The early days of home computing – in pictures

[Ivan]

The early days of home computing – in pictures

“There were no design conventions for the earliest home computers, no rules for how they’d look,” says Alex Wiltshire, author of Home Computers, a new book that explores the rapidly changing face of the household machine between its birth in the 1970s and the 1990s.


Kadish Morris
Sat 11 Apr 2020 17.00 BST

SDC Minivac 601 (1961)

MITS Altair 8800B (1975)

Commodore PET 2001 (1977)

Intertec Superbrain (1979)

Sinclair ZX80 (1980)

Dragon 32 (1982)

Apple IIe (1983)

Matra Alice 90 (1985)

Acorn A3010 (1992)

Apple iMac G3 (1998)

Photographs: All images by John Short and courtesy of Thames and Hudson

 

[Samlee]

Ah The Good Old Days.Who WOuld Have Known These Machines Would Rules The Planet

 

[Hamartia Antidote]

The list should mention if it had a monitor available or did you have to hook it up to a tv.

My high school bought two AppleIIe's in the early 80's and they had monitors.

 

[Ivan]

View attachment 633691
The list should mention if it had a monitor available or did you have to hook it up to a tv.

My high school bought two AppleIIe's in the early 80's and they had monitors.

Totally agree with you! Exactly my thoughts!
Was curious myself whether they had monitors or some alternative displays.
Thank you for sharing your beautiful memories and the picture! Would have never known how how it worked

 

[Hamartia Antidote]

Totally agree with you! Exactly my thoughts!
Was curious myself whether they had monitors or some alternative displays.
Thank you for sharing your beautiful memories and the picture! Would have never known how how it worked

Oddly enough the reason early computers didn't fare well was due to their graphics. Many supported only monochrome. While this doesn't sound like much of a big deal their biggest competitors were the millions and millions of Atari 2600's being sold with color games on your tv.

 

[nahtanbob]

you can see a lot more in a visit to Computer History Museum in Mountain View California
https://computerhistory.org/