1971-1994
Overview
The fourth generation took a large step towards making computers personal devices. Microprocessors, Floppy Disks, Ethernet, and some new software caused these computers to become faster, smaller, less expensive, and more reliable. This is the generation in which personal computers really took off.
The fourth generation took a large step towards making computers personal devices. Microprocessors, Floppy Disks, Ethernet, and some new software caused these computers to become faster, smaller, less expensive, and more reliable. This is the generation in which personal computers really took off.
The "Floppy" Disk- 1971
Developed by Alan Shugart & IBM, the floppy disk consisted of a thin, flexible magnetic storage medium. It was encased in plastic and had fabric to remove dust particles. Before Hard Drives were available, these were used to store the computer's OS among other things. However, they broke often and could not store much information.
Image: http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/a/aa/Floppy_disk_2009_G1.jpg
Developed by Alan Shugart & IBM, the floppy disk consisted of a thin, flexible magnetic storage medium. It was encased in plastic and had fabric to remove dust particles. Before Hard Drives were available, these were used to store the computer's OS among other things. However, they broke often and could not store much information.
Image: http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/a/aa/Floppy_disk_2009_G1.jpg
The Ethernet Computer Networking- 1973
Created by Robert Metcalfe & Xerox, ethernet allowed computers to communicate with each other through the use of frames using a wire to connect.
Image: http://static.ddmcdn.com/gif/ethernet3.gif
Created by Robert Metcalfe & Xerox, ethernet allowed computers to communicate with each other through the use of frames using a wire to connect.
Image: http://static.ddmcdn.com/gif/ethernet3.gif
Apple I- 1976
The Apple I, created by Steve Wozniak and Steve Jobs, was the first single-circuit board computer. The computer was made mostly of economical parts so that Steve could afford them with a month's salary. It came with a video interface and was made mostly of plywood.
Image: http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/a/a1/Apple_I_Computer.jpg
The Apple I, created by Steve Wozniak and Steve Jobs, was the first single-circuit board computer. The computer was made mostly of economical parts so that Steve could afford them with a month's salary. It came with a video interface and was made mostly of plywood.
Image: http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/a/a1/Apple_I_Computer.jpg
Apple II- 1977
The Apple II, also created by Steve Wozniak and Steve Jobs, brought some upgrades to the Apple I. It had color graphics, unlike any other computers at the time, made it faster, and eventually incorporated the floppy disk drive for storage, which was faster and more reliable than the audio cassette.
Image: http://oldcomputers.net/pics/appleii-system.jpg
The Apple II, also created by Steve Wozniak and Steve Jobs, brought some upgrades to the Apple I. It had color graphics, unlike any other computers at the time, made it faster, and eventually incorporated the floppy disk drive for storage, which was faster and more reliable than the audio cassette.
Image: http://oldcomputers.net/pics/appleii-system.jpg
Commodore Pet Computers- 1977
This computer, designed by Chuck Peddle, was very similar to the Apple II with the same Intel Processor, cassette tapes for storage, 4k of RAM, but monochrome graphics.
Image: http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/5/57/Commodore_PET2001.jpg
This computer, designed by Chuck Peddle, was very similar to the Apple II with the same Intel Processor, cassette tapes for storage, 4k of RAM, but monochrome graphics.
Image: http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/5/57/Commodore_PET2001.jpg
TRS-80- 1977
Nicknamed the "Trash-80", this computer was designed and sold by Radio Shack. It had an 8-bit processor, an optional memory expansion bay, and audio cassettes to store data. However, it had little RAM and ROM, making it lag behind the Apple II and PET.
Image: http://oldcomputers.net/pics/trs80-i.jpg
Nicknamed the "Trash-80", this computer was designed and sold by Radio Shack. It had an 8-bit processor, an optional memory expansion bay, and audio cassettes to store data. However, it had little RAM and ROM, making it lag behind the Apple II and PET.
Image: http://oldcomputers.net/pics/trs80-i.jpg
Apple Macintosh Computer- 1984
Considered to be revolutionary, Steve Jobs built this computer for Apple. The Macintosh 128K was the first mass-market personal computer that had a graphical user interface and a mouse. It was faster than previous computers and used floppy drives to store data. It had a black and white screen and a 9-inch display.
Image: http://oldcomputers.net/pics/macintosh.jpg
Considered to be revolutionary, Steve Jobs built this computer for Apple. The Macintosh 128K was the first mass-market personal computer that had a graphical user interface and a mouse. It was faster than previous computers and used floppy drives to store data. It had a black and white screen and a 9-inch display.
Image: http://oldcomputers.net/pics/macintosh.jpg
Microsoft Windows- 1985
Microsoft created this graphical user interface in order to compete with Apple's operating system. Microsoft Windows 1.0 wasn't a full-fledged graphical interface, but rather an extension of MS-DOS.
Image: http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/4/4e/Windows1.0.png
Microsoft created this graphical user interface in order to compete with Apple's operating system. Microsoft Windows 1.0 wasn't a full-fledged graphical interface, but rather an extension of MS-DOS.
Image: http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/4/4e/Windows1.0.png
Sites:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Floppy_disk
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ethernet
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Apple_I
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Apple_II_series
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Commodore_PET
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/TRS-80
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Macintosh
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Windows_1.0
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Floppy_disk
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ethernet
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Apple_I
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Apple_II_series
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Commodore_PET
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/TRS-80
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Macintosh
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Windows_1.0