Personal computer (PC) | Definition, History, & Facts

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border-right-sm border-left-sm open"> <div class="drawer d-flex flex-column open"> <div class="left-rail-section-content"> <div class="topic-left-rail-header text-truncate bg-gray-50 position-relative text-right d-flex align-items-center"> <div class="tlr-title px-20 py-15 text-left"> <em class="material-icons text-gray-400 d-lg-none" data-icon="toc"></em> <a class="font-serif font-weight-bold text-black link-blue" href="https://www.britannica.com/technology/personal-computer">personal computer</a> </div> <button aria-label="Close" class="js-sections-close-button btn-link btn-sm btn d-lg-none position-absolute top-0 p-10 right-0" > <em class="material-icons font-26" data-icon="close"></em> </button> </div> <div class="section-content pl-10 pr-20 pl-sm-50 pr-sm-60 pl-lg-5 pr-lg-10 pt-10 pt-lg-0 bg-gray-50 clear-catfish-ad"> <div class="toc mb-20"> <div class="font-serif font-14 font-weight-bold mx-15 mb-15 mt-20"> Table of Contents </div> <ul class="list-unstyled my-0" data-level="h1"><li data-target="#ref1"><div class="pl-25"><a class="link-gray-900 w-100" href="/technology/personal-computer">Introduction</a></div><div class="ml-40 toc-drawer sub-toc-drawer"></div></li><li data-target="#ref283802"><div class="d-flex align-items-center"><div class="ml-25"></div><a class="w-100 link-gray-900" href="/technology/personal-computer#ref283802">From hobby computers to Apple</a></div><div class="ml-40 toc-drawer sub-toc-drawer"></div></li><li data-target="#ref283803"><div class="d-flex align-items-center"><div class="ml-25"></div><a class="w-100 link-gray-900" href="/technology/personal-computer#ref283803">IBM PC</a></div><div class="ml-40 toc-drawer sub-toc-drawer"></div></li><li data-target="#ref283804"><div class="d-flex align-items-center"><div class="ml-25"></div><a class="w-100 link-gray-900" href="/technology/personal-computer#ref283804">GUI</a></div><div class="ml-40 toc-drawer sub-toc-drawer"></div></li><li data-target="#ref283805"><div class="d-flex align-items-center"><div class="ml-25"></div><a class="w-100 link-gray-900" href="/technology/personal-computer/Faster-smaller-and-more-powerful-PCs">Faster, smaller, and more-powerful PCs</a></div><div class="ml-40 toc-drawer sub-toc-drawer"></div></li></ul> <a class="toc-extra-link link-gray-900" href="https://www.britannica.com/technology/personal-computer/additional-info">References & Edit History</a> <a class="toc-extra-link link-gray-900" href="/facts/personal-computer">Quick Facts & Related Topics</a> </div> <div class="tlr-media-slider pb-10 mb-30"> <a class="section-header link-gray-900 font-serif font-14 font-weight-bold mb-10 mx-10" href="https://www.britannica.com/technology/personal-computer/images-videos">Images</a> <div class="slider js-slider position-relative d-inline-flex align-items-center mw-100 "> <div class="slider-container js-slider-container overflow-hidden d-flex overflow-hidden text-nowrap ml-15"> <a 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src="https://cdn.britannica.com/08/23608-004-47D6DC21/IBM-Personal-Computer-machine-Microsoft-MS-DOS-operating-1981.jpg" alt="IBM Personal Computer" height="50" /> </a> <a href="https://cdn.britannica.com/05/24405-050-217BD4E9/Apple-Lisa-computer.jpg" data-href="/media/1/452928/19612" class="media-overlay-link d-inline-block mr-5"> <img loading="lazy" src="https://cdn.britannica.com/05/24405-004-F1EBC37C/Apple-Lisa-computer.jpg" alt="Apple's Lisa computer" height="50" /> </a> <a href="https://cdn.britannica.com/80/27080-050-6CA29A42/Compaq-Computer-Corporation-portable-computer-IBM-weight-November-1982.jpg" data-href="/media/1/452928/19722" class="media-overlay-link d-inline-block mr-5"> <img loading="lazy" src="https://cdn.britannica.com/80/27080-004-3D09DDD7/Compaq-Computer-Corporation-portable-computer-IBM-weight-November-1982.jpg" alt="Compaq portable computer" height="50" /> </a> <a href="https://cdn.britannica.com/15/23615-004-6599FB73/Palm-Pilot-assistant-PDA-model-processing-power-March-1997.jpg" data-href="/media/1/452928/19228" class="media-overlay-link d-inline-block mr-5"> <img loading="lazy" src="https://cdn.britannica.com/15/23615-004-6599FB73/Palm-Pilot-assistant-PDA-model-processing-power-March-1997.jpg" alt="Palm