Writing about PC Facts

 Today I will be talking about PC’S

Chapters:

Pages | Title of Chapter

1 – 3: What are PC’s?

 

 

What are PC’S?

PC’s are another way of saying “Personal Computer”. It is generally used for a computer which is designed for 1 person to use at a time. PC’s aren’t just for desktop computers. A “PC” could also be a laptop, or even a tablet. The term PC often refers to like a IBM PC or a IBM PC-compatible system which uses Microsoft Windows as its main operating system.

(The first IMB PC was introduced by a company called IBM in 1981 and it was the world’s first personal computer which was designed for home and office use. Fun fact: It was powered by the Intel 8088 microprocessor which used the MS-DOS operating system made by Microsoft which included features like color graphics, a keyboard, and floppy disk drive for extra data storage. Although IBM PC hardware components were public. With this public information, other brands decided to make their own PC’S. These PC’S made by other brands are now known as “IBM PC-compatibles” which could also run the same software as the IBM PC. They quickly proliferated throughout the market pretty quick. Nowadays there are many different manufacturers which create PC’s like MSI, ASUS, ACER, and way more but I don’t know any more. If you are still confused, an “IBM PC-compatible” system is a PC that is based on the ORIGINAL IBM PC design that can run the same software that was originally designed for the IMB PC. Hope that cleared it up and I will continue on the original text.)

PC’S are widely used both for personal purposes and also professional purposes. They are versatile devices that allow the users to do variety of different tasks, these are some examples of what tasks they can do but there are way more than what is listed below:

1) Creating and editing documents, spreadsheets, and presentations.

2) Sending and receiving emails and other forms of online communication.

3) Browsing the internet and accessing online services.

4) Creating, editing, and viewing images, videos, and other multimedia content (with the current highest multimedia content service being YouTube now).

5) Playing videogames, both offline and online.

6) Programming and software development

ETC…

There are 7 main components that make up a PC. These parts are going to be necessary for a PC to actually function and be able to do the average daily use of a PC. They are the:

1. CPU (Central Processing Unit): This is the brain of the computer. The CPU is what performs most of the processing inside of the computer and is a very critical component if you want the system to have good performance.

2. RAM (Random Access Memory): This is the computer’s’ short term memory. It will store the data of the computer which it is currently using for quick access.

3. Storage Drive: A storage drive could be 3 types of storage. The basic old storage which is the HDD (Hard drive), an SSD (Solid state Drive) or a SSD NVME (Solid state Drive Non-Volatile Memory Express). This is where the computer will store all of its long term data, which also includes the operating system like Windows or MAC, it will also store your applications, and personal files that you downloaded on there.

4. Motherboard: This is the main circuit board of the computer. The motherboard is used for all of the parts to connect together. This would be the CPU, GPU, RAM, PSU, Storage and all the wires.

5. PSU (Power Supply Unit): This converts the power from your house wall into a format which is split up to the components inside of your computer which then it will be used to turn on the computer. The PSU is a major issue if your PSU wattage is too low while you have a too high power usage PC. This will cause the PSU is overwork and shutdown if it work too hard or it won’t even turn on at all.

6. GPU (Graphics Processing Unit): This processes graphics related tasks, the GPU will take some load / usage off the CPU and bring it to the GPU. The GPU is particularly important for tasks like gaming, video editing, and other graphic intensive tasks. Gaming is getting more demanding overtime and your PC may need an upgrade in the future if your PC won’t be able to catch up on the latest and greatest.

7. Input / Output Devices: These Input and Output devices includes devices like the keyboard and mouse for input a change (for example like a click or you typing a word out), and a monitor for output a signal / a display. Other I/O devices can also include like a printer, a scanner, and also speakers.

PC’S come in many varieties of configurations, sizes, and its capabilities, and can be customized based on the needs and preferences of the users. Even if you’re a gamer, a business professional, a student, or even a casual users who wants to be able to do average daily tasks, there will always be a PC out there that will meet your specific requirements.

A gamer may want a powerful PC due to the new demand latest and greatest games which are coming out and also may want to stream and record at the same time which could give them the performance they need.

A business professional may want a multiscreen PC for multi-tasking their business like they can do multiple meetings and business at once.

A regular student may want a low end laptop to be able to bring it around through out class and do their school work which doesn’t need much high specs for them to do those stuff so low end is all they really need.

While a casual users who wants to do regular old daily tasks may also want a low end PC which can do their daily stuff or a medium side of a PC if they have a higher budget that they can spend on their PC’s unlike a regular student.

 

How do PC’S work?

