Computer System

In 1969, Intel was the Japanese company, computer integrated circuits, computer chips of their line of calculators. Ted Hoff, an assignment in connection with difficulties, because if you default on the methods of Japanese design calculators will be almost as expensive as one of the new Mini, which sells, but not nearly the same. Hoff that they have decided to introduce a new concept for computer chips. Instead of “hardwiring” the logic of the computer on a chip, which is now called a microprocessor, a chip that can be programmed so that the action on your computer, you have a computer on a piece of silicon. He said that it was 4004, as the number of transistors on a replacement. The agreement gave the Japanese computer company exclusive rights to the 4004th Hoff became clear that 4004 was an important technological advancement, and is concerned that Intel does not remove them on a computer with Japanese companies in connection with a relatively small order. Fortunately for the Japanese company from Intel is not important that they have been received and it sold exclusive rights to the 4004 price reduction and a number of changes in requirements for the machine.

Intel developed the microprocessor later another team Terminal Corporation (CTC). It was the 8008th in this case, the CTC was able to buy a product from Intel, however, reserve the right to sell in the 8008 other clients. Intel started to add support for programmable chips, in the 8008th Officer Intel, Adam Osborne was the task of training manuals for the programming language for the 8008th Osborn, later important for the development of personal computers to create the first laptop, more on this below.

Gary Kildall, Professor Naval Postgraduate School in Monterey, he worked at Intel for the development of language and its programs for microprocessors. Kildall also plays an important role in the development of personal computers, in which he wrote the first operating system to the microprocessor. It was CP / M. Without an operating system from a PC is quite cumbersome to use.

By the early 1970’s were a large number of people who have some experience with computers and want a separate computer. In Albuquerque, New Mexico, was a man named Ed Roberts, who held a business selling kits for building electronic devices. Company MITS Micro Instrumentation Telemetry Systems. The Company is not good to do, and Ed Roberts is looking for a new product to sell. The computer is too busy, especially when chip manufacturers like Texas Instruments began his computer. After a disastrous attempt to sell a set of programmable calculator Ed Roberts was desperate for a new product. It was decided to try to do something that no one tried mounting kit for your computer. It decided that based on a new chip from Intel, 8080th Roberts has signed a contract with Intel that low price, when in 8080 he could buy the chips in large quantities. About this time, Popular Electronics magazine, published by Les Solomon, looking for viable projects for desktop computers. Solomon Roberts promised a working model in the case of Solomon through the promotion of Popular Electronics. Ed Roberts agreed to order his team to the Altair after the planet in the episode of Star Les Solomon’s daughter saw. Roberts and MITS people are working feverishly to build a prototype Altair to convey Popular Electronics, but when the time comes to publish the model was not very wise. Nevertheless, a popular electronics published pictures if Altair on the cover. Computer with its lights and switches are not impressive. In an article in the journal that Altair kits are available for $397 MITS in Albuquerque, New Mexico.

To the surprise of all computer enthusiasts around the country at $ 397 for the purchase of Altair kit. Indeed, MITS was flooded with money. Roses out of bankruptcy far from $ 365,000 to the situation in which there are hundreds of thousands of dollars in the bank. MITS bank was a little concerned that MITS began to something lucrative, but illegal.

In the Altair had a very limited capacity. I have no keyboard, screen, and not just 256 bytes of memory. On the data entry was done by turning the switches, and the only way to light on the computer. Nevertheless, there is great enthusiasm for the Altair.

Two programmers in Boston (a student at Harvard University, actually) decided to develop software for the Altair. Their names were Bill Gates and Paul Allen. They called Ed Roberts and told him he was with the programs of the programming language BASIC for the Altair. Roberts said that if I could see him, buy Altair. Gates and Allen, in fact, has no program, but for now, to write. Lasted about six weeks. This amazing accomplishment that I am at work. They developed a program for the Altair, scheduling a group of Harvard imitate disabilities in Altair. It is necessary to develop and Paul Allen flew to Albuquerque to show results. Given the many things that went wrong, that was a miracle that the program works. He has worked in complex laboratory MITS Altair version, and not for sale to the general public. Gates and Allen founded Microsoft in Albuquerque, then to Seattle.

