1977 computer details

1977

January

• Commodore Business Machines first shows a prototype PET computer at the Winter Consumer Electronics Show. [713.32]

February

• Bill Gates and Paul Allen sign a partnership agreement to officially create the Microsoft company. [123]

April

• Commodore Business Machines shows its PET 2001 computer at the West Coast Computer Faire. The PET includes a 6502 CPU, 4 KB RAM, 14 KB ROM, keyboard, display, and tape drive, for US$600. The computer shown is a one-off prototype. [9] [266.182] [346.46] [445.256] [713.30] [747.74] (US$800 [176.54] [190.81]) (March [41]) (June [624.172])
• Apple Computer introduces the Apple II at the West Coast Computer Faire. The computer features a 6502 CPU, 4 KB RAM, 16 KB ROM, keyboard, 8-slot motherboard, game paddles, graphics/text interface to color display, and built-in BASIC, for US$1300. It is the first personal computer with color graphics. [9] [41] [46] [120] [140] [176.54] [203.7] [266.182] [346.47] [593.350] (March [185.114]) (July [716.234])

August

• Radio Shack (a division of Tandy Corp.) announces the TRS-80 microcomputer, with Z80 CPU, 4 KB RAM, 4 KB ROM, keyboard, black-and-white video display, and tape cassette for US$600. [9] [195.49] [202.198] [319.43] [548.413] [862.14] (US$300 [266.198]) (June [41]) (1978 [205.24])

1978

June

• Intel introduces the 4.77 MHz 8086 microprocessor. It uses 16-bit registers, a 16-bit data bus, and 29,000 transistors, using 3-micron technology. Price is US$360. It can access 1 MB of memory. Speed is 0.33 MIPS. Later speeds included 8 MHz (0.66 MIPS) and 10 MHz (0.75 MIPS). [108] [176.74] [177.102] [216.22] [296] [447.144] [465.25] [477.124] [540.64] [62] [690.94] [879.116] (April [346.61]) (1979 [120])

December

• Epson announces the MX-80 dot matrix printer. [9]
• Atari announces the Atari 400 and 800 personal computers, both featuring the 6502 microprocessor. The Atari 800 was code-named "Colleen" during development. [9] [231.83] [252.50] (1979 [624.178])

1979

May

• Software Arts demonstrates VisiCalc at the 4th West Coast Computer Faire. Dan Bricklin and Bob Frankston wrote it during 1978-79, under the company name Software Arts, under contract to Personal Software. [9.202] [80.126] [176.64] [203.9] [218] [266.xv] [346.102] (June [41])

June

• Apple Computer introduces the Apple II Plus, with 48 KB memory, for US$1195. [46] [200.1] [218] [593.350]
• Intel introduces the 4.77 MHz 8088 microprocessor. It was created as a stepping stone to the 8086, as it operates on 16 bits internally, but supports an 8-bit data bus, to use existing 8-bit device-controlling chips. It contains 29,000 transistors, using 3-micron technology, and can address 1 MB of memory. Speed is 0.33 MIPS. A later version operates at 8 MHz, for a speed of 0.75 MIPS. [296] [477.124] [536.502] [540.64] [203.12] [62] [879.116] [900] [947.102] (February [177.102]) (1981 [120])
• Texas Instruments introduces the TI-99/4 personal computer, for an initial price of US$1500. It uses the TI 9940 16-bit microprocessor. [9] [202.209] (late 1979 [714.135]) (US$1150 [246.81])
• MicroPro International releases the WordStar word processor, written by Rob Barnaby. It is made available for Intel 8080A Zilog Z-80 based CP/M-80 systems. [266.153] [346.259] [862.202] [1033.171] (written by Seymour Rubenstein [176.64])

September

• Motorola introduces the 68000 16-bit microprocessor. It uses 68,000 transistors, giving it its name. [176.75] [423.136] (1980 [120])

October 17

• Personal Software releases VisiCalc for the Apple II, for US$99. [46] [140] [218] [266.230] [346.102] [618.70] [1033.171] [1056.327] (November [120]) computer