Pilot" height="50" /> </a> <a href="https://cdn.britannica.com/36/100736-050-A6E0FCBE/Participants-social-networking-sites-multimedia-files-type.jpg" data-href="/media/1/452928/120690" class="media-overlay-link d-inline-block mr-5"> <img loading="lazy" src="https://cdn.britannica.com/36/100736-004-0FBAED7D/Participants-social-networking-sites-multimedia-files-type.jpg" alt="A man uses a social networking site." height="50" /> </a> <a href="https://cdn.britannica.com/61/74061-050-47B62C0E/computer-peripherals-images-laser-printer-inkjet-layout.jpg" data-href="/media/1/452928/68190" class="media-overlay-link d-inline-block mr-5"> <img 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Let us know if you have suggestions to improve this article (requires login). </div> <div class="type-menu"> <label for="feedback-type" class="label mb-10">Feedback Type</label> <select id="feedback-type" class="form-select mb-30" name="feedbackTypeId" required> <option value="" selected="selected">Select a type (Required)</option> <option value="1">Factual Correction</option> <option value="2">Spelling/Grammar Correction</option> <option value="3">Link Correction</option> <option value="4">Additional Information</option> <option value="5">Other</option> </select> </div> <label for="feedback" class="label mb-10">Your Feedback</label> <textarea id="feedback" class="form-control mb-30" name="feedback" maxlength="3000" rows="7" required></textarea> <button class="btn btn-blue" type="submit">Submit Feedback</button> </form> <div class="success-messaging d-none mt-30"> <div class="title">Thank you for your feedback</div> <p>Our editors will review what you’ve submitted and determine whether to revise the article.</p> </div> </div> </div> <div class="md-websites-modal size-lg d-none"> <div class="md-modal-body"> <div class="h2 font-serif pb-15 border-bottom font-weight-bold"> External Websites </div> <div class="pb-20"> <ul class="list-unstyled mt-20 lh-lg"> <li><a class="external" href="https://computermuseum.usask.ca/documents/articles-and-press/25-years-of-the-PC.pdf" target="_blank" rel="noopener ">University of Saskatchewan Computer Museum - 25 Years of the Personal Computer</a></li> <li><a class="external" href="https://www.albany.edu/~gc227838/ist523/pcintro.html" target="_blank" rel="noopener ">University at Albany - Introduction to Personal Computers</a></li> <li><a class="external" href="https://human.libretexts.org/Courses/Lumen_Learning/Information_Literacy_(Lumen)/16%3A_Computer_Concepts_1/16.2%3A_Personal_Computers" target="_blank" rel="noopener ">Humanities LibreTexts - Personal Computers</a></li> <li><a class="external" href="https://www.computerhistory.org/revolution/personal-computers/17/intro" target="_blank" rel="noopener ">Computer History Museum - Personal Computer</a></li> <li><a class="external" href="https://mlpp.pressbooks.pub/businesscomputers2019/chapter/personal-computer-basics/" target="_blank" rel="noopener ">Minnesota Libraries Publishing Project - Business Computers 365 - Personal Computer Basics</a></li> <li><a class="external" href="https://www.computerhope.com/jargon/c/computer.htm" target="_blank" rel="noopener ">Computer Hope - What is a Computer?</a></li> <li><a class="external" href="https://www.cs.cmu.edu/~fgandon/documents/lecture/uk1999/computers_types/computers_types.pdf" target="_blank" rel="noopener ">Carnegie Mellon University - Computers Types</a></li> </ul> </div> </div> </div> </div> </div> <div class="toc-header-marker"></div> <button class="ai-ask-button btn border-2 js-header-ai-ask-button d-none btn-sm btn-outline-red-400 border-red-400 mr-0 mr-lg-10 ml-5 ml-sm-10 ml-lg-0 p-10"> Ask the Chatbot a Question </button> <div class="caption alternate-titles">Also known as: PC</div> <div class="md-byline module-spacing "> <div class="font-serif font-12"> <span class="written-by text-gray-700"> Written and fact-checked by </span> <div class="editor-popover popover p-0"> <a class="d-block p-20 qa-editor-popup gtm-byline font-12 byline-contributor" href="/editor/The-Editors-of-Encyclopaedia-Britannica/4419" > <div class="editor-title font-16 font-weight-bold">The Editors of Encyclopaedia Britannica</div> <div class="editor-description font-12 font-serif mt-5 text-black">Encyclopaedia Britannica's editors oversee subject areas in which they have extensive knowledge, whether from years of experience gained by working on that content or via study for an advanced degree. They write new content and verify and edit content received from contributors.