PC / Personal Computers, are complex devices that are made up of many hardware and software components that work together to be able to perform a wide range of tasks. Here is a simplified version of a breakdown of the many hardware inside of a PCs and how they work:

1.    Powering up: When you press the power button on your PC, the power supply will be the first thing which turns on. The PSU will take the power from your power wall and start delivering electricity or power to your other computer components. Then the computer will start to turn on and begin its boot up process.

2.    Basic Input / Output System (BIOS) or Unified Extensible Firmware Interface (UEFI): This is a firmware that initializes the copter hardware components during the boot up process of the PC before the actual main operating system starts / Windows 7/8/10/11, Mac, etc. It will check all of the components are working correctly and then it will look for an operating system inside of your storage to load up.

3.    Loading the Operating System: After the BIOS / UEFI has initialized the hardware inside of your PC, it will start looking for the booting device / the main storage with the booting device (mainly your fastest storage inside of your PC) to load up the operating system (like I said before, like Windows, macOS, or Linux).

4.    Operating System (OS): This will be your software that can manage your hardware resources, that provide the services for all the software applications, and can act as an interface between the user and the computer. It handles tasks such as the memory management between all your applications, the process scheduling, and also file management inside of your file explorer.

5.    Applications: Once the OS is running, you will be able to open up your applications / software programs. The OS provides these applications with the resources that they need to function and presents a graphic user interface for the user to interact with. Like google, your system resources will use its power to be able to run it and for you to interact with it like searching up stuff and watching videos.

 

THE COMPUTER PARTS

6.     CPU (Central Processing Unit): CPU which is often referred as the “brain” of the PC, as the CPU executes the instructions from the software. Most modern CPUs can be performing billions of operations PER second as they keep increasing in performance every time, they release a new generation of it.

7.    RAM (Random Access Memory): This will be your computer short-term memory. When you open up a program, the CPU will load up data from the slower storage driver into your faster RAM. The CPU will soon then get access and can process this data much quicker.

8.    Storage Drives (HDD, SSD): These components will store the computers long term data which also includes your OS, applications, and all of the user files. SSDs / Solid state Drives are faster than HDD / Hard Disk Drive because they don’t have any moving parts unlike the HDD which has to spin for it to get the data.

9.    GPU (Graphics Processing Unit): The GPU will process and render the visual data. For tasks for example like watching videos on the web or playing videogames, the GPU will take most of the load, like rending the graphics on the game, which frees some the CPU power for it to handle other different tasks that it may be handling.

10. Input / Output (I/O) Devices: This includes the Keyboard, mice / mouse, monitors, and other peripherals that allows the user to interact with the computer. When you move the mouse or type on the keyboard, these devices will send a signal to the CPU, which will then process the input and provides the output that you did, such as like moving the cursor on the screen, or typing text on the screen.

11. Network and Communication: PCs often connects to network (like the internet) either through Ethernet or through your motherboard antennas that allow it connect through wireless Wi-Fi. Network Interface Cards / NIC or chips that can handle communication. When browsing the web, data packets are being sent and also received through these interfaces.

12. Shutdown or Sleep: When you done using the PC, you are able to shut down the PC through your windows key and pressing the button that looks like a power button and pressing either restart, shutdown or sleep. Shut down will stop all of the current operations of the PC and powers down all of the components which all of your current operations when you shutdown will also be exited and closed. But if you put it on sleep, the computer will maintain a lower power state which won’t fully turn off your PC like shut down but rather but it in a state where it will still be on but drawing as little power as possible keeping it on until you hop back on. The final one which is restart will turn off your PC like shut down while after doing that it will instantly turn back on which is restarting your PC.

 

This overview shows many of the complex processes and interactions that are happening inside of a PC, but it gives us a general understanding of how a PC work as it is much more complex as making a PC from scratch. How each component and system have intricate operations and designs that have evolved over the decades, resulting in the current modern powerful and versatile machines that we use today. Hope you learn a good amount of stuff from this section of my writing. The next one will be about why were PCs was made and how they were made. Let’s head on to the next chapter!

 

Why Pc’s were Invented

PCs are personal computers are in this chapter I will be writing about the invention and also the evolution of the PC’S in several different factors which starting with:

1.    Democratization of Computing: Before PC’s, computers were primarily the large mainframes housed inside a specialized rooms which were operated by professionally trained personnels. They were expensive to make and they were usually reserved for the governments, large corporations, or research institutions. There was a vision by them to be able to bring the power of computing to not just high-power companies / people but by accessible to also regular individuals, making it also affordable for personal use.

