Blog post 5

 First personal computer

In 1977 the personal computer industry started. Instead of people wanting computers to do work and for industry, people wanted them for personal use in their homes. The Apple II, Tandy Radio Shack TRS-80, and the Commodore PET were all popular PC's at the time. These computers used an 8-bit screen with a limited memory compacity built into the computer. PCs were also cheaper than mainframe computer systems then, making it easier for households, small businesses, and schools to afford them. The TRS-80 was leading the market then, but once Apple came out with VisiCal, a spreadsheet design, it became the leader in the PC market. 

In 1977 Apple relesed the Apple II. The Apple II was a leader in the late '70s and 80s with its memory expansion, floppy disk controller, and emulator cards. This was the first user-friendly computer that allowed everyone to use it quickly and effectively. The Apple II also works with the VisiCal,, making it easy to create spreadsheets. The Apple II was also a very affordable PC that made it easy for anyone to buy. 

Another popular PC at the time was the Tandy Radio Shack TRS-80. The TRS-80 was a compact PC that could be transported very easily. It featured a 4 KB memory and a primary programing language. This made the TRS-80 very easy to understand and use. This PC was also cheaper, at $400 than the Apple II, making it a great entry-level PC. They also provided instructions that made it easy for anyone to set up and operate. 

Another competitor was the Comander PET (Personal Electronic Transactor). The PET came with a 4 KB or 8 KB memory (depending on which model you got). This was a popular PC in many schools. With this being the cheapest PC on the market when the three released, it became a good competitor. The PET only came with a black and blue screen (so no color) but was a graphic design and animations leader. The PET was the top computer for maintenance, like working on a car. The PET sold very well but lasted only a short time since Comanders facilities couldn't keep up with the demand. Another downfall was the keyboard, and the instructions needed to be written better for inexperienced consumers.