</div> </a> <div data-popper-arrow></div> </div> <span class="btn btn-link editor-link p-0 qa-byline-link gtm-byline font-12 byline-contributor text-decoration-underline"> The Editors of Encyclopaedia Britannica</span></div> <div class="last-updated font-12 font-serif"> <span class="text-gray-700"> Last Updated: <time datetime="2025-02-10T00:00:00CST" >Feb 10, 2025</time> •</span> <a class="byline-edit-history" href="https://www.britannica.com/technology/personal-computer/additional-info#history" rel="nofollow">Article History</a> </div></div> </div> <button class="d-flex d-lg-none btn btn-outline-blue border rounded-sm shadow-sm mobile-toc-button gtm-mobile-toc-inline-button d-none d-sm-block js-sections-inline-button module-spacing btn d-lg-none"> <em class="material-icons mr-5 ml-n10 my-n5 md-icon" data-icon="toc"></em> Table of Contents </button> <div class="d-flex d-sm-none flex-row"> <button 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<dd><a href="/biography/Jony-Ive" topicid="914224">Jony Ive</a></dd> </dl> <button class="js-more-btn d-none btn btn-unstyled font-12 bg-gray-50" aria-label="Toggle more/less fact data"> <em class="js-content link-blue">(Show more)</em> </button> </div> </div> <div class=""> <div class="js-fact mb-10 line-clamp clamp-3"> <dl> <dt>Related Topics: </dt> <dd><a href="/technology/laptop-computer" topicid="330415">laptop computer</a></dd> <dd><a href="/technology/netbook" topicid="1498289">netbook</a></dd> <dd><a href="/technology/microcomputer" topicid="380316">microcomputer</a></dd> </dl> <button class="js-more-btn d-none btn btn-unstyled font-12 bg-gray-50" aria-label="Toggle more/less fact data"> <em class="js-content link-blue">(Show more)</em> </button> </div> <div class="text-center"> <a class="btn btn-sm btn-link p-0" href="/facts/personal-computer"> See all related content </a> </div> </div> </div> </div><div class="bg-gray-50 p-15 rounded module-spacing recent-news d-flex 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href="https://www.newsweek.com/entertainment/video-games/hogwarts-legacy-get-official-mod-support-pc-2020505" rel="nofollow">Hogwarts Legacy To Get Official Mod Support on PC</a> <span class="font-14 text-gray-600"> <span>•</span> Jan. 27, 2025, 9:43 PM ET (Newsweek) </span> </div> <button class="js-toggle-recent-news d-flex btn btn-unstyled font-14 pr-10 rounded-sm mt-10" aria-label="Toggle additional news items"> Show less <em class="material-icons" data-icon="expand_less"></em> </button> </div> </div><span class="marker before-article"></span><section data-level="1" id="ref1"><span class="marker PREMOD1 mod-inline"></span><p class="topic-paragraph"><strong><span id="ref61202"></span>personal computer (PC)</strong>, a <a href="https://www.britannica.com/technology/digital-computer" class="md-crosslink autoxref " data-show-preview="true">digital computer</a> designed for use by only one person at a time. A typical personal computer assemblage consists of a <a href="https://www.britannica.com/technology/central-processing-unit" class="md-crosslink " data-show-preview="true">central processing unit</a> (CPU), which contains the computer’s arithmetic, logic, and control circuitry on an <a href="https://www.britannica.com/technology/integrated-circuit" class="md-crosslink " data-show-preview="true">integrated circuit</a>; two types of <a href="https://www.britannica.com/technology/computer-memory" class="md-crosslink " data-show-preview="true">computer memory</a>, main <a href="https://www.britannica.com/science/memory-psychology" class="md-crosslink autoxref " data-show-preview="true">memory</a>, such as digital <a href="https://www.britannica.com/technology/RAM-computing" class="md-crosslink autoxref " data-show-preview="true">random-access memory</a> (RAM), and <a class="md-dictionary-link md-dictionary-tt-off mw" data-term="auxiliary" href="https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/auxiliary" data-type="MW">auxiliary</a> memory, such as magnetic hard disks and special optical <a