2.    Technological Advancements: Advancements in semiconductor technology, one of the main one is the invention of the microprocessor during the 1970’s, the microprocessor made it possible to condense the computing power of large machines into small integrated circuits. The new invention of able to make it much smaller and pricing for it enabled the development of a compact, affordable computers for individuals users which is what made PC.

3.    Rise of the Hobbyist Movement: During the 1970’s when the processors were made, there was a growing community of computer hobbyists who were passionate about understanding computers and they were building their own systems. During the early era, early PC’S like the Altair 8800, were initially sold as kits to these PC enthusiasts.

4.    Market Demand: As more people became more aware of what these computers could possibly do, there was an instant increase of demand for applications in personal finance, word processing, gaming, and education. Businesses saw the potential for these PCs to revolutionize the workplace with applications like spreadsheets and databases.

5.    Software Evolution: The development of user-friendly operating systems, which the most notable one being Microsoft’s MS-DOS which was soon followed by Windows, and Apple’s MacOS, made computers more accessible to non-technical users who wanted stuff straight forward.

6.    Visionaries and Entrepreneurs: Founders like Steve Jobs (Apple), Bill Gates (Microsoft), and Michael Dell (Dell) had visions of computer on every desk and in every home. Their companies played a very big roles in making PCs a mainstream by focusing on user friendly interfaces, innovative designs, and also aggressive marketings on PCs. They really saw the potential of these PCs and they were right.

7.    Education and Training: As PC’s became more apparent, there was a push to introduce them to schools and homes, driving a new generation of computer-literate individuals.

8.    Ease of use and Accessibility: Visionaries like Steve Jobs from Apple really pushed for computers that were not only functional but also user-friendly and aesthetically pleasing. The introduction of graphical user interfaces (GUIs) made PCs more accessible to those without a technical background.

9.    Competition and Innovation: As the PC market began to grow, the competition in the PC space really grew for companies like IBM, Apple, and late on Compaq, Dell and others drove rapid innovation in terms of not just only performance but also design, and affordability.

10. Networking and Connectivity: With the rise of networking capabilities, and later the internet underscored the utility of PCs. Computers were now no longer just standalone devices but they became a gateways to a vast of networks of information and many communication tools that were able to be accessed by just regular people.

 

For short, PCs were mainly invented to bring the transformative power of computing to the masses, fulfilling both a market demand a broader vision of empowerment through technology. Overtime, this invention has really changed humanity and changed how we work, play, communicate, access information easily, and way more. We should be thankful for this invention as it has really made information easily accessed and more.

 

Who made PC’s?

This part will be dedicated the notable “PC’s” which range from 1971 - 1981. It is unknown to know which one was actually first to make a “personal computer” / PC, it could be an inventor or a company to be the first. As some people say the Kebank-1 was the official first but some disagree so its up to you to decide which was the first and which isn’t. But here are “PC’s” figures that range from 1971 - 1981 that are very popular:

1971

1.    John Blankenbaker and Kenbak-1 (1971): The Kenbak-1 is “sometimes” considered as the first personal computer. It was designed by a person named John Blankenbaker and the PC was marketed as an educational tool. However, the Kenbak-1 had limited success and wasn’t based on a microprocessor, since during that time microprocessors haven’t even been made yet. So, what did it use then?

 

Kebank-1 Facts:

1.    It was made using small scaled integrated circuits, which were state of the art during that time. The “PC” had 256 bytes of memory and operated at 1MHz which is slow today.

2.    The Kebank-1 also didn’t have a traditional keyboard nor monitor interface as we have today modern society. Instead, the users would interact with the computer by using a series of switches and lights on the front panel.

3.    The Kebank-1 sadly didn’t succeed but there is a reason. The Kebank-1 was priced at an insane price during that time. It was priced at an astonishing $750 per unit. Only around 40 units were sold, in which the company closed down within the next few years.

4.    Despite the failure of its launch. The Kenbank-1 is now recognized as an important step into the evolution of personal computers. So, during 1987, the Boston Computer Museum regarded that Kenbak-1 as the worlds first personal computer. And now it’s a legacy regarded by many people around the world.

 

1975

 

2.    MITS and the Altair 8800 (1975): The Altair 8800 is now often recognized as the “first” commercially successful personal computer as the Kebank-1 kind off failed during its launch. The Altair 8800 was created by Ed Roberts and his company, MITS. It used the Intel 8080 microprocessor and was actually affordable compared to other computers during its time. The Altair 8800 caught the attention of many and inspired the creation of many companies and 1 notably, Microsoft.

