A 1982 print ad for the IBM PC featuring the Charlie Chaplin imitator,

A 1982 print ad for the IBM PC featuring the Charlie Chaplin imitator, stressing a business application. Note that the IBM PC was sold in computer stores throughout the U.S. Midwest by this date.

Detail map of Manhattan, New York, New York, United States Overview map of Manhattan, New York, New York, United States

A: Manhattan, New York, New York, United States

IBM Introduces the IBM 5150- The IBM PC

8/12/1981
IBM PC with monitor and keyboard
Image Source: www.computerhistory.org

IBM PC with monitor and keyboard. Computer History Museum

On August 12, 1981 IBM introduced their open architecture personal computer (PC) based on the Intel 8088 processor. The IBM PC  ran PC-DOS, the IBM-branded version of the 16-bit operating system, MS-DOS, provided by Microsoft. The machine was originally designated as the IBM 5150, putting it in the "5100" series, though its architecture was not directly descended from the IBM 5100.

The IBM PC arrived nearly 10 years after other personal computers were available, but had the advantage of the great reputation of IBM behind it, and instantly legitimized the market, giving buyers who had been able to make up their mind whether or not to buy a PC confidence that personal computers would be here to stay. Unlike most previous IBM products, the IBM PC incorporated hardware and software from other companies, and IBM published design details regarding its open architecture, inspiring PC clones that were often superior.

On August 17, 1981 a review of the IBM PC appeared on USENET (accessed 10-16-2009).

Timeline Themes

Computer & Calculator Industry
Software
Data Processing / Computing
Computers & Society
Computer & Calculator Design / Architecture