href="https://www.britannica.com/technology/compact-disc" class="md-crosslink " data-show-preview="true">compact discs</a>, or read-only memory (ROM) discs (<span id="ref61223"></span><a href="https://www.britannica.com/technology/CD-ROM" class="md-crosslink " data-show-preview="true">CD-ROMs</a> and DVD-ROMs); and various <a href="https://www.britannica.com/technology/input-output-device" class="md-crosslink " data-show-preview="true">peripheral devices</a>, including a display screen, keyboard and mouse, and <a href="https://www.britannica.com/technology/computer-printer" class="md-crosslink autoxref " data-show-preview="true">printer</a>. <em>See also</em> <a href="https://www.britannica.com/technology/computer" class="md-crosslink " data-show-preview="true">computer: History of computing</a>.</p><span class="marker MOD1 mod-inline"></span></section> <span class="marker h2"></span><section data-level="1" id="ref283802"> <h2 class="h1">From hobby computers to Apple</h2> <span class="marker PREMOD2 mod-inline"></span><p class="topic-paragraph">Computers small and inexpensive enough to be purchased by individuals for use in their homes first became <a class="md-dictionary-link md-dictionary-tt-off mw" data-term="feasible" href="https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/feasible" data-type="MW">feasible</a> in the 1970s, when large-scale <a class="md-dictionary-link md-dictionary-tt-off mw" data-term="integration" href="https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/integration" data-type="MW">integration</a> made it possible to construct a sufficiently powerful <a href="https://www.britannica.com/technology/microprocessor" class="md-crosslink autoxref " data-show-preview="true">microprocessor</a> on a single <a href="https://www.britannica.com/science/semiconductor" class="md-crosslink autoxref " data-show-preview="true">semiconductor</a> <a href="https://www.britannica.com/technology/computer-chip" class="md-crosslink autoxref " data-show-preview="true">chip</a>. A small firm named MITS made the first personal computer, the <span id="ref61204"></span><a href="https://www.britannica.com/technology/Altair-computer" class="md-crosslink ">Altair</a>. This computer, which used <span id="ref61205"></span><a href="https://www.britannica.com/money/Intel" class="md-crosslink " data-show-preview="true">Intel Corporation</a>’s 8080 microprocessor, was developed in 1974. Though the Altair was popular among computer hobbyists, its commercial appeal was limited.</p><span class="marker MOD2 mod-inline"></span> <span class="marker PREMOD3 mod-inline"></span><div class="assemblies"><div class="w-100"><figure class="md-assembly m-0 mb-md-0 card card-borderless print-false" data-assembly-id="94243" data-asm-type="image"><div class="md-assembly-wrapper card-media" data-type="image"><a href="https://cdn.britannica.com/02/24402-050-2C2345B1/Steven-Jobs-Apple-I-Stephen-Wozniak-circuit-1976.jpg" class="gtm-assembly-link position-relative d-flex align-items-center justify-content-center media-overlay-link card-media" data-href="/media/1/452928/94243"><picture><source media="(min-width: 680px)" srcset="https://cdn.britannica.com/02/24402-050-2C2345B1/Steven-Jobs-Apple-I-Stephen-Wozniak-circuit-1976.jpg?w=300"><img src="https://cdn.britannica.com/02/24402-050-2C2345B1/Steven-Jobs-Apple-I-Stephen-Wozniak-circuit-1976.jpg?w=300" alt="Steve Wozniak and Steve Jobs holding an Apple I circuit board in 1976" data-width="1600" data-height="1066" loading="eager"></picture><button class="magnifying-glass btn btn-circle position-absolute shadow btn-white top-10 right-10" aria-label="Zoom in"><em class="material-icons link-blue" data-icon="zoom_in"></em></button></a></div><figcaption class="card-body"><div class="md-assembly-caption text-muted font-14 font-serif line-clamp"><span><a class="gtm-assembly-link md-assembly-title font-weight-bold d-inline font-sans-serif mr-5 media-overlay-link" href="https://cdn.britannica.com/02/24402-050-2C2345B1/Steven-Jobs-Apple-I-Stephen-Wozniak-circuit-1976.jpg" data-href="/media/1/452928/94243">Steve Wozniak and Steve Jobs holding an Apple I circuit board in 1976</a><span> In order to create their new company, both Wozniak and Jobs sold some of their possessions. For Wozniak, it was his HP programming calculator.