 

Altair 8800 Facts:

1.    Design: The Altair 8800 was based on the Intel CPU / Intel 8080 Microprocessor. In its initial form, the compute didn’t have a keyboard or monitor but rather the users interacted with the machine using the switches on the front panel to input data and observed output results through LED lights just like the Kebank-1.

2.    Popularization: The Altair soon gained tons of attention when it was on the cover of the January 1975 “Popular Electronics” magazine. The headline read “World’s First Minicomputer Kit to Rival Commercial Models…”

3.    Affordability: Well, I am not sure if it was “cheap” but its “affordability” was much cheaper than other one. The Altair 8800 was available as a kit which users who bought it would assemble it themselves for $439, or you could skip the assembling problem and buy one which is already assembled for $182 more at $621.

4.    Impact: The success of it inspired other different entrepreneurs and hobbyists. Many computer clubs, like the Homebrew Computer Club located in Silicon Valley, started to begin a form around discussions of the Altair and other microcomputers. These clubs were the early development of the personal computer industry.

5.    Legacy: Companies more notably Apple, Microsoft, and many others can trace their origins or initial successes back to the era initiated by the Altair. For instance, Steve Wozniak, who is the co-founder of Apple, has mentioned that the Altair was an inspiration for developing the Apple I.

 

1976

 

3.    Apple Computer and the Apple I (1976): Steve Wozniak the co-founder of apple, designed the Apple I, and along with Steve Jobs too, they soon launched it as the first product of the Apple Computer. The Apple I was soon one of the first computers to have a fully assembled motherboard, which made it easier for those who had a hobby on creating, modifying computers.

 

Apple I Facts:

1.    Steve Wozniak was the actual primary engineer behind the Apple I. He designed the computer as a hobby project and to demonstrate it to the Homebrew Computer Club, which gathered a lot of computer enthusiasts in Silicon Valley.

2.    The Apple I did come with a single board computer unlike the other competitors which was the main selling point. Although the downside of it was that the user had to supply their own power supply, keyboard, and display.

3.    The Apple I was priced at $666.66, which was chosen partly by Wozniak as he said he like repeating digits so that’s what he did with the price. If we adjusted the price for inflation, this would be around $3000 today.

4.    There were only around 200 Apple I that was produced in total, and about 175 of those computers were sold in a span of around 10 months. It is estimated that fewer of these Apple I computers still exist till today, making them a precious item for a collector.

 

Specs of the Apple I:

5.    The Apple I was powered by the CPU called MOS Technology 6502 microprocessor, which unsurprising ran at a speed of 1 MHz just like all of the other computers during this era of Personal Computers.

6.    The Apple I didn’t have a GPU like today modern computers. Instead, it had a video hardware that was powerful enough to output a standard NTSC television set or a monitor. Its video capabilities were only powerful enough for text only, with a resolution of 40 x 25 characters.

7.    The Apple I base model came with 4 KB (kilobytes) of RAM, which was upgradable up to 8kb or 48kb if you bought expansion RAM cards.

8.    For storage it didn’t come with any. The PC’s during that era typically only used cassette tapes or floppy disks for their storage. For the Apple I, data storage was done using this cassette tape interface, but this didn’t come with the system so you had to buy it beforehand.

9.    The Apple I is considered a legacy as it was discontinued just a year later at 1977 after the release of its much more successful PC called the Apple II. It soon became the defining personal computers during 1970’s and 1980’s, setting Apple on a path to become a major force in technology for the future ahead.

 

1977

 

Commodore PET, Tandy TRS-80 and Apple II (1977): As you can see there are 3 separate PC’S that were made during the 1977. From the Commodore Pet, to the Apple II. So, this 1977 section will be 3 of these PC’s so then it won’t be as confusing if I had made all these in different sections. I will start writing about the Commodore firstly then the other 2.

Another fact about these 3 PC’s, is that they are called the “1977 trinity”, as these were the three systems that were among the first highly successful consumer personal computers.

 

4.    Commodore PET: The Commodore PET (Personal Electronic Transactor) was one of the first personal computers that was introduced to the market, which release in 1977. It was developed by a company called Commodore International, a company which was previously known for its calculator. Here are some key details, features, and Fun Facts about the Commodore PET:

 

Commodore PET Facts

1.    The Commodore PET was developed by the company Commodore, but the key creator behind its development was Chuck Peddle, who was an engineer and primary designer of the MOS Technology 6502 microprocessor, which powered the PET and many other early personal computers during that era. Chuck Peddle had a lot of back stories and his ideas about the MOS Technology 6502 but I think it’s unnecessary and if I would then I would do it in a different chapter about the people.

