John: /* 1961 */

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1961

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	=== 1961 ===		=== 1961 ===

	Elliot 803B		*Elliot 803B

	=== 1962 ===		=== 1962 ===

John: /* 1960 */

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1960

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	=== 1960 ===		=== 1960 ===

	Elliott 803A		*Elliott 803A

	=== 1961 ===		=== 1961 ===

John: /* 1960 */

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1960

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	=== 1960 ===		=== 1960 ===

	Elliott ~~803~~		Elliott 803A

			=== 1961 ===

			Elliot 803B

	=== 1962 ===		=== 1962 ===

John: /* 1961 */

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1961

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	[2] https://gunkies.org/wiki/PDP-1		[2] https://gunkies.org/wiki/PDP-1

	=== ~~1961~~ ===		=== 1960 ===

	Elliott 803		Elliott 803

John: /* Introduction */

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Introduction

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	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.		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 ===		=== 1959 ===
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	*Burroughs		*Burroughs
	*Univac		*Univac




	== Sources ==		== Sources ==

John: /* 1962 */

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1962

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

			=== 1961 ===

			Elliott 803

	=== 1962 ===		=== 1962 ===

John: Created page with "==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. === 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..."

2025-09-29T22:02:47Z

Created page with "==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. === 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..."

New page

==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.

=== 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

=== 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

Pre-1980 Personal and Home Computers - Revision history

John: /* 1961 */

John: /* 1960 */

John: /* 1960 */

John: /* 1961 */

John: /* Introduction */

John: /* 1962 */