</span><button class="js-more-btn d-none btn btn-unstyled font-12 bg-white js-content" aria-label="Toggle more/less fact data"><span class="link-blue">(more)</span></button></span></div></figcaption></figure></div></div><p class="topic-paragraph">The personal computer industry truly began in 1977, with the introduction of three preassembled mass-produced personal computers: the Apple Computer, Inc. (now <span id="ref61206"></span><a href="https://www.britannica.com/money/Apple-Inc" class="md-crosslink " data-show-preview="true">Apple Inc.</a>), <span id="ref61209"></span><a href="https://www.britannica.com/technology/Apple-II" class="md-crosslink ">Apple II</a>, the Tandy <span id="ref61210"></span>Radio Shack TRS-80, and the <span id="ref61211"></span><a href="https://www.britannica.com/topic/Commodore-International" class="md-crosslink ">Commodore Business Machines</a> Personal Electronic Transactor (PET). These machines used eight-bit microprocessors (which process information in groups of eight bits, or <a href="https://www.britannica.com/science/binary-number-system" class="md-crosslink " data-show-preview="true">binary digits</a>, at a time) and possessed rather limited memory capacity—i.e., the ability to address a given quantity of data held in memory storage. But because personal computers were much less expensive than <a href="https://www.britannica.com/technology/mainframe" class="md-crosslink autoxref " data-show-preview="true">mainframe</a> computers (the bigger computers typically <a class="md-dictionary-link md-dictionary-tt-off mw" data-term="deployed" href="https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/deployed" data-type="MW">deployed</a> by large business, industry, and government organizations), they could be purchased by individuals, small and medium-sized businesses, and primary and secondary schools.</p><span class="marker MOD3 mod-inline"></span> <span class="marker PREMOD4 mod-inline"></span><p class="topic-paragraph">Of these computers, the TRS-80 dominated the market. The TRS-80 <a href="https://www.britannica.com/technology/microcomputer" class="md-crosslink autoxref " data-show-preview="true">microcomputer</a> came with four kilobytes of memory, a Z80 microprocessor, a <a href="https://www.britannica.com/technology/BASIC" class="md-crosslink autoxref " data-show-preview="true">BASIC</a> programming language, and cassettes for data storage. To cut costs, the <a href="https://www.britannica.com/technology/machine" class="md-crosslink autoxref " data-show-preview="true">machine</a> was built without the ability to type lowercase letters. Thanks to Tandy’s chain of Radio Shack stores and the breakthrough price ($399 fully assembled and tested), the machine was successful enough to persuade the company to introduce a more powerful computer two years later, the TRS-80 Model II, which could reasonably be marketed as a small-business computer.</p><span class="marker MOD4 mod-inline"></span> <span class="marker PREMOD5 mod-inline"></span><p class="topic-paragraph">The Apple II received a great boost in popularity when it became the host machine for VisiCalc, the first electronic <a href="https://www.britannica.com/technology/spreadsheet" class="md-crosslink " data-show-preview="true">spreadsheet</a> (computerized accounting program). Other types of application <span id="ref61203"></span><a href="https://www.britannica.com/technology/software" class="md-crosslink " data-show-preview="true">software</a> soon developed for personal computers.</p><a class="link-module shadow-sm d-block qa-quiz-module" href="/quiz/electronics-amp-gadgets-quiz" data-link-module-iframe-link=""> <img loading="lazy" src="https://cdn.britannica.com/01/128701-131-74746B98/nano-iPod-2007.jpg" alt="The iPod nano, introduced by Apple CEO Steve Jobs in San Francisco, May 2007. A revolutionary full-featured iPod that holds 1,000 songs and is thinner than a standard #2 pencil. MP3 player, music player, digital music" class="rounded-sm mr-15" width="70" /> <div class="line-clamp clamp-5"> <div class="module-title bg-green">Britannica Quiz</div> <div class="font-weight-semi-bold mt-5">Electronics & Gadgets Quiz</div> </div> </a><span class="marker MOD5 mod-inline"></span> </section> <span class="marker h3"></span><section