac State 8008 computer, able to handle thousands of patients' medical records. The Sac State 8008 was designed with the Intel 8008. It had a full set of hardware and <a href="/wiki/Computer_program#Sac_State_8008" title="Computer program">software components</a>: a disk operating system included in a series of programmable read-only memory chips (PROMs); 8 Kilobytes of RAM; IBM's Basic Assembly Language (BAL); a hard drive; a color display; a printer output; a 150 bit/s serial interface for connecting to a mainframe; and even the world's first microcomputer front panel.<sup id="cite_ref-15" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-15"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>15<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup><sup id="cite_ref-16" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-16"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>16<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup> </p><p>In early 1973, <a href="/wiki/Sord_Computer_Corporation" title="Sord Computer Corporation">Sord Computer Corporation</a> (now <a href="/wiki/Toshiba" title="Toshiba">Toshiba Personal Computer System Corporation</a>) completed the SMP80/08, which used the <a href="/wiki/Intel_8008" title="Intel 8008">Intel 8008</a> microprocessor. The SMP80/08, however, did not have a commercial release. After the first general-purpose microprocessor, the <a href="/wiki/Intel_8080" title="Intel 8080">Intel 8080</a>, was announced in April 1974, Sord announced the SMP80/x, the first microcomputer to use the 8080, in May 1974.<sup id="cite_ref-ipsj_17-0" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-ipsj-17"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>17<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup> </p><p>Virtually all early microcomputers were essentially boxes with lights and switches; one had to read and understand binary numbers and machine language to program and use them (the Datapoint 2200 was a striking exception, bearing a modern design based on a monitor, keyboard, and tape and disk drives). Of the early "box of switches"-type microcomputers, the MITS <a href="/wiki/Altair_8800" title="Altair 8800">Altair 8800</a> (1975) was arguably the most famous. Most of these simple, early microcomputers were sold as <a href="/wiki/Electronic_kits" class="mw-redirect" title="Electronic kits">electronic kits</a>—bags full of loose components which the buyer had to solder together before the system could be used. </p> <figure class="mw-default-size" typeof="mw:File/Thumb"><a href="/wiki/File:PDP-11-M7270.jpg" class="mw-file-description"><img src="//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/8/88/PDP-11-M7270.jpg/220px-PDP-11-M7270.jpg" decoding="async" width="220" height="239" class="mw-file-element" srcset="//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/8/88/PDP-11-M7270.jpg/330px-PDP-11-M7270.jpg 1.5x, //upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/8/88/PDP-11-M7270.jpg/440px-PDP-11-M7270.jpg 2x" data-file-width="1767" data-file-height="1920" /></a><figcaption>Microcomputer module LSI-11/2</figcaption></figure> <p>The period from about 1971 to 1976 is sometimes called the <a href="/wiki/Category:Early_microcomputers" title="Category:Early microcomputers">first generation</a> of microcomputers. Many companies such as <a href="/wiki/Digital_Equipment_Corporation" title="Digital Equipment Corporation">DEC</a>,<sup id="cite_ref-18" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-18"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>18<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup> <a href="/wiki/National_Semiconductor" title="National Semiconductor">National Semiconductor</a>,<sup id="cite_ref-19" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-19"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>19<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup> <a href="/wiki/Texas_Instruments" title="Texas Instruments">Texas Instruments</a><sup id="cite_ref-20" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-20"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>20<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup> offered their microcomputers for use in terminal control, peripheral device interface control and industrial machine control. There were also machines for engineering development and hobbyist personal use.