A Brief History of Computer Development

Study Notes

In the 1800s, many scientists began developing various computers, but modern computers emerged in the 1930s with Konrad Zuse's creation of the first programmable computer, Z1.
Z1 could perform addition and subtraction quickly, and in 1941, Zuse invented the Z3, considered the world's oldest digital computer.
Unfortunately, the Z3 was destroyed during World War II, but in 1950, Zuse released the world's first commercial digital computer, Z4.
Another important milestone in computer history occurred in 1941 when physics and math teacher JV Atanasoff and his student Clifford Berry designed a computer that could solve 29 equations simultaneously.
The Atanasoff-Berry computer was the first to store data in its memory, and in 1944, the Harvard Mark-1/Colossus was launched, a massive computer that occupied an entire room.
Colossus was used to crack the complex Lorenz code used by the Nazis during World War II, significantly shortening the war.
Around the same time, John Mauchly and Presper Eckert created ENIAC, a computer built for ballistic analysis and used by the military during World War II.
ENIAC occupied 1500 square meters, weighed 30 tons, and had 6000 switches and 18000 vacuum tubes.
A few years later, Mauchly and Eckert developed UNIVAC, the first commercial computer used for business and government applications.
The development of transistors replaced vacuum tubes, leading to the creation of the Manchester TC prototype in 1953, the first computer with transistors.
In 1953, Grace Hopper developed the first computer language, COBOL, and IBM manufactured its first computer, the IBM 701.
In the early 1960s, IBM released the 7000 series of large computers, including the 7030 model, which used transistor technology and was sold to scientific laboratories.
This technology led to the development of IBM's 360 series, their most successful computer series.
The development of computers gradually approached what we know today, with the release of the Program 101, the first desktop computer sold to the public in 1965.
The Program 101 cost $3200, had 37 keys, and an built-in printer, and around the same time, the world's first 16-bit commercial microcomputer, DDP-116, was developed, priced at $28,500.
In 1970, Intel introduced the Intel 1103, the first dynamic random access memory (DRAM) chip, and a year later, IBM invented the floppy disk, allowing data sharing between computers.
The Altair 8800 was released in 1975, using the BASIC programming language developed by Bill Gates and Paul Allen, and became extremely popular, coining the term "personal computer."
In 1976, Apple entered the computer market with the Apple I, the first computer with a single circuit board and ROM, requiring users to add a keyboard, power supply, and casing.
A year later, Apple released the Apple II, achieving huge success with its 8-bit computer, complete with a power supply, keyboard, casing, manual, game paddles, and a Breakout game box.
In 1981, IBM released the IBM PC, officially named the IBM Model 5150, based on the 4.77 MHz Intel 8088 microprocessor and using Microsoft MS-DOS operating system.
The IBM PC revolutionized computer development, leading to widespread cloning and the creation of numerous software and peripherals.
Apple released the Apple Lisa in 1983, the first personal computer with a graphical user interface, featuring a pull-down menu and icons, a Motorola 68000 microprocessor, 1 MB RAM, and a 12-inch black-and-white display.
A year later, Apple released the Macintosh, the first successful computer with a mouse and graphical user interface, based on the Motorola 68000 microprocessor.
In 1984, Michael Dell founded PC's Limited, where he developed the first self-designed computer, called Turbo PC.
In the early 1990s, Dell became one of the leading computer manufacturers.
In 1987, IBM released the Personal System 2, the first IBM system to use the Intel 80386 chip and featuring a new operating system, OS2, which allowed mouse use on IBM computers for the first time.
In the 1990s, Apple introduced innovations such as the iMac G3 in 1998, featuring a clear and customizable design, priced at $1,300 with a 4GB hard drive, 32MB RAM, CD-ROM, and a 15-inch display.
Apple continued to mark the 2000s with releases like the Apple G5 in 2003, the most powerful Macintosh to date, featuring a 64-bit architecture and an aluminum oxide-coated casing.

Description

Explore the history of computer development from the 1800s to the 2000s, covering key milestones, inventors, and innovations that shaped the industry. From Konrad Zuse's programmable computer to Apple's graphical user interface, learn about the pioneers and their contributions to modern computing.