data-level="1" id="ref283803"> <h2 class="h1"><span id="ref61213"></span><a href="https://www.britannica.com/technology/IBM-PC" class="md-crosslink ">IBM PC</a></h2> <span class="marker PREMOD6 mod-inline"></span><div class="assemblies"><div class="w-100"><figure class="md-assembly m-0 mb-md-0 card card-borderless print-false" data-assembly-id="100912" data-asm-type="image"><div class="md-assembly-wrapper card-media" data-type="image"><a href="https://cdn.britannica.com/08/23608-004-47D6DC21/IBM-Personal-Computer-machine-Microsoft-MS-DOS-operating-1981.jpg" class="gtm-assembly-link position-relative d-flex align-items-center justify-content-center media-overlay-link card-media" data-href="/media/1/452928/100912"><picture><source media="(min-width: 680px)" srcset="https://cdn.britannica.com/08/23608-004-47D6DC21/IBM-Personal-Computer-machine-Microsoft-MS-DOS-operating-1981.jpg?w=300"><img src="https://cdn.britannica.com/08/23608-004-47D6DC21/IBM-Personal-Computer-machine-Microsoft-MS-DOS-operating-1981.jpg?w=300" alt="IBM Personal Computer" data-width="500" data-height="300" loading="eager"></picture><button class="magnifying-glass btn btn-circle position-absolute shadow btn-white top-10 right-10" aria-label="Zoom in"><em class="material-icons link-blue" data-icon="zoom_in"></em></button></a></div><figcaption class="card-body"><div class="md-assembly-caption text-muted font-14 font-serif line-clamp"><span><a class="gtm-assembly-link md-assembly-title font-weight-bold d-inline font-sans-serif mr-5 media-overlay-link" href="https://cdn.britannica.com/08/23608-004-47D6DC21/IBM-Personal-Computer-machine-Microsoft-MS-DOS-operating-1981.jpg" data-href="/media/1/452928/100912">IBM Personal Computer</a><span>The IBM Personal Computer (PC) was introduced in 1981. Microsoft supplied the machine's operating system, MS-DOS (Microsoft Disk Operating System).</span><button class="js-more-btn d-none btn btn-unstyled font-12 bg-white js-content" aria-label="Toggle more/less fact data"><span class="link-blue">(more)</span></button></span></div></figcaption></figure></div></div><p class="topic-paragraph"><span id="ref61212"></span><a href="https://www.britannica.com/money/International-Business-Machines-Corporation" class="md-crosslink " data-show-preview="true">IBM Corporation</a>, the world’s dominant computer maker, did not enter the new market until 1981, when it introduced the IBM Personal Computer, or IBM PC. The IBM PC was significantly faster than <a class="md-dictionary-link md-dictionary-tt-off eb" data-term="rival" href="https://www.britannica.com/dictionary/rival" data-type="EB">rival</a> machines, had about 10 times their memory capacity, and was backed by IBM’s large sales organization. The IBM PC was also the host machine for 1-2-3, an extremely popular spreadsheet introduced by the Lotus Development Corporation in 1982. The IBM PC became the world’s most popular personal computer, and both its microprocessor, the <span id="ref61214"></span><a href="https://www.britannica.com/technology/Intel-8088" class="md-crosslink ">Intel 8088</a>, and its <a href="https://www.britannica.com/technology/operating-system" class="md-crosslink " data-show-preview="true">operating system</a>, which was adapted from <span id="ref61215"></span><a href="https://www.britannica.com/money/Microsoft-Corporation" class="md-crosslink " data-show-preview="true">Microsoft Corporation</a>’s <a href="https://www.britannica.com/technology/MS-DOS" class="md-crosslink autoxref " data-show-preview="true">MS-DOS</a> system, became industry standards. Rival machines that used Intel microprocessors and MS-DOS became known as “IBM compatibles” if they tried to compete with IBM on the basis of additional computing power or memory and “IBM clones” if they competed simply on the basis of low price.