<sup id="cite_ref-21" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-21"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>21<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup> In 1975, the <a href="/wiki/Processor_Technology" title="Processor Technology">Processor Technology</a> <a href="/wiki/SOL-20" class="mw-redirect" title="SOL-20">SOL-20</a> was designed, which consisted of one board which included all the parts of the computer system. The <a href="/wiki/SOL-20" class="mw-redirect" title="SOL-20">SOL-20</a> had built-in EPROM software which eliminated the need for rows of switches and lights. The <a href="/wiki/Altair_8800" title="Altair 8800">MITS Altair</a> just mentioned played an instrumental role in sparking significant hobbyist interest, which itself eventually led to the founding and success of many well-known <a href="/wiki/Personal_computer" title="Personal computer">personal computer</a> hardware and software companies, such as <a href="/wiki/Microsoft" title="Microsoft">Microsoft</a> and <a href="/wiki/Apple_Computer" class="mw-redirect" title="Apple Computer">Apple Computer</a>. Although the Altair itself was only a mild commercial success, it helped spark a huge industry. </p> <div class="mw-heading mw-heading3"><h3 id="Home_computers">Home computers</h3><span class="mw-editsection"><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">[</span><a href="/w/index.php?title=Microcomputer&action=edit&section=7" title="Edit section: Home computers"><span>edit</span></a><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">]</span></span></div> <p>By 1977, the introduction of the second microcomputer generation as <a href="/wiki/Consumer_goods" class="mw-redirect" title="Consumer goods">consumer goods</a>, known as <a href="/wiki/Home_computer" title="Home computer">home computers</a>, made them considerably easier to use than their predecessors because their predecessors' operation often demanded thorough familiarity with practical electronics. The ability to connect to a monitor (screen) or TV set allowed visual manipulation of text and numbers. The <a href="/wiki/BASIC" title="BASIC">BASIC</a> language, which was easier to learn and use than raw machine language, became a standard feature. These features were already common in <a href="/wiki/Minicomputer" title="Minicomputer">minicomputers</a>, with which many hobbyists and early produces were familiar. </p><p>In 1979, the launch of the <a href="/wiki/VisiCalc" title="VisiCalc">VisiCalc</a> <a href="/wiki/Spreadsheet" title="Spreadsheet">spreadsheet</a> (initially for the <a href="/wiki/Apple_II" title="Apple II">Apple II</a>) first turned the microcomputer from a hobby for computer enthusiasts into a business tool. After the 1981 release by IBM of its <a href="/wiki/IBM_PC" class="mw-redirect" title="IBM PC">IBM PC</a>, the term <a href="/wiki/Personal_computer" title="Personal computer">personal computer</a> became generally used for microcomputers compatible with the IBM PC architecture (<a href="/wiki/IBM_PC%E2%80%93compatible" title="IBM PC–compatible">IBM PC–compatible</a>). </p> <div class="mw-heading mw-heading2"><h2 id="See_also">See also</h2><span class="mw-editsection"><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">[</span><a href="/w/index.php?title=Microcomputer&action=edit&section=8" title="Edit section: See also"><span>edit</span></a><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">]</span></span></div> <ul><li><a href="/wiki/History_of_computing_hardware_(1960s%E2%80%93present)" title="History of computing hardware (1960s–present)">History of computing hardware (1960s–present)</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Lists_of_microcomputers" title="Lists of microcomputers">Lists of microcomputers</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Mainframe_computer" title="Mainframe computer">Mainframe computer</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Market_share_of_personal_computer_vendors" title="Market share of personal computer vendors">Market