2.    The Commodore PET or people call it PET had a distinctive all in one design, which is like a AIO monitor nowadays. The PET included the computer, a small monochrome monitor as the screen, and a built-in cassette drive for the data storage, which all of this housed inside a single metal case. The “chiclet” style keyboard was one of the most recognizable features of the PET.

3.    The PET was powered by the MOS Technology 6502 microprocessor which was one of the most popular microprocessors during its time and used in several other computers in the era.

4.    The original model of the PET came with either 4 KB or 8 KB of RAM.

5.    The display that was build in the PET displayed a monochrome text and had a resolution 40 x 25 characters which is the same as the Apple I. Soon later models in the PET series offered better graphics capabilities.

6.    The Storage inside the PET was handled using a built-in cassette tape driver unlike other computer brands. Later models in the PET / CBM (Commodore Business Machines) series would support external disk drives as well.

7.    The PET, along with the Apple II and the Tandy TRS-80, are now often referred to one of the “1977 Trinity” of personal computers, which were among the first to be successfully marketed to consumers and schools. Where it found particular success in educational markets.

 

5.    Tandy TRS-80: The TRS-80 for short, was one of the first mass marketed personal computers which was released in 1977 by Tandy Corporations through its RadioShack, the TRS-80 was frequently mentioned alongside the Apple II and the Commodore PET as part of the “1977 Trinity” of PC’s.

 

Tandy TRS-80 Facts

1.    The Tandy TRS-80 was a project collaborated by many individuals. 4 of these main individuals are. Don French, as he was a buyer for RadioShack and a computer enthusiast himself, French is often credited for the initial idea of RadioShack producing the microcomputer.

Steve Leininger was the principal designer and the engineer for the project, he was the main technical mind behind the TRS-80.

John Roach was an executive at Tandy, Roach was the instrumental in supporting and advancing the TRS-80 project within the company.

Then Charles Tandy who was the head of the Tandy Corporation at the time, Charles Tandy gave the approval for the microcomputer project. Sadly, Charles passed away before the TRS-80 was ever released.

2.    The name “TRS-80” actually stands for Tandy/RadioShack, Z-80 – which refers to the Zilog Z80 microprocessor.

3.    The design of the TRS-80 featured an all-in-one design just like the PET. The TRS-80 came with a computer and computer combined in one unit but unlike the PET it had the monitor separated. It had a distinct silver coloured case and a full-size keyboard as well.

4.    The CPU is also part of the PC name as well, as the microprocessor powering the PC was the Zilog Z80 microprocessor, with it running at 1.77 MHz

5.    The TRS-80 base model came with 4 KB of RAM, which could be expanded up to 16 KB.

6.    The TRS-80 monitor used a black and white television for its display, which provided the user with a 64 x 16 text character.

7.    To get storage you would use cassette tapes, although future models changed to be able to use floppy disks systems instead.

8.    Soon later the TRS-80 would have several different models. This includes the TRS-80 Model II, III, and 4 other ones.

 

6.    Apple II: The Apple II, which is also often referred as the Apple ][, was the second personal computer produced by Apple Computer, Inc. It was introduced in 1977, and its combination of technical features, expandability, and marketing led it to become one of the most popular influential personal computers of its time. It was mainly designed and developed by Steve Wozniak, who was one of the co-founders for Apple Computer, Inc. Wozniak technical prowess and innovative engineering were the fundamental in creating the Apple II’s hardware and its initial software components. Here are some Fun Facts about it

 

Apple II Facts

1.    The Apple II featured a sleek and integrated design with a beige plastic case and also that its main board was built to be able to expand with eight expansion slots.

2.    One of the features of the Apple II was its colour graphics capability, which was rare among its competitors during that time. It also supported sound output, which made it way ahead its competitors.

3.    The original Apple II came again with 4 KB of RAM but this time it was upgradable up to 48 KB.

4.    The Apple II mainly used the cassette tapes for data storage but until 1978 where Apple introduced the Disk II floppy disk drive, which then became the standard storage method for Apple computers.

5.    The Apple II actually was widely adopted in school across the USA. As many students of the 1980’s and early 1990’s first encountered computers through Apple II machines inside of their classrooms.

 

1981

7.     IBM and the IBM PC (1981): Although the IBM and the IBM PCs weren’t the first personal computer, the introduction of the IBM PC was a significant milestone because of IBM (the company) influence in the business world. The IBM PC set the standard architecture for personal computing for years to come, and “IBM PC-compatible” became synonymous with personal computers, eventually leading to the dominance of the Windows operating system.