</p><span class="marker MOD6 mod-inline"></span> </section> <span class="marker h4"></span><section data-level="1" id="ref283804"> <h2 class="h1"><span id="ref61217"></span><a href="https://www.britannica.com/technology/graphical-user-interface" class="md-crosslink " data-show-preview="true">GUI</a></h2> <span class="marker PREMOD7 mod-inline"></span><div class="assemblies"><div class="w-100"><figure class="md-assembly m-0 mb-md-0 card card-borderless print-false" data-assembly-id="19612" data-asm-type="image"><div class="md-assembly-wrapper card-media" data-type="image"><a href="https://cdn.britannica.com/05/24405-050-217BD4E9/Apple-Lisa-computer.jpg" class="gtm-assembly-link position-relative d-flex align-items-center justify-content-center media-overlay-link card-media" data-href="/media/1/452928/19612"><picture><source media="(min-width: 680px)" srcset="https://cdn.britannica.com/05/24405-050-217BD4E9/Apple-Lisa-computer.jpg?w=300"><img src="https://cdn.britannica.com/05/24405-050-217BD4E9/Apple-Lisa-computer.jpg?w=300" alt="Apple's Lisa computer" data-width="1600" data-height="1138" loading="eager"></picture><button class="magnifying-glass btn btn-circle position-absolute shadow btn-white top-10 right-10" aria-label="Zoom in"><em class="material-icons link-blue" data-icon="zoom_in"></em></button></a></div><figcaption class="card-body"><div class="md-assembly-caption text-muted font-14 font-serif line-clamp"><span><a class="gtm-assembly-link md-assembly-title font-weight-bold d-inline font-sans-serif mr-5 media-overlay-link" href="https://cdn.britannica.com/05/24405-050-217BD4E9/Apple-Lisa-computer.jpg" data-href="/media/1/452928/19612">Apple's Lisa computer</a><button class="js-more-btn d-none btn btn-unstyled font-12 bg-white js-content" aria-label="Toggle more/less fact data"><span class="link-blue">(more)</span></button></span></div></figcaption></figure></div></div><p class="topic-paragraph">In 1983 Apple introduced <span id="ref61216"></span><a href="https://www.britannica.com/technology/Lisa" class="md-crosslink ">Lisa</a>, a personal computer with a <a href="https://www.britannica.com/technology/graphical-user-interface" class="md-crosslink " data-show-preview="true">graphical user interface</a> (GUI) to perform routine operations. A GUI is a display format that allows the user to select commands, call up files, start programs, and do other routine tasks by using a device called a <span id="ref61218"></span><a href="https://www.britannica.com/technology/mouse-computer-device" class="md-crosslink " data-show-preview="true">mouse</a> to point to pictorial symbols (icons) or lists of menu choices on the screen. This type of format had certain advantages over interfaces in which the user typed text- or character-based commands on a keyboard to perform routine tasks. A GUI’s windows, pull-down menus, <a class="md-dictionary-link md-dictionary-tt-off mw" data-term="dialog" href="https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/dialog" data-type="MW">dialog</a> boxes, and other controlling mechanisms could be used in new programs and applications in a standardized way, so that common tasks were always performed in the same manner. The Lisa’s GUI became the basis of Apple’s <span id="ref61219"></span><a href="https://www.britannica.com/technology/Macintosh" class="md-crosslink ">Macintosh</a> personal computer, which was introduced in 1984 and proved extremely successful. The Macintosh was particularly useful for <span id="ref61220"></span><a href="https://www.britannica.com/topic/desktop-publishing" class="md-crosslink " data-show-preview="true">desktop publishing</a> because it could lay out text and graphics on the display screen as they would appear on the printed page.</p><div class="module-spacing"> <DIV class="marketing-INLINE_SUBSCRIPTION marketing-content" data-marketing-id="INLINE_SUBSCRIPTION"><style> .student-promo-banner-wrapper { container-type: inline-size; margin-bottom: 15px; } @container (min-width: 475px) { .student-promo-banner { flex-direction: row; } .student-promo-banner-img-wrapper { margin-bottom: 0; margin-right: 10px; justify-content: flex-start; } .student-promo-banner-text-wrapper { text-align: left; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 10px; } .student-promo-banner-button-wrapper { margin-right: 0; } }</style> <div class="student-promo-banner-wrapper"> <div class="student-promo-banner d-flex flex-column align-items-center bg-blue rounded p-20"> <div class="student-promo-banner-img-wrapper mb-20 mr-0 d-flex justify-content-center"> <img class="rounded" style="max-width: 100px; min-width: 80px" src="https://cdn.britannica.com/marketing/BlueThistle.webp" /> </div> <div class="student-promo-banner-text-wrapper ml-0 mb-10 text-center text-white"> <div class="h2 mb-10">Get Unlimited Access</div> <div class="h4 font-weight-semi-bold">Try Britannica Premium for free and discover more.