share of personal computer vendors</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Minicomputer" title="Minicomputer">Minicomputer</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Personal_computer" title="Personal computer">Personal computer</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Keyboard_computer" title="Keyboard computer">Keyboard computer</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Small_form_factor_(desktop_and_motherboard)" class="mw-redirect" title="Small form factor (desktop and motherboard)">SFF computer</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Supercomputer" title="Supercomputer">Supercomputer</a></li></ul> <div class="mw-heading mw-heading2"><h2 id="Notes_and_references">Notes and references</h2><span class="mw-editsection"><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">[</span><a href="/w/index.php?title=Microcomputer&action=edit&section=9" title="Edit section: Notes and references"><span>edit</span></a><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">]</span></span></div> <style data-mw-deduplicate="TemplateStyles:r1239543626">.mw-parser-output .reflist{margin-bottom:0.5em;list-style-type:decimal}@media screen{.mw-parser-output .reflist{font-size:90%}}.mw-parser-output .reflist .references{font-size:100%;margin-bottom:0;list-style-type:inherit}.mw-parser-output .reflist-columns-2{column-width:30em}.mw-parser-output .reflist-columns-3{column-width:25em}.mw-parser-output .reflist-columns{margin-top:0.3em}.mw-parser-output .reflist-columns ol{margin-top:0}.mw-parser-output .reflist-columns li{page-break-inside:avoid;break-inside:avoid-column}.mw-parser-output .reflist-upper-alpha{list-style-type:upper-alpha}.mw-parser-output .reflist-upper-roman{list-style-type:upper-roman}.mw-parser-output .reflist-lower-alpha{list-style-type:lower-alpha}.mw-parser-output .reflist-lower-greek{list-style-type:lower-greek}.mw-parser-output .reflist-lower-roman{list-style-type:lower-roman}</style><div class="reflist"> <div class="mw-references-wrap mw-references-columns"><ol class="references"> <li id="cite_note-1"><span class="mw-cite-backlink"><b><a href="#cite_ref-1">^</a></b></span> <span class="reference-text"><style data-mw-deduplicate="TemplateStyles:r1238218222">.mw-parser-output cite.citation{font-style:inherit;word-wrap:break-word}.mw-parser-output .citation q{quotes:"\"""\"""'""'"}.mw-parser-output .citation:target{background-color:rgba(0,127,255,0.133)}.mw-parser-output .id-lock-free.id-lock-free a{background:url("//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/6/65/Lock-green.svg")right 0.1em center/9px no-repeat}.mw-parser-output .id-lock-limited.id-lock-limited a,.mw-parser-output .id-lock-registration.id-lock-registration a{background:url("//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/d/d6/Lock-gray-alt-2.svg")right 0.1em center/9px no-repeat}.mw-parser-output .id-lock-subscription.id-lock-subscription a{background:url("//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/a/aa/Lock-red-alt-2.svg")right 0.1em center/9px no-repeat}.mw-parser-output .cs1-ws-icon a{background:url("//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/4/4c/Wikisource-logo.svg")right 0.1em center/12px no-repeat}body:not(.skin-timeless):not(.skin-minerva) .mw-parser-output .id-lock-free a,body:not(.skin-timeless):not(.skin-minerva) .mw-parser-output .id-lock-limited a,body:not(.skin-timeless):not(.skin-minerva) .mw-parser-output .id-lock-registration a,body:not(.skin-timeless):not(.skin-minerva) .mw-parser-output .id-lock-subscription a,body:not(.skin-timeless):not(.skin-minerva) .mw-parser-output .cs1-ws-icon a{background-size:contain;padding:0 1em 0 0}.mw-parser-output .cs1-code{color:inherit;background:inherit;border:none;padding:inherit}.mw-parser-output .cs1-hidden-error{display:none;color:var(--color-error,#d33)}.mw-parser-output .cs1-visible-error{color:var(--color-error,#d33)}.mw-parser-output .cs1-maint{display:none;color:#085;margin-left:0.3em}.mw-parser-output .cs1-kern-left{padding-left:0.2em}.mw-parser-output .cs1-kern-right{padding-right:0.2em}.mw-parser-output .citation .mw-selflink{font-weight:inherit}@media screen{.mw-parser-output .cs1-format{font-size:95%}html.skin-theme-clientpref-night .mw-parser-output .cs1-maint{color:#18911f}}@media screen and (prefers-color-scheme:dark){html.skin-theme-clientpref-os .mw-parser-output .cs1-maint{color:#18911f}}</style><cite id="CITEREFKahney2003" class="citation magazine cs1"><a href="/wiki/Leander_Kahney" title="Leander Kahney">Kahney, Leander</a> (2003-09-09). <a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="https://www.wired.com/2003/09/grandiose-price-for-a-modest-pc/">"Grandiose Price for a Modest PC"</a>. <i><a href="/wiki/Wired_(magazine)" title="Wired (magazine)">Wired</a></i><span class="reference-accessdate">. Retrieved <span class="nowrap">2019-11-04</span></span>.</cite><span title="ctx_ver=Z39.88-2004&rft_val_fmt=info%3Aofi%2Ffmt%3Akev%3Amtx%3Ajournal&rft.genre=article&rft.jtitle=Wired&rft.atitle=Grandiose+Price+for+a+Modest+PC&rft.date=2003-09-09&rft.aulast=Kahney&rft.aufirst=Leander&rft_id=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.wired.com%2F2003%2F09%2Fgrandiose-price-for-a-modest-pc%2F&rfr_id=info%3Asid%2Fen.wikipedia.org%3AMicrocomputer" class="Z3988"></span></span> </li> <li id="cite_note-2"><span class="mw-cite-backlink"><b><a href="#cite_ref-2">^</a></b></span> <span class="reference-text"><link rel="mw-deduplicated-inline-style" href="mw-data:TemplateStyles:r1238218222"><cite class="citation encyclopaedia cs1"><a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/microcomputer">"Microcomputer"</a>. <i>dictionary.com</i>.</cite><span title="ctx_ver=Z39.88-2004&rft_val_fmt=info%3Aofi%2Ffmt%3Akev%3Amtx%3Abook&rft.genre=bookitem&rft.atitle=Microcomputer&rft.btitle=dictionary.com&rft_id=http%3A%2F%2Fdictionary.reference.com%2Fbrowse%2Fmicrocomputer&rfr_id=info%3Asid%2Fen.wikipedia.org%3AMicrocomputer" class="Z3988"></span></span> </li> <li id="cite_note-3"><span class="mw-cite-backlink"><b><a href="#cite_ref-3">^</a></b></span> <span class="reference-text"><link rel="mw-deduplicated-inline-style" href="mw-data:TemplateStyles:r1238218222"><cite id="CITEREFA.O.Jelinek1976" class="citation journal cs1">A.O., Williman; Jelinek, H.J. (June 1976). "Special Tutorial: Introduction to LSI Microprocessor Developments". <i>Computer</i>. <b>9</b> (Computer). IEEE: 37. <a href="/wiki/Doi_(identifier)" class="mw-redirect" title="Doi (identifier)">doi</a>:<a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="https://doi.org/10.1109%2FC-M.1976.218612">10.1109/C-M.1976.218612</a>. <a href="/wiki/S2CID_(identifier)" class="mw-redirect" title="S2CID (identifier)">S2CID</a> <a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="https://api.semanticscholar.org/CorpusID:11184882">11184882</a>.</cite><span title="ctx_ver=Z39.88-2004&rft_val_fmt=info%3Aofi%2Ffmt%3Akev%3Amtx%3Ajournal&rft.genre=article&rft.jtitle=Computer&rft.atitle=Special+Tutorial%3A+Introduction+to+LSI+Microprocessor+Developments&rft.volume=9&rft.issue=Computer&rft.pages=37&rft.date=1976-06&rft_id=info%3Adoi%2F10.1109%2FC-M.1976.218612&rft_id=https%3A%2F%2Fapi.semanticscholar.org%2FCorpusID%3A11184882%23id-name%3DS2CID&rft.aulast=A.O.&rft.aufirst=Williman&rft.au=Jelinek%2C+H.J.&rfr_id=info%3Asid%2Fen.wikipedia.org%3AMicrocomputer" class="Z3988"></span></span> </li> <li id="cite_note-microvalid-4"><span class="mw-cite-backlink"><b><a href="#cite_ref-microvalid_4-0">^</a></b></span> <span class="reference-text">Proof of "micro" as a once-common term:<br />(i) Direct reference: Graham Kibble-White, <a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="http://www.offthetelly.co.uk/oldott/www.offthetelly.co.uk/index7943.html?page_id=568">"Stand by for a Data-Blast"</a>, Off the Telly. Article written December 2005, retrieved 2006-12-15.