List of early microcomputers

This is a list of early microcomputers sold to hobbyists and developers. These microcomputers were often sold as "DIY" kits or pre-built machines in relatively small numbers in the mid-1970s. These systems were primarily used for teaching the use of microprocessors and supporting peripheral devices, and unlike home computers were rarely used with pre-written application software. Most early micros came without alphanumeric keyboards or displays, which had to be provided by the user. RAM was quite small in the unexpanded systems (a few hundred bytes to a few kilobytes). By 1976 the number of pre-assembled machines was growing, and the 1977 introduction of the "Trinity" of Commodore PET, TRS-80 and Apple II generally marks the end of the "early" microcomputer era, and the advent of the consumer home computer era that followed.

Discrete logic

Before the advent of microprocessors, it was possible to build small computers using small-scale integrated circuits (ICs), where each IC contained only a few logic gates or flip-flops.

Test and development machines

As microprocessors were developed, companies often released simple development systems to bootstrap the use of the processor. These systems were often converted by hobbyists into complete computer systems.

This is a sortable list; click on the icon at the top of each column to sort by the contents of that column.
ModelProcessorYearFormat Remarks Ref
Intel SIM8-01 Intel 8008 early 1972 bare board Intel's developer kit for the 8008
MOS Technology KIM-1 MOS Technology 6502 1975 complete board MOS's developer kit for the 6502, widely used in a number of projects
Motorola MEK6800D2 Motorola 6800 1976 complete board
Rockwell AIM-65 6502 complete board
Synertek SYM-1 6502 1978 complete board
Intel SDK-85 Intel 8085 1978

Kits

For some time the microcomputer world was dominated by systems delivered in kit form. As most machines of the era were sold in small numbers, there was no reason to invest in automated manufacturing systems, leaving the final assembly to manual labor. Kits took advantage of this by offering the system at a low price point, and relying on the user to complete the expensive part, the final assembly. Kits were popular between 1975, with the introduction of the famous Altair 8800, but as sales volumes increased, kits became less common. The introduction of useful fully assembled machines in 1977 led to the rapid disappearance of kit systems for most users. The famed ZX81 is among the last of the large sellers in the kit market.

Some magazines published plans and printed circuit board layouts from which a reader could in principle duplicate the project, although usually commercially made boards could be ordered to expedite assembly. Other kits varied from etched, drilled, printed circuit boards and a parts list to packages containing cases, power supplies, and all interconnections. All kits required significant assembly by the user.

This is a sortable list; click on the icon at the top of each column to sort by the contents of that column.
ModelProcessorYearFormat Remarks Ref
SCELBI Intel 80081974 was the earliest commercial kit computer based on the Intel 8008 microprocessor. sold for embedded control applications.[2]
Mark-8Intel 80081974Plans published, an etched board was available but constructors had to source all parts [3]
MITS Altair 8800Intel 80801975Etched boards and partsintroduced S-100 bus
COSMAC ELFRCA 18021976
Apple IMOS Technology 65021976
Nascom, Nascom 1 Zilog Z80 1977
Nascom 2 Z80 1979
Telmac 1800 RCA 1802 1977
Newbear 77-68Motorola 68001977
Heathkit H880801977all parts, case and power supply, detailed instructions Heathkit was a notable manufacturer of electronics kits
Heathkit H11LSI-111977all parts, case and power supply, detailed instructions A 16-bit microcomputer compatible with a PDP 11
Electronics Australia 77up2 aka "Baby 2650 2650 1977
Netronics ELF IIRCA 18021977
Quest SuperELFRCA 1802
Elektor TV Games ComputerSignetics 26501979
System 68Motorola 6800 1977 Electronics today international magazine project
PSI comp 80Z801979 by Powertran from a design in the magazine Wireless World
Science of Cambridge MK14National Semiconductor SC/MP 1978 Low-cost kit expandable to video output [4]
Acorn System 1 65021979
Tangerine Microtan 65 65021979 Rack-based extendible system
Compukit UK101 65021979 Practical Electronics magazine project (Clone of Ohio Scientific Superboard II) BASIC in ROM
Sinclair's ZX80 Z801980 were among the last popular kit systems
Sinclair ZX81 Z801981 were among the last popular kit systems
MicroBee Zilog Z80 1982 The computer was conceived as a kit, with assembly instructions included in Your Computer magazine, in February 1982. [5]

Complete microcomputers

A number of complete microcomputers were offered even before kits became popular, dating to as far back as 1973. For some time there was a major market for assembled versions of the Altair 8800, a market that grew significantly through the late 1970s and into the early 1980s. The introduction of three computers aimed at personal users in 1977, the Radio Shack TRS-80, Apple II, and Commodore PET, significantly changed the market and led to the home computer revolution.

See also

References

  1. ↑ p. 4/3, A history of the personal computer: the people and the technology, Roy A. Allan, 2001, ISBN 0-9689108-0-7.
  2. ↑ inventors.about.com
  3. ↑ p. 4/8, A history of the personal computer: the people and the technology, Roy A. Allan, 2001, ISBN 0-9689108-0-7.
  4. ↑ http://www.nvg.ntnu.no/sinclair/computers/mk14/mk14_pe0579.htm "Science of Cambridge MK14", May 1979, retrieved 2011 July 2
  5. ↑ Microbee computer, From:Owen Hill Date:24 Aug 1998, Link list on Australian network policy and communications
  6. ↑ Zbigniew Stachniak, "The MIL MF7114 Microprocessor", IEEE Annals of Computer History, 22 September 2009, pg. 48-59
  7. ↑ Computer History Museum
  8. ↑ Zbigniew Stachniak. "The Making of the MCM/70 Microcomputer". IEEE Annals of the History of Computing, 2003: pg. 62-75
  9. ↑ Department of Physics (2008-10-06). "Machine code programming". Second Year Physics Laboratory Manual 2008/2009 (PDF). University of London. p. 54. Retrieved 2011-03-03.
Notes

External links

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