The IBM PC was released 25 years ago today

It is hard to believe given so much has happened as a direct result, but it’s just 25 years ago today that the IBM 5150 Personal Computer hit the shelves for the princely sum of US$1565 (more than US$4000 in equivalent 2006 dollars). The IBM PC (Personal Computer), the original version and progenitor of the IBM PC compatible hardware platform was introduced on August 12, 1981. It wasn’t the first personal computer, trailing Apple, Commodore, Atari and Tandy, but it was the one that kick-started the PC boom and Microsoft’s Operating System business (originally DOS and much later, Windows) – two decades later more than one billion personal computers had been sold and the world is now heading towards ubiquitous computer usage. The Times has a nice piece and Wikipedia covers the development of the PC in great detail. Dan Bricklin put his thoughts down at the 20 year anniversary and they’re still fascinating and relevant. Come to think of it, it can’t be 25 years – we demand a recount!!!