<br />(ii) Usage in the titles of <a href="/wiki/Christopher_Evans_(computer_scientist)" title="Christopher Evans (computer scientist)">Christopher Evans</a>' books <a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/0340259752">"The Mighty Micro"</a> (<link rel="mw-deduplicated-inline-style" href="mw-data:TemplateStyles:r1238218222"><a href="/wiki/ISBN_(identifier)" class="mw-redirect" title="ISBN (identifier)">ISBN</a> <a href="/wiki/Special:BookSources/0-340-25975-2" title="Special:BookSources/0-340-25975-2">0-340-25975-2</a>) and <a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/0340259752">"The Making of the Micro"</a> (<link rel="mw-deduplicated-inline-style" href="mw-data:TemplateStyles:r1238218222"><a href="/wiki/ISBN_(identifier)" class="mw-redirect" title="ISBN (identifier)">ISBN</a> <a href="/wiki/Special:BookSources/0-575-02913-7" title="Special:BookSources/0-575-02913-7">0-575-02913-7</a>). Other books include Usborne's <a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/0860206378">"Understanding the Micro"</a> (<link rel="mw-deduplicated-inline-style" href="mw-data:TemplateStyles:r1238218222"><a href="/wiki/ISBN_(identifier)" class="mw-redirect" title="ISBN (identifier)">ISBN</a> <a href="/wiki/Special:BookSources/0-86020-637-8" title="Special:BookSources/0-86020-637-8">0-86020-637-8</a>), a children's guide to microcomputers.</span> </li> <li id="cite_note-5"><span class="mw-cite-backlink"><b><a href="#cite_ref-5">^</a></b></span> <span class="reference-text"><link rel="mw-deduplicated-inline-style" href="mw-data:TemplateStyles:r1238218222"><cite id="CITEREFAsimov1956" class="citation journal cs1">Asimov, Isaac (July 1956). "The Dying Night". <i>The Magazine of Fantasy and Science Fiction</i>.</cite><span title="ctx_ver=Z39.88-2004&rft_val_fmt=info%3Aofi%2Ffmt%3Akev%3Amtx%3Ajournal&rft.genre=article&rft.jtitle=The+Magazine+of+Fantasy+and+Science+Fiction&rft.atitle=The+Dying+Night&rft.date=1956-07&rft.aulast=Asimov&rft.aufirst=Isaac&rfr_id=info%3Asid%2Fen.wikipedia.org%3AMicrocomputer" class="Z3988"></span></span> </li> <li id="cite_note-6"><span class="mw-cite-backlink"><b><a href="#cite_ref-6">^</a></b></span> <span class="reference-text"><link rel="mw-deduplicated-inline-style" href="mw-data:TemplateStyles:r1238218222"><cite id="CITEREFCeruzzi2012" class="citation book cs1">Ceruzzi, Paul (2012). <i>Computing: a concise history</i>. Cambridge, MA: MIT Press. p. 105. <a href="/wiki/ISBN_(identifier)" class="mw-redirect" title="ISBN (identifier)">ISBN</a> <a href="/wiki/Special:BookSources/9780262517676" title="Special:BookSources/9780262517676"><bdi>9780262517676</bdi></a>.</cite><span title="ctx_ver=Z39.88-2004&rft_val_fmt=info%3Aofi%2Ffmt%3Akev%3Amtx%3Abook&rft.genre=book&rft.btitle=Computing%3A+a+concise+history&rft.place=Cambridge%2C+MA&rft.pages=105&rft.pub=MIT+Press&rft.date=2012&rft.isbn=9780262517676&rft.aulast=Ceruzzi&rft.aufirst=Paul&rfr_id=info%3Asid%2Fen.wikipedia.org%3AMicrocomputer" class="Z3988"></span></span> </li> <li id="cite_note-7"><span class="mw-cite-backlink"><b><a href="#cite_ref-7">^</a></b></span> <span class="reference-text">"<a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="http://www.oed.com/view/Entry/117935?redirectedFrom=microcomputer">microcomputer</a>". OED Online. December 2013. Oxford University Press. 15 February 2014.</span> </li> <li id="cite_note-8"><span class="mw-cite-backlink"><b><a href="#cite_ref-8">^</a></b></span> <span class="reference-text">"<a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="http://www.oed.com/view/Entry/262572?redirectedFrom=personal+computer">personal computer</a>". OED Online. December 2013. Oxford University Press. 15 February 2014</span> </li> <li id="cite_note-9"><span class="mw-cite-backlink"><b><a href="#cite_ref-9">^</a></b></span> <span class="reference-text"><link rel="mw-deduplicated-inline-style" href="mw-data:TemplateStyles:r1238218222"><cite class="citation web cs1"><a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="http://www.hpmuseum.org">"The Museum of HP Calculators"</a>.</cite><span title="ctx_ver=Z39.88-2004&rft_val_fmt=info%3Aofi%2Ffmt%3Akev%3Amtx%3Abook&rft.genre=unknown&rft.btitle=The+Museum+of+HP+Calculators&rft_id=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.hpmuseum.org&rfr_id=info%3Asid%2Fen.wikipedia.org%3AMicrocomputer" class="Z3988"></span></span> </li> <li id="cite_note-10"><span class="mw-cite-backlink"><b><a href="#cite_ref-10">^</a></b></span> <span class="reference-text"><link rel="mw-deduplicated-inline-style" href="mw-data:TemplateStyles:r1238218222"><cite class="citation web cs1"><a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="http://www.hp.com/hpinfo/abouthp/histnfacts/museum/personalsystems/0021/other/0021ad.pdf">"Powerful Computing Genie"</a> <span class="cs1-format">(PDF)</span>. Hewlett Packard. <a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="https://web.archive.org/web/20060312220318/http://www.hp.com/hpinfo/abouthp/histnfacts/museum/personalsystems/0021/other/0021ad.pdf">Archived</a> <span class="cs1-format">(PDF)</span> from the original on 2006-03-12<span class="reference-accessdate">. Retrieved <span class="nowrap">2012-08-30</span></span>.