 

IBM PC Facts

1.    IBM saw that the personal computer market was booming, so they decided to enter the market with their IBM PC which also took an unusually short time for them to make. They decided to adopt a open architecture approach, by using off the shelf components, which was a departure from IBM’s tradition of using proprietary hardware and software.

2.    The IBM PC was also based on the Intel 8088 microprocessor and with its open design, it allowed third party manufacturers to create compatible hardware and also software easily, leading to the rise of the IBM-compatible PC market / other companies take it and create their own and sell it.

3.    The memory on the IBM PC was also a big upgrade with it already coming with 16 KB and upgradable up to 256 KB.

4.    The storage for the IBM PC supposed cassette tapes for data storage but most common users, opted for the more available floppy disk drives that were used by many companies at that time. Soon later hard drives / HDD became available in its later models.

5.    IBM partnered up with Microsoft to provide their operating system. Original the IBM PC offered several different OS options, but the Microsoft option, known as the PC-DOS (IBM’s branded version of MS-DOS), soon became the most dominant choice. This partnership also played a major role in Microsoft dominance in the OS market.

6.    The IBM PC validated the personal computer market, given that IBM’S weight and reputation in the computing industry. As many businesses starting taking it more seriously after IBM’s entry into the market.

7.    IBM-Compatibles are basically manufacturers who produced a clone of the original PC, that were compatible with IBM’s design. These companies could be like acer, dell, hp, asus, etc. Which then they make a functionally equivalent to the original PC / basically any but for this let’s say IBM PC but then they often sell it at a lower price or same price but with improved features.

 

The Evolution of PC’S (1970’s – Modern)

In this chapter I will be writing about the evolution of PC’s which ranges from the earliest times of an electronic in the 1970’s to current modern times right now. Here’s the evolution:

Pre 1970’s

1.    Mainframes and Minicomputers (Pre-1970’s)

Before the era of when PC’s were made, computing was actually dominated by the large, expensive machines, which were only reserved for businesses, academic institution, and government agencies.

One of the earliest electronic general-purpose computers, was ENIAC. The computer was a whole room sized.

There were also Minicomputers at that time like the DEC PDP series that were much more affordable and smaller than the mainframes PC’s but they were still far from a “personal” computer.

 

What is an ENIAC?

The ENIAC (Electronic Numerical Integrator and Computer) was one of the earliest electronic general purpose digital computers. It was developed during World War II / 2, and its design and functionally laid the groundwork for the computer age. Here are some details about it:

 

1.    The ENIAC was developed at the University of Pennsylvania’s Moore School of Electrical Engineering which the main leader of the project was John W. Mauchly and J. Presper Eckert.

2.    The purpose of the ENIAC was to help the military with their calculations, specifically for producing artillery firing tables for the U.S. Army’s Ballistic Research Laboratory. These tables were needed to determine the angle at which the artillery should be fired at to hit a target from a specific distance.

3.    The ENIAC took around 2 years of constructing to build, starting from 1943 to 1945, which it was unveiled to the public on February 14, 1946.

4.    The ENIAC Design and Capabilities:

a)    The ENIAC was such new technology to them so they had some interesting ideas. Unlike the earlier mechanical computers at that time, the ENIAC instead used over 17,000 vacuum tubes, which made it much faster than its predecessors.

b)    If the ENIAC was seen today, it would be ENORMOUS to today’s PCs. It occupied a room of approximately 30 by 50 feet in size and weighed a whopping 30 tons. That’s more 15 of your average cars!

c)     The ENIAC wasn’t programmed like today’s sense with software. Instead, the software was manually configured using a combination of plugboards and switches. This made the reprogramming a labour-intensive task that could takes days.

d)    Despite the size of the ENIAC, the machine could perform 5,000 additions, 357 multiplications, or 38 division in a second, which at that time, that was incredibly fast.

5.    The ENIAC is now represented a significant leap in computing technology, transitioning from a mechanical to a electronic computation. The ENIAC soon influenced a subsequent computer development project, including the EDVAC (Electronic Discrete Variable Automatic Computer), which soon introduced the concept of store programs. The work of Mauchly and Eckert soon laid the foundation for their later development of the UNICAV I, which was one of the first commercially available computers.

