1972 computer details

1972

April

• Intel introduces its 200-KHz 8008 chip, the first commercial 8-bit microprocessor, part of the MCS-8 product family of chips. It accesses 16 KB of memory. The processor was originally developed for Computer Terminal Corporation (later called Datapoint). It uses 3500 transistors, based on 10-micron technology. Speed is 60,000 instructions per second. [9] [106.104] [208.66] [266.13] [296] [62] [556.10] [900] [953.28] [1038.150] [1064.246] (1971 [208.70] [266.xiv])

(month unknown)

• Xerox decides to build a personal computer to be used for research. Project "Alto" begins. [263.58] [266.267] [716.85]
• Canada's Automatic Electronic Systems introduces the world's first programmable word processor with a video screen, the AES 90. The computer system uses magnetic disks for storage, and a custom-built microprocessor. [615.94]

1973

(month unknown)

• Scelbi Computer Consulting Company offers the first computer kit in the U.S. using a microprocessor, the Intel 8008-based Scelbi-8H, for US$565, with 1 KB programmable memory. An additional 15 KB is available for US$2760. [9] [208.66]
• Gary Kildall writes a simple operating system in his PL/M language. He calls it CP/M (Control Program/Monitor). [266.138] (Control Program for Microcomputer [346.50]) (Control Program / Microprocessor [1076.18]) (1974 [443.433])

1974

April

• Intel releases its 2 MHz 8080 chip, an 8-bit microprocessor. It can access 64 KB of memory. It uses 6000 transistors, based on 6-micron technology. Speed is 0.64 MIPS. [9] [41] [108] [176.74] [266.30] [296] [346.19] [879.116] [953.28] (1973 [208.70]) (March [1038.150])

(month unknown)

• Gary Kildall, of Microcomputer Applications Associates, develops the CP/M operating system for Intel 8080-based systems. [9] [176.64] [258.224]

July

• Radio Electronics magazine publishes an article on building a Mark-8 microcomputer, designed by Jonathan Titus, using the Intel 8008. [208.67]

(month unknown)

• Motorola introduces its 6800 chip, an early 8-bit microprocessor used in microcomputers and industrial and automotive control devices. The 6800 was designed by Chuck Peddle and Charlie Melear. [556.11] [1038.150]

December

• Popular Electronics publishes an article in its January 1975 issue by MITS announcing the Altair 8800 computer for US$439 in kit form. It uses the Intel 8080 processor. The Altair pictured on the cover of the magazine is actually a mock-up, as an actual computer was not available. [9] [106.104] [123] [185.109] [192.3] [208.67] [218] [205.18] (US$397 [266.35] [346.19] [353.190] [415.15])

1975

February

• Paul Allen meets with Ed Roberts to demonstrate the newly written BASIC interpreter for the Altair. Despite never having touched an Altair before, the BASIC works flawlessly. [346.24] [346.257] [606.17]
• Bill Gates and Paul Allen license their newly written BASIC to MITS, their first customer. This is the first computer language program written for a personal computer. [123] [176.122] [389.28]

March

• Fred Moore and Gordon French hold the first meeting of a new microcomputer hobbyist's club in French's garage, in Menlo Park, California. 32 people meet, including Bob Albrect, Steve Dompier, Lee Felsenstein, Bob Marsh, Tom Pittman, Marty Spergel, Alan Baum, and Steven Wozniak. Bob Albrect shows off an Altair, and Steve Dompier reports on MITS, and how they had 4000 orders for the Altair. [185.110] [266.104] [301.55] [346.18] [353.200] [346.257] [930.31] (April [208.67] 266.39)

April

• Bill Gates and Paul Allen found Micro-Soft (the hyphen is later dropped). [41] (July [346.26]) (August [346.257])
• MITS delivers the first generally-available Altair 8800, sold for US$375 with 1 KB memory. [208.67] (256 bytes [266.38])

June

• MOS Technology announces the MC6501 processor for US$20 and the MC6502 for US$25. [9] [261.304] (Fall [824])

(month unknown)

• Gordon Moore revises his 1965 prediction about transistor density, from doubling every 12 months to doubling every 18 months. This becomes known as Moore's Law. [1000.20]

July

• Dick Heiser opens Arrow Head Computer Company, subtitled "The Computer Store", in Los Angeles, selling assembled Altair computers, boards, peripherals, and magazines. This is the first retail computer store in the USA. [266.185] [684.41]

(month unknown)

• IMSAI announces the IMSAI 8080 microcomputer. [346.32] [647.95]

September

• The first issue of BYTE magazine is published. [9] [266.159]