Home computer

A personal computer designed and marketed for household use, especially the affordable microcomputers that became popular from the 1970s through the 1990s.

Microprocessor: A processor implemented on one or a small number of integrated circuits. Falling microprocessor costs made compact computers affordable for households.
Altair 8800: An influential 1975 kit computer based on the Intel 8080 microprocessor. Its launch helped ignite the hobbyist market that preceded consumer home computers.
Video game: An electronic game in which a player interacts with a visual display. Games were a leading reason households bought and used home computers.
Mainframe computer: A large, centralized computer designed to support many users and extensive data processing. Home computers reversed the mainframe model by placing a modest machine in one household.
Random-access memory: Computer memory that permits data to be read and written in any order. RAM held the programs and data that early home computers could use.
Apple II: An 8-bit personal computer introduced by Apple in 1977 and sold as a complete system. Its color graphics, expandability, and software library made it a landmark home computer.
BASIC: A family of programming languages designed to be comparatively easy to learn. Built-in BASIC let owners write programs directly on many home computers.
Minicomputer: A mid-sized computer historically used by organizations for multiple users and specialized tasks. Minicomputers served institutions, while home computers prioritized low cost and personal access.
Read-only memory: Nonvolatile memory designed primarily for reading rather than ordinary rewriting. ROM commonly stored a home computer’s startup routines and built-in language.
Commodore PET: A personal computer introduced by Commodore in 1977 with an integrated keyboard and display. It was among the first complete, mass-produced computers aimed at individuals and schools.

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