Members of the public, their $ 397 was the search for a long, long wait before they Altair kit. MITS, not only willing to reduce the number of companies, MITS was in. But the demand is there, and the market started to work.

Gary Kildall, along with a professor at UC Berkeley, John Torode, a small computer chip based on the 8080th Torode computers, with the name of Kildall and digital systems, computer software, called digital intergalactic research.

Altair shortly competitors producing IMSAI San Leandro, California, USA. IMSAI Bill Millard, without much interest in computers, but he knew an opportunity when he saw a hot market.

About this time Lee Felsenstein in the picture. Lee Felsenstein was an interesting person who has a number of important roles in the development of personal computers. He is a very interesting background. He grew up in Philadelphia and is a student. Do you have a job for the summer in Los-Angleles works as an engineer for the operation of security. He loved as an engineer and had no plans to do so. One day, CBS, where he was in his office, not him with the necessary security. Lee had to fill in application forms for the work he declared that he did not know, a member of the Communist Party, confirmed that after questioning the safety of the agent. The CSO told Lee that his parents were members of the Communist Party. Steven Levy reports in his book “Hackers, based on interviews with Lee:

Lee was not informed. It was assumed that “communist” is a term, red dog, that people in liberal and activist parents. His brother [Joe] all know - his brother, the name of Stalin - Lee, but has not yet been reported.

Company security officer told him that he was not safe at that time, but if you look at the political consequences that have once a year or so, and probably has less than admission. Lee left the organization, and after a while he moved to Berkeley in 1963, when the revolution is just beginning countercultural. Lee went to work in a weekly newspaper called the Berkeley thorn in as a coach and a journalist. In the spine is a radical newspaper, Max Scheer. In the beard is not so much money, and staff did not pay, if the Max-house of his wife, Jane, to feed. Later, Max started to sell advertising space on the language began to massage and a lot of money. But he has still not paid. This zlilo many staff members of one of two ways. Were puzzled at first call in their everyday social revolution, but the sale of ads for massage and, secondly, it is not always all that money. Thorn team, including Lee Felsenstein, the left and started another newspaper from the tribe of Berkeley. Tribe is committed to anarchist ideology. Lee led the tribe for a while, and then UC Berkeley and his Doctor of Engineering. After graduating, he joined the community of resources, and then Branch Community memory for your computer with people through the installation of terminals in remote locations in the company.

Time Altair was announced, a group of San Francisco, Bay Area organized amateur teams homebrew club. Once the club has worked at the time when Lee Felsenstein facilitor for the club, an informal master of ceremonies to meetings and discussions. Up to 750, in the sessions and became an important center for exchange of information on computers in the Bay Area. Steve Dzhobs and Stephen Wozniak, attend these meetings. Adam Osborne sold his book “Introduction to microcomputers in these meetings.

Lee Felsenstein has some work on the construction, including a computer, which meant the Sun after the Popular Electronics editor Les Solomon. Sun sells about $ 1000, but much higher than that of Altair. Felsenstein and other buildings were also improvements, such as memory boards for the Altair. Lee Felsenstein is Osborne Computer, the first portable computer. It is not portable, which means that a laptop can be used during the trip. It is portable, which means that it can be easily transported from one place to another and not connected and used. The amount was based on the size, the space under the plane.

What you need for this was a mini-disc. Disk drives have long been working with computers, but too expensive for low-cost computers in the home industry is trying to develop. Al Shugart, founder of the first major manufacturers of hard drives are a unit of 5-1/4 inches. Gary Kildall in development, while the first microcomputer operating system CP / M (PC processor / monitor), is fitted with Shugart. The history of computer operating system, as stated in another post.

Tags: history