A History of the Personal Computer: The People and the Technology [Paperback]

Roy A. Allan (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: October 3, 2001

This book is an exciting history of the personal computer revolution. Early personal computing, the "first" personal computer, invention of the micrprocessor at Intel and the first microcomputer are detailed. It also traces the evolution of the personal computer from the software hacker, to its use as a consumer appliance on the Internet. This is the only book that provides such comprehensive coverage. It not only describes the hardware and software, but also the companies and people who made it happen.

Product Details

• Paperback: 528 pages
• Publisher: Allan Publishing; 1st edition (October 3, 2001)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0968910807
• ISBN-13: 978-0968910801
• Product Dimensions: 8.5 x 5.5 x 1.3 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.4 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 3.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (2 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,938,764 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

8 of 9 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Nice summary of a huge field, May 13, 2004

By 

W Boudville (Terra, Sol 3) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: A History of the Personal Computer: The People and the Technology (Paperback)

So short a time. Seems like yesterday when Jobs and Wozniak kicked off Apple Computer in 1977. Or, just two years earlier, when Gates and Allen started Microsoft in New Mexico, before moving it to Seattle. The field has come so far. Now larger than mainframes. And Microsoft and Intel having larger market caps than IBM, who gave them the crucial original contracts for the IBM PC in the early 80s.

All these are discussed in this timely book. Though actually, it also mentions efforts in personal computing that predate Microsoft and Apple. Often ignored in other accounts. Which shows the good level of research done by the author. Of course, other companies, like Compaq and Dell, get a mention. Plus, influential magazines like the late Byte and the ongoing Wired.

You might find this book useful for its sweep and the ability to explain the gist of computing concepts clearly to a layman. It's not really a technical computing book. The emphasis is more on describing the significance of the main events, as would be seen by a historian.

0 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

2.0 out of 5 stars You don't actually want this book., May 27, 2009

By 

J. C. C. Castro (Rio de Janeiro, Brazil) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: A History of the Personal Computer: The People and the Technology (Paperback)

You want "A History of Modern Computing" by Paul Ceruzzi. THAT is a good book on the same subject. Buy that instead. And "Hackers" by Steven Levy.

This one has the literary quality of a high school assignment. It is even printed in fixed font. Seems to be self-published; I'd bet many publishers rejected this. With good reason.