</cite><span title="ctx_ver=Z39.88-2004&rft_val_fmt=info%3Aofi%2Ffmt%3Akev%3Amtx%3Abook&rft.genre=unknown&rft.btitle=Powerful+Computing+Genie&rft.pub=Hewlett+Packard&rft_id=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.hp.com%2Fhpinfo%2Fabouthp%2Fhistnfacts%2Fmuseum%2Fpersonalsystems%2F0021%2Fother%2F0021ad.pdf&rfr_id=info%3Asid%2Fen.wikipedia.org%3AMicrocomputer" class="Z3988"></span></span> </li> <li id="cite_note-11"><span class="mw-cite-backlink"><b><a href="#cite_ref-11">^</a></b></span> <span class="reference-text"><link rel="mw-deduplicated-inline-style" href="mw-data:TemplateStyles:r1238218222"><cite class="citation web cs1"><a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="http://www.sciencemag.org/cgi/issue_pdf/frontmatter_pdf/162/3852.pdf">"Restoring the Balance Between Analysis and Computation"</a> <span class="cs1-format">(PDF)</span>. <a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="https://web.archive.org/web/20070621133200/http://www.sciencemag.org/cgi/issue_pdf/frontmatter_pdf/162/3852.pdf">Archived</a> <span class="cs1-format">(PDF)</span> from the original on 2007-06-21<span class="reference-accessdate">. Retrieved <span class="nowrap">2012-08-30</span></span>.</cite><span title="ctx_ver=Z39.88-2004&rft_val_fmt=info%3Aofi%2Ffmt%3Akev%3Amtx%3Abook&rft.genre=unknown&rft.btitle=Restoring+the+Balance+Between+Analysis+and+Computation&rft_id=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.sciencemag.org%2Fcgi%2Fissue_pdf%2Ffrontmatter_pdf%2F162%2F3852.pdf&rfr_id=info%3Asid%2Fen.wikipedia.org%3AMicrocomputer" class="Z3988"></span></span> </li> <li id="cite_note-12"><span class="mw-cite-backlink"><b><a href="#cite_ref-12">^</a></b></span> <span class="reference-text"><link rel="mw-deduplicated-inline-style" href="mw-data:TemplateStyles:r1238218222"><cite class="citation web cs1"><a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="http://www.hp.com/hpinfo/abouthp/histnfacts/museum/personalsystems/0021/0021history.html">"History of the 9100A desktop calculator, 1968"</a>. <i>HP virtual museum</i><span class="reference-accessdate">. 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(December 1983). <a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="https://books.google.com/books?id=kawCnk4051wC&pg=PA154">"Computer Adventures"</a>. <i>Popular Science</i>.</cite><span title="ctx_ver=Z39.88-2004&rft_val_fmt=info%3Aofi%2Ffmt%3Akev%3Amtx%3Ajournal&rft.genre=article&rft.jtitle=Popular+Science&rft.atitle=Computer+Adventures&rft.date=1983-12&rft.aulast=Hawkins&rft.aufirst=William+J.&rft_id=https%3A%2F%2Fbooks.google.com%2Fbooks%3Fid%3DkawCnk4051wC%26pg%3DPA154&rfr_id=info%3Asid%2Fen.wikipedia.org%3AMicrocomputer" class="Z3988"></span></span> </li> </ol></div></div> <div class="navbox-styles"><style data-mw-deduplicate="TemplateStyles:r1129693374">.mw-parser-output .hlist dl,.mw-parser-output .hlist ol,.mw-parser-output .hlist ul{margin:0;padding:0}.mw-parser-output .hlist dd,.mw-parser-output .hlist dt,.mw-parser-output .hlist li{margin:0;display:inline}.mw-parser-output .hlist.inline,.mw-parser-output .hlist.inline dl,.mw-parser-output .hlist.inline ol,.mw-parser-output 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computer">Plug</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Stick_PC" title="Stick PC">Stick PC</a></li></ul></li> <li><a href="/wiki/19-inch_rack" title="19-inch rack">Rack</a> <ul><li><a href="/wiki/Blade_server" title="Blade server">Blade server</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Blade_PC" title="Blade PC">Blade PC</a></li></ul></li></ul> </div></td></tr></tbody></table><div></div></td></tr></tbody></table><div></div></td></tr><tr><th scope="row" class="navbox-group" style="width:1%"><a href="/wiki/Mobile_computing" title="Mobile computing">Mobile</a></th><td class="navbox-list-with-group