CertiGuide to A+ (Core Hardware)  9  Chapter 0000:  The Start of the PC       9  II  Start of IT and the History of Computing

II  Start of IT and the History of Computing 1 Microsoft

Companies such as Digital Equipment Corporation (DEC) were building small-sized computers known as minicomputers, which benefited the smaller business company. However, even the smallest minicomputer was actually too large for small business or home use.

Ed Roberts in Albuquerque, New Mexico addressed the idea of the personal computer (PC) by the founding of a company known as Micro Instrumentation Telemetry Systems

(MITS). This former creator of radio control devices released the computer known as the Altair, which began the microcomputer revolution (see http://www.exo.com/~wts/mits0013.htm).

Several concepts made the Altair unique. It was small-sized in both computational power and physical size. It was sold in kit-form, which kept selling prices low.

The Altair was made expandable by the induction of sockets allowing for plugging of extra boards (expansion). The sockets (connectors) had 100 pins, which ultimately became known as the S-100 bus.

II  Start of IT and the History of Computing 1 Microsoft