IBM Announces the 608 Calculator, the First Solid State Computer

4/1955 to 12/1957
Thomas J. Watson Jr. (Right) examining IBMs first all-transistorized computer, the IBM 608 Calculator, December 1956.

Thomas J. Watson Jr. (Right) examining IBMs first all-transistorized computer, the IBM 608 Calculator, December 1956.

In April 1955 IBM announced the development of the IBM 608 calculator, the first all solid-state (fully transistorized) computer commercially marketed. The machine was first shipped to customers in December 1957. Development of the 608 was preceded by prototyping an experimental all-transistor version of the 604. This was built and demonstrated in October 1954, but was not commercialized.

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