navbox-list navbox-odd" style="width:100%;padding:0"><div style="padding:0 0.25em"></div><table class="nowraplinks navbox-subgroup" style="border-spacing:0"><tbody><tr><th scope="row" class="navbox-group" style="width:1%"><a href="/wiki/Laptop" title="Laptop">Laptop</a></th><td class="navbox-list-with-group navbox-list navbox-even" style="width:100%;padding:0"><div style="padding:0 0.25em"> <ul><li><a href="/wiki/2-in-1_laptop" title="2-in-1 laptop">2-in-1</a> <ul><li><a href="/wiki/2-in-1_laptop#2-in-1_convertible" title="2-in-1 laptop">Convertible</a></li></ul></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Cloudbook" title="Cloudbook">Cloudbook</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Mobile_workstation" title="Mobile workstation">Mobile workstation</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Notebook_(laptop)" title="Notebook (laptop)">Notebook</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Subnotebook" title="Subnotebook">Subnotebook</a> <ul><li><a href="/wiki/Netbook" title="Netbook">Netbook</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Smartbook" title="Smartbook">Smartbook</a></li></ul></li></ul> </div></td></tr><tr><th scope="row" class="navbox-group" style="width:1%"><a href="/wiki/Tablet_computer" title="Tablet computer">Tablet</a></th><td class="navbox-list-with-group navbox-list navbox-odd" style="width:100%;padding:0"><div style="padding:0 0.25em"> <ul><li><a href="/wiki/2-in-1_laptop#2-in-1_detachable" title="2-in-1 laptop">Detachable</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Phablet" title="Phablet">Phablet</a></li></ul> </div></td></tr><tr><th scope="row" class="navbox-group" style="width:1%"><a href="/wiki/Mobile_device" title="Mobile device">Handheld</a></th><td class="navbox-list-with-group navbox-list navbox-even" style="width:100%;padding:0"><div style="padding:0 0.25em"> <ul><li><a href="/wiki/Electronic_organizer" title="Electronic organizer">Electronic organizer</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/E-reader" title="E-reader">E-reader</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Handheld_game_console" title="Handheld game console">Handheld game console</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Handheld_PC" title="Handheld PC">Handheld PC</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Mobile_data_terminal" title="Mobile data terminal">Mobile data terminal</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Mobile_phone" title="Mobile phone">Mobile phone</a> <ul><li><a href="/wiki/Camera_phone" title="Camera phone">Camera</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Feature_phone" title="Feature phone">Feature</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Smartphone" title="Smartphone">Smartphone</a> <ul><li><a href="/wiki/Foldable_smartphone" title="Foldable smartphone">Foldable</a></li></ul></li></ul></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Palmtop_PC" title="Palmtop PC">Palmtop PC</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Personal_digital_assistant" title="Personal digital assistant">Personal digital assistant</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Pocket_computer" title="Pocket computer">Pocket</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Portable_data_terminal" title="Portable data terminal">Portable data terminal</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Portable_media_player" title="Portable media player">Portable media player</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Siftable" title="Siftable">Siftable</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Ultra-mobile_PC" title="Ultra-mobile PC">Ultra-mobile PC</a></li></ul> </div></td></tr><tr><th scope="row" class="navbox-group" style="width:1%"><a href="/wiki/Calculator" title="Calculator">Calculator</a></th><td class="navbox-list-with-group navbox-list navbox-odd" style="width:100%;padding:0"><div style="padding:0 0.25em"> <ul><li><a href="/wiki/Graphing_calculator" title="Graphing calculator">Graphing</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Programmable_calculator" title="Programmable calculator">Programmable</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Scientific_calculator" title="Scientific