1970s · RETRO HISTORY
The Birth of the Personal Computer
How kits, hobbyists and early microprocessors turned computing into something you could own.
Before the personal computer
For much of the twentieth century, computers were expensive machines used by institutions. By the early 1970s, affordable microprocessors made it possible for enthusiasts to imagine a computer on a workbench rather than in a dedicated room.
The 1975 Altair 8800
The MITS Altair 8800, introduced in 1975, became a landmark hobbyist microcomputer. Early owners entered instructions through front-panel switches and watched indicator lights. It was demanding, but it helped spark a market for hardware, software and clubs.
The homebrew era
Computer clubs, newsletters and small suppliers made the new hobby accessible. People shared programs, experimented with interfaces and built communities around machines that were not yet household appliances.
Why it mattered
The decade established a powerful idea: individuals could control their own computers. Later ready-to-use systems would make that idea practical for millions.