A home computer is a type of computer that is intended for personal use or academic use. In the 1980's there were a wide range of home computers, but since the mid 1990's home computers fall under either PCs or Macinotosh for the most part. Many home computers were 8-bit, but there were several 16-bit computers and a few 32-bit computers as well.
History
Early home computers appeared in 1977, with the Sord M200 Smart Home Computer,[1] Apple II, Commodore PET and TRS-80. Soon after, almost every manufacturer of consumer electronics rushed to introduce a home computer. Large numbers of new machines of all types began to appear during the late 1970s and early 1980s. Mattel, Coleco, Texas Instruments and Timex, none of which had any previous connection to the computer industry, all had short-lived home computer lines in the early 1980s. Some home computers were more successful – the BBC Micro, ZX Spectrum, Atari 800XL, PC-88, PC-98, Commodore 64, and MSX, sold many units over several years and attracted third-party software development.
Noteable home computers
- Amiga
- Apple II
- Atari 8-bit family
- Atari ST and Atari TT
- Commodore 64
- CBM PET\CBM 3000\4000\8000
- Color Computer
- CPC
- Fujitsu FM-7
- Fujitsu FM Towns
- MSX
- NEC PC-88
- NEC PC-98
- Sharp X1
- Sharp X68000
- Sinclair Spectrum
- VIC-20
- ZX80/ZX81
- ZX Spectrum