Pre-1980 Personal and Home Computers

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Introduction

What follows is a list of personal computers available to the public in one form or another to members of the public. The term Personal Computer in this context refers to a general purpose computer that was designed to be used by a single person typically in their home or place of work or study.

1958

  • Elliot 801

1959

DEC PDP 1

The company’s first Programmed Data Processor, the PDP-1 computer used DIGITAL’s own system modules, which came from the existing range of 1OMC logic released in late 1959. The first PDP-1, delivered in December 1959, was a high speed, 18.bit, small computer capable of addressing 32K of core memoy. An average configuration cost $120,000 in an era when most computer systems were sold for a million dollars or more. [1]

Standard peripherals included a paper tape reader and punch, and a terminal. Optional peripherals included graphics displays, a light pen, line printer, punched card reader and punch, and magnetic tape controller and drives. [2]

A PDP-1 at MIT's RLE served as the nucleus for early hacker culture at MIT, including for the first video game, Spacewar!. The PDP-1/D at BBN was much used in the early ARPANET work; both for software development, and as the Network Control Center's first machine. [2]

[1] "DEC 1957 to the Present" p.3 [2] https://gunkies.org/wiki/PDP-1

1960

  • Elliott 803A

1961

  • Elliot 803B

1962

  • Linc - Personal Minicomputer

1967

  • Wireless World Computer = Transistor based Computer from Wireless World Magazine (August 1967)

1970

  • Datapoint (CTC) 2200 - TTL Computer
  • ICL 1900 series — British mainframes, widely deployed.
  • Data General Nova — imported 16-bit minicomputer.
  • DEC PDP-11/20 — first PDP-11 systems reached UK universities/labs.

1971

  • HP 2100A minicomputer — available via HP UK offices.
  • Interdata 7/16 — 16-bit minicomputer, sold in UK.
  • Kenbak 1 - First Personal Computer ?
  • Intel SIM4-01
  • Intel SIM4-02

1972

  • DEC PDP-11/40 — expanded PDP-11 family in UK use.
  • IBM System/3 — midrange systems shipped to UK businesses.
  • QI Corporation Q1
  • IBM SCAMP (1972/1973)
  • Intel SIM8-01

1973

  • Wang 2200 — BASIC desktop computer, imported to UK.
  • ICL 2900 series — launched as successor to 1900 series.
  • R2E MicralN - French computer
  • Intel Intellec
  • Xerox Alto
  • Xerox Star

1974

  • Mark-8 (kit, Intel 8008) — hobbyist kit plans; some built in UK by enthusiasts.
  • DEC PDP-11/34 — later PDP-11s became standard in UK universities.
  • RCA Fred/Cosmac
  • Mark 8 - Radio and Electronics
  • QI Corporation Q1/Lite
  • QI Corporation Q1/MicroLite

1975

  • MITS Altair 8800 (kit) — available via import/mail order in UK.
  • IMSAI 8080 (kit) — Altair-compatible S-100 system, imported.
  • Sphere 1 — limited UK import.
  • SWTPC 6800 (kit) — Motorola-based system available through UK distributors.
  • IBM 5100

1976

  • Processor Technology SOL-20 — first pre-assembled micro, imported to UK.
  • MOS Technology KIM-1 (single board) — popular among UK hobbyists.
  • Polymorphic Systems Poly-88 — some UK availability via specialist dealers.
  • Digital Group machines — imported modular kits.
  • Bywood Scrumpy - The first single-board computer kit made in the UK.
  • Apple 1
  • Cosmac Elf - Magazine/Kit
  • Motorola MEK6800D2 - Development board.
  • MPT 8080 Microtutor

1977

  • Apple II — began UK distribution.
  • Commodore PET 2001 — available in UK education/business.
  • TRS-80 Model I — sold by Tandy in UK stores.
  • Heathkit H8 (kit) — obtainable in UK.
  • Science of Cambridge MK14 (kit) — UK-only.
  • Nascom-1 (kit) — British single-board kit, launched late 1977.
  • System 68 - ETI Magazine

1978

  • Nascom-2 (kit) — enhanced British micro.
  • Ohio Scientific Superboard II — imported; inspired the UK101.
  • Exidy Sorcerer — some units imported to UK.
  • Cromemco Z-2 — S-100 business micro, UK dealer support.
  • NorthStar Horizon — floppy-based micro, sold in UK.
  • Vector Graphic 1 — CP/M micro, available through importers.
  • MZ-80K — An all-in-one unit with keyboard.
  • Transam Triton - ETI
  • Rockwell Aim-65
  • Synertek Sym-1
  • Intel SDK-85
  • IBM 5110

1979

  • Acorn System 1 (kit/assembled) — first Acorn computer, UK.
  • Tangerine Microtan-65 (kit) — 6502 kit, UK release.
  • Compukit UK101 (kit) — UK clone of OSI Superboard II.
  • Atari 400 / 800 — home micros, UK launch late 1979.
  • Texas Instruments TI-99/4 — imported to UK in 1979.
  • Intertec Superbrain — business-oriented CP/M micro, available in UK.
  • Compucolor II — colour micro, limited UK availability.
  • MZ-80C- Featured an improved keyboard and 48KB of memory.
  • Powertran PSI Comp 80 - Wireless World Z80

Considerations

  • VAX
  • DEC
  • Prime Computers
  • Cromemco systems (late 1970s) — S-100 family machines, imported to the UK.
  • Zenith assembled systems (via dealers).
  • Sord
  • Toshiba — available in UK through niche distributors.
  • Data General — popular 16-bit minicomputer, sold in UK.
  • Honeywell
  • Burroughs
  • Univac

Sources

  • Centre for Computing History (UK)
  • Science Museum Group (UK) — Nascom and other UK machines
  • Contemporary records: MK14, Acorn System 1, Nascom, Microtan-65, Compukit UK101
  • DEC PDP-11 and other minicomputers in UK use
  • ICL in UK
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