Introduction to Personal Computers

Origins

• The Simon, introduced in the 1950s by Berkeley Enterprises, is considered by many to be the first personal computer. All it could perform were basic math operations. In the late 1970s, companies like Apple and IBM started producing more versatile and capable machines with important features like mice, keyboards and monitors.
  
  Computers that were powerful enough for scientific and industrial use existed even before personal computers were created, but many were large enough that they took up more than one room for all the components. The big innovation with personal computers was offering good functionality at a size and simplicity level that regular people could take advantage of.
  
  

Uses

• The personal computer has evolved into a machine that can be used in almost any line of work or facet of life. For example, we use them to navigate the Internet, perform scientific research, play games, listen to music and watch movies. Businesses use computers to keep track of their inventories, research customers and design products, in addition to a myriad of other practical operations.
  
  

Portability

• The portability of the personal computer has greatly increased over the years. This is partly because technology has allowed manufacturers to decrease the size of components. Many personal computers are now small enough to be carried to work and school or anywhere else they are needed.