</div> </div> <div class="student-promo-banner-button-wrapper d-flex justify-content-center align-items-center ml-auto mr-auto"> <a class="btn btn-m btn-orange" href="https://premium.britannica.com/premium-membership/?utm_source=premium&utm_medium=inline-cta&utm_campaign=august-2024">Subscribe</a> </div> </div> </div> </DIV></div><div class="one-good-fact-module"> </div><span class="marker MOD7 mod-inline"></span> <span class="marker PREMOD8 mod-inline"></span><p class="topic-paragraph">The Macintosh’s graphical interface style was widely adapted by other manufacturers of personal computers and PC software. In 1985 the Microsoft Corporation introduced <span id="ref61221"></span><a href="https://www.britannica.com/technology/Microsoft-Windows" class="md-crosslink " data-show-preview="true">Microsoft Windows</a>, a graphical user interface that gave MS-DOS-based computers many of the same capabilities of the Macintosh. Windows became the dominant operating <a class="md-dictionary-link md-dictionary-tt-off mw" data-term="environment" href="https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/environment" data-type="MW">environment</a> for personal computers.</p><span class="marker MOD8 mod-inline"></span> </section> <span class="marker end-of-content"></span><span class="marker after-article"></span></div> <div id="chatbot-root"></div> </div> </div> </div> <div class="ai-dialog-placeholder"></div> </div> </div> <aside class="col-md-da-320"></aside> </div> </div> </div> </div> </article> </div> </div> </div> </div> </main> <div id="md-footer"></div> <noscript><iframe src="//www.googletagmanager.com/ns.html?id=GTM-5W6NC8" height="0" width="0" style="display:none;visibility:hidden"></iframe></noscript> <script type="text/javascript" id="_informizely_script_tag"> var IzWidget = IzWidget || {}; (function (d) { var scriptElement = d.createElement('script'); scriptElement.type = 'text/javascript'; scriptElement.async = true; scriptElement.src = "https://insitez.blob.core.windows.net/site/f780f33e-a610-4ac2-af81-3eb184037547.js"; var node = d.getElementById('_informizely_script_tag'); node.parentNode.insertBefore(scriptElement, node); } )(document); </script>  <script> window.ap3c = window.ap3c || {}; var ap3c = window.ap3c; ap3c.cmd = ap3c.cmd || []; ap3c.cmd.push(function() { ap3c.init('ZO4siT4cLwnykPnzZWJtd3Byb2Q', 'https://engage.email.britannica.com/'); ap3c.track({v: 0}); }); ap3c.activity = function(act) { ap3c.act = (ap3c.act || []); ap3c.act.push(act); }; var s, t; s = document.createElement('script'); s.type = 'text/javascript'; s.src = "https://engage.email.britannica.com/app.js"; t = document.getElementsByTagName('script')[0]; t.parentNode.insertBefore(s, t); </script> <script class="marketing-page-info" type="application/json"> {"pageType":"Topic","templateName":"DESKTOP","pageNumber":1,"pagesTotal":2,"pageId":452928,"pageLength":809,"initialLoad":true,"lastPageOfScroll":false} </script> <script class="marketing-content-info" type="application/json"> [] </script> <script src="https://cdn.britannica.com/mendel-resources/3-133/js/libs/jquery-3.5.0.min.js?v=3.133.9"></script> <script type="text/javascript" data-type="Init Mendel Code Splitting"> (function() { $.ajax({ dataType: 'script', cache: true, url: 'https://cdn.britannica.com/mendel-resources/3-133/dist/topic-page.js?v=3.133.9' }); })(); </script> <script class="analytics-metadata" type="application/json"> {"leg":"B","adLeg":"B","userType":"ANONYMOUS","pageType":"Topic","pageSubtype":null,"articleTemplateType":"PAGINATED","gisted":false,"pageNumber":1,"hasSummarizeButton":false,"hasAskButton":true} </script> <script type="text/javascript"> EBStat={accountId:-1,hostnameOverride:'webstats.eb.com',domain:'www.britannica.com', json:''}; </script> <script type="text/javascript"> ( function() { $.ajax( { dataType: 'script', cache: true, url: '//www.britannica.com/webstats/mendelstats.js?v=1' } ) .done( function() { try {writeStat(null,EBStat);} catch(err){} } ); })(); </script> <div id="bc-fixed-dialogue"></div> </body> </html>

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Personal computer (PC) | Definition, History, & Facts | Britannica