Re: Rewriting computing history...

[et472@FreeNet.Carleton.CA (Michael Black)]

Ruud Dingemans (rtech@home.nl) writes:
> Byron Q. Desnoyers Winill wrote:
> 
>> Ah yes, the "Apple ignited the personal computer revolution in the 1970s
>> with the Apple II."  That is rewriting history in its own right.  My
>> research suggests that a lot of people were coming up with similar ideas
>> at the time.
> 
> True, there had been personal computers before. Xerox' Alto was already 
> around in 1973 and the French Micral as well, predating the Altair by 
> two and the AI by three years.
> 
> But note Apple says it 'ignited', not invented' the personal computing 
> revolution, and with hindsight, that's quite defendable - 'specially 
> with Visicals debuting on the AII, and debuting at the very start of the 
> 'real' personal computing revolution (it had been just a faint 
> smoldering before) at the Faire of 77, together with the PET.
> 
> Regards, Ruud
> 
But it's specifically the "ignited" that I'd take issue with.

You can take a number of points on a timeline, and each one caused
an "explosion", ie a new level of interest.  

The Apple II may have ignited something, but it came in the same year as a
number of other popular "home computers" that also moved things forward.  
And while it was impressive at the time, it was actually nothing compared
to what happened when the "IBM PC" came along.

Likewise, one could argue that the introduction of the 6502 ignited
things, because it allowed for the Apple (and the PET, and a bunch of
other lower cost computers).

Was the Apple II important in the growth of home computers?  Yes, of
course.

But there are all kinds of other points that were crucial for small
computers to become popular.  The other points may not be as visible,
but ignition is usually a pretty small thing.

   Michael