 

What is the DEC PDP series

The DEC PDP series refers to a line minicomputer that was produced by Digital Equipment Corporation (DEC) during the 1960’s and 1970’s. The “PDP” actually stands for “Programmed Data Processor.” These computers were notable for their influence on computer science, computer architecture, and their development of early operating systems and software. Here are some details about the machine:

 

1.  The PDP series belonged to a category called minicomputers. They were called “minicomputers” because during that time, the PDP series were smaller, and less expensive than the mainframe computers at that time. But if were compared today it wouldn’t be called “mini”.

2. One of the most popular models of the PDP series were the, PDP-1 made in 1960, which were most notable for hosting the first ever computer video game, “Spacewar!”

The PDP-8 made in 1965, was perhaps the most famous of the series, due to its commercial success.  It was relatively affordable and found applications in the labs, businesses, and even some early “hobbyist” activities.

Another one was the PDP-11 made in 1970. It was one of DEC most successful minicomputers and this time it was widely influential in the terms of its architecture. Many of the early operating systems, including the first model of UNIX, were developed on the PDP-11.

3. The Hardware design on the PDP series was known for its innovative hardware design, which was both modular and scalable. This allowed for a wide range of configurations and made them adaptable to various applications.

The DEC PDP series will always part of history of computing. As they helped the bridge gap between large, expensive mainframe computers and the microcomputers / personal computers that would soon emerge in the late 1970’s and early 1980’s.

 

Early to mid-1970’s

2. Foundational PC’s

Foundational PC’s are like the Kenbak-1 when it was created back then in 1971. It was marketed as an educational device, as it’s often considered the first commercially available PC. It used transistor-transistor logic, lacking a traditional CPU.

The Altair 8800 was created ion 1975. It inspired many future computer enthusiasts and developers (including some of the biggest people like, Bill Gates, and Paul Allen.) It used the Intel 8080 CPU and it was initially introduced as a kit in the “Popular Electronics” magazine.

Many Hobbyist on computers formed a clubs, like the Homebrew Computer Club in Silicon Valley, which exchanged knowledge and innovations.

(also im not gonna add about the Kenbak-1 and the Altair 8800 as I already wrote about them in a previous chapter.)

 

Late 1970s

Consumer PCs and the “1977 Trinity”

The Apple I was one of the first Consumer PC. It was designed by Steve Wozniak / the Co-Founder of Apple. Due to the design, it allowed them to put it at a relatively affordable and efficient computer, using the MOS 6502 processor. It was initially sold as a board, and the users had to add their own case, power supply, keyboard, and display. XD

The 1977 Trinity was 3 computers which became popular during that year. This Includes the PET, TRS-80, and Apple II.

The Commodore PET was made in 1977, and the PET came with integrated design with a built-in keyboard, tape drive, and a monitor.

The Tandy TRS-80 was sold through RadioShack stores, which made them widely available. The TRS-80 used the Zilog Z80 CPU (Z80 = TRS- “80”).

The Apple II was a significant leap from the Apple, with now color graphics, an open architecture, and an attractive case design.

(Again, I’m not going to go super detailed with these as a I already wrote about them in another chapter before.)

 

1980’s

Standardization and the IBM Effect

IBM PC (1981): The IBM PC used an open architecture and off the shelf parts, as it soon quickly became an industry standard. It employed the Intel 8088 CPU and also offered Microsoft’s PC-DOS (a version of MS-DOS) as one of its OS options.

There was also a Third-party manufacturer which began producing “IBM-compatible” clones, which lead to a broad ecosystem of PC hardware and software.

Apple Macintosh (1984): The Apple Macintosh introduced the graphical user interface (GUI) to a broader audience, emphasizing user-friendliness and design.

 

Late 1980’s to 1990’s

OS Wars, Connectivity, and Laptops

Microsoft Windows 3.1 (which was made in 1992) and Windows 95 (which was made in 1995) brought GUIs to the broader PC market, wit the latter solidifying the Start menu and taskbar’s paradigm.

During the 1990’s the World Wide Web’s advent came out and transformed PCs from just a standalone machine to an interconnected, global communication device. Which is now used internet for all of us to connect into things.

Also, during the 1990’s Laptops became increasingly popular, with improvements in the battery technology, processing power, and also designs to make them practical everyday use. Unlike the PC the laptop is portable and your able to bring it anywhere inside of your backpack.

What is Windows 3.1

Windows 3.1 was an early version of Microsoft’s Windows graphical operating system. It was released on April 6, 1992, which was released due to the previous successor which was the Windows 3.0. While Windows 3.1 was still fundamentally an operating environment that ran on top of MS-DOS, it also introduced several new enhancements and features that made it more user friendly and efficient. Here are some key points about Windows 3.1:

1. In Windows 3.1 the GUI kept improving on the GUI which was first introduced in previous version of Windows OS. This made the computers more accessible to non-technical / people who aren’t familiar with technology users, as they could use a mouse to navigate the system and run applications via icons and windows.

