IBM Personal Computer
Personal computer model released in 1981 / From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
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The IBM Personal Computer (model 5150, commonly known as the IBM PC) is the first microcomputer released in the IBM PC model line and the basis for the IBM PC compatible de facto standard. Released on August 12, 1981, it was created by a team of engineers and designers directed by Don Estridge in Boca Raton, Florida.
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![]() IBM Personal Computer with keyboard and monitor | |
Manufacturer | IBM |
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Type | Personal Computer |
Generation | First generation |
Release date | August 12, 1981 |
Introductory price | Starting at US$1,565 (equivalent to $4,665 in 2021) |
Discontinued | April 2, 1987 |
Operating system | |
CPU | Intel 8088 @ 4.77 MHz |
Memory | 16 KB – 256 KB (motherboard) |
Graphics | MDA, CGA |
Sound | PC speaker 1-channel square-wave/1-bit digital (PWM-capable) |
Predecessor | IBM System/23 Datamaster |
Successor |
The machine was based on open architecture and third-party peripherals. Over time, expansion cards and software technology increased to support it.
The PC had a substantial influence on the personal computer market. The specifications of the IBM PC became one of the most popular computer design standards in the world. The only significant competition it faced from a non-compatible platform throughout the 1980s was from the Apple Macintosh product line. The majority of contemporary personal computers are distant descendants of the IBM PC.