Crash Course Computer Science #25 - Personal Computer Revolution

What components made a personal "microcomputer" possible?

• single-chip CPUs

• solid state storage

• cheap computer storage like floppy disks

• low cost displays

How much did the Altair 8800 cost in 1975?

Enter a number only.

(a)  

Bill Gates and Paul Allen suggested the Altair 8800 could be improved if it could

• be displayed on a screen

• combine multiple parts into one device

• run programs written in BASIC

• connect to other devices via a "network"

The Altair 8800 jumpstarted the computer hobbyist movement. In 1975, the ___ met for the first time to review the device.

• Technology Titans Group

• Homebrew Computer Club

• Homebased Computing Association

• Computer Champions Club

Steve Wozniak shared his own device the next year in 1976. His had ____, unusual for the time.

• a text interface

• a TV screen

• a printer

• a solid state drive

What three computers were ready-built for consumers and businesses?

• Apple 1

• Apple 2

• TRS-80 Model 1

• Commodore Pet 2001

• Microsoft Basic

What spreadsheet software was a forbearer of Microsoft Excel and Google Sheets?

• VisiCalc

• CalcSheets

• DataPage

• MiniPage

IBM market share had shrunk to (a)   % by 1980, down from 60% in 1970.

IBM's Personal Computer had an open architecture with...

• an all-in-one circuit board

• good documentation

• expansion slots for new hardware

• a broad marketing campaign

Soon, Compaq and ​ (a)   were selling their own PC clones... And ​ (b)   was happy to license MS-DOS to them, quickly making it the most ​ (c)   PC operating system.

• Dell
• Microsoft
• popular
• Apple
• Intel
• affordable