2. In Windows 3.1, they featured an application called the Program Manager, which was essentially the desktop interface where users could organize and run applications. The File Manager provided a graphical way to manage files and directories, and during this time it was a significant change and improvement from previously having to doing it via command line in MS-DOS. Today the now it’s called the File Explorer and its now being used for malicious activities like viruses to hack your devices so be careful.

3. Windows Extensions for Multimedia was also introduced in Windows 3.1, which allowed the PCs to play sound and videos, given that they had the necessary hardware to run it. This was a major step forward towards turning PCs into multimedia devices.

4. With its inclusion of TrueType fonts support, text could now be smoothly scaled and printed at any given sizes, this improved the document presentations and desktop publishing capabilities.

5. Networking was also introduced in 3.1, with its built-in networking support, which made it easier for the PC to connect to computers in a local area network (LAN for short) and share resources between each other much easier and quicker.

6. Windows 3.1 was also able to utilize extended memory, which enhanced the performance and multitasking capabilities of PCs, especially if you are running multiple applications at the same time.

7. Also that when you had the Windows 3.1 OS, the Operating System would actually come in with a bundled of essential applications, which includes Write (a word processor), Paintbrush (a graphics editor), and also a Calculator for doing math stuff.

8. Windows 3.1 was fundamentally a 16-bit operating system, which means it was designed primarily for 16-bit processors. But this was before the new transition where they would soon create a 32-bit architecture that came with the later versions of Windows.

9. Soon later, the support of Windows 3.1 soon shut down 9 years later on December 31^st, 2001.

Windows 3.1 was a critical milestone in the evolution of Microsoft’s operating systems. While it’s still reliant on MS-DOS at its core, it still made a significant stride in usability, graphics, and multimedia capabilities which had never been done before. The success of the Windows 3.1 paved the way for new and much more improved Windows and solidified Microsoft’s position in the OS market.

 

What is Windows 95

Windows 95 was a operating system that was released to the public on August 24^th, 1995, which marked a significant shift in Microsoft’s approach to operating systems. It was a move away from the predominantly graphical shell of the Windows 3.x series like the 3.1 to a more integrated and standalone operating systems, although it still ran on top of MS-DOS. Windows 95 introduced tons of new features and user interface elements that would become staples of the Windows experience for decades. Here are some facts about it:

1. The starting menu was one of the most iconic features that was introduced in Windows 95. The starting meaning provided a central point of access for the applications, settings, and system functions. This paradigm persisted through various iterations of Windows, and while its form has changed, the cores concept of it still remains.

2. The taskbar was also included inside of Windows 95, it was located at the bottom of the screen by default, which allowed the users to easily switch between running applications and access system functions like the system tray.

3. Windows 95 attempted to simplify the process of installing hardware by introducing the Plug and Play (PnP) feature, which aimed to automatically detect and configure hardware devices which sounds pretty cool to have.

4. You may know the Windows 3.1 which was the previous thing I wrote about, but that used a 16-bit code, the Windows 95 used a mix of 16 bit and 32-bit code. Although it did use 16 and 32 bits, it was primarily designed for 32-bit processors, which allowed the PC for better multitasking and performance compared to its previous ones.

5. Windows 95 also brought in enhanced multimedia capabilities, which improved the audio, video and graphics support.

6. Windows 95 came with a built-in support for the Dial-Up Networking feature, which marked a significant step towards on making Internet access a mainstream for many households. Which they succeed as nowadays most people have internet inside of their households!

7. Previously the Windows 3.1 came with a bundled software, now in Windows 95, it also came with a bundled software. The bundled includes the Internet Explorer, Microsoft’s web browser, beginning with version 2.0 as it wasn’t included at launch but it was soon added shortly after. This bundling led to a significant antitrust case against Microsoft. (The meaning of antitrust case is basically a trick Microsoft did so then the market would have more competition for example like Apple, and more).

8. The overall user interference in Windows 95 was a departure from the previous Windows versions, which they focused on a more intuitive and user-friendly experience. This change would help them drive personal computers adoption in homes and businesses.

The Windows 95 had a massive impact on the PC industry, just showing the dominance Windows had in the operating system market. The Windows 95 is also often credited with bringing a wide range of innovations and refinements to the personal computer, which made it more accessible and user-friendly for the general public.