Computer History: From Start to Art
Posted by Matt Carroll on Thu, Mar 26, 2009 @ 09:58 AM
I remember my family's first computer was an Apple Macintosh design where playing an 8 bit Oregon Trail was the future and almost seemed it could not get better. Now, technology has advanced to be smaller, faster, and sleeker where style goes hand and hand with performance. This blog will show some of the first and older styles of computers up to the latest types.
•· UNIVAC I
The UNIVAC I was the first commercial computer, but don't think it was ready for a household. Distributed in June