calculator">Scientific</a></li></ul> </div></td></tr><tr><th scope="row" class="navbox-group" style="width:1%"><a href="/wiki/Wearable_computer" title="Wearable computer">Wearable</a></th><td class="navbox-list-with-group navbox-list navbox-even" style="width:100%;padding:0"><div style="padding:0 0.25em"> <ul><li><a href="/wiki/Activity_tracker" title="Activity tracker">Activity tracker</a> <ul><li><a href="/wiki/Smart_band" class="mw-redirect" title="Smart band">Smart band</a></li></ul></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Watch#Digital" title="Watch">Digital wristwatch</a> <ul><li><a href="/wiki/Calculator_watch" title="Calculator watch">Calculator watch</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Smartwatch" title="Smartwatch">Smartwatch</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/GPS_watch" title="GPS watch">Sportwatch</a></li></ul></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Smartglasses" title="Smartglasses">Smartglasses</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Smart_ring" title="Smart ring">Smart ring</a></li></ul> </div></td></tr></tbody></table><div></div></td></tr></tbody></table><div></div></td></tr><tr><th scope="row" class="navbox-group" style="width:1%"><a href="/wiki/Midrange_computer" title="Midrange computer">Midrange</a></th><td class="navbox-list-with-group navbox-list navbox-odd" style="width:100%;padding:0"><div style="padding:0 0.25em"> <ul><li><a href="/wiki/Minicomputer" title="Minicomputer">Mini</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Superminicomputer" title="Superminicomputer">Supermini</a></li></ul> </div></td></tr><tr><th scope="row" class="navbox-group" style="width:1%">Large</th><td class="navbox-list-with-group navbox-list navbox-even" style="width:100%;padding:0"><div style="padding:0 0.25em"> <ul><li><a href="/wiki/Grid_computing" title="Grid computing">Grid</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Mainframe_computer" title="Mainframe computer">Mainframe</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Minisupercomputer" title="Minisupercomputer">Minisuper</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Supercomputer" title="Supercomputer">Super</a></li></ul> </div></td></tr><tr><th scope="row" class="navbox-group" style="width:1%">Others</th><td class="navbox-list-with-group navbox-list navbox-odd" style="width:100%;padding:0"><div style="padding:0 0.25em"> <ul><li><a href="/wiki/Embedded_system" title="Embedded system">Embedded system</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Information_appliance" title="Information appliance">Information appliance</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Microcontroller" title="Microcontroller">Microcontroller</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Nanocomputer" title="Nanocomputer">Nano</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Rugged_computer" title="Rugged computer">Rugged</a> <ul><li><a href="/wiki/Rugged_smartphone" title="Rugged smartphone">Rugged smartphone</a></li></ul></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Single-board_computer" title="Single-board computer">Single-board</a> <ul><li><a href="/wiki/Computer-on-module" title="Computer-on-module">Computer-on-module</a></li></ul></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Smartdust" title="Smartdust">Smartdust</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Wireless_sensor_network" title="Wireless sensor network">Wireless sensor network</a></li></ul> </div></td></tr><tr><td class="navbox-abovebelow" colspan="2"><div> <ul><li><span class="noviewer" typeof="mw:File"><span title="Category"><img alt="" src="//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/thumb/9/96/Symbol_category_class.svg/16px-Symbol_category_class.svg.png" decoding="async" width="16" height="16" class="mw-file-element" srcset="//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/thumb/9/96/Symbol_category_class.svg/23px-Symbol_category_class.svg.png 1.5x, //upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/thumb/9/96/Symbol_category_class.svg/31px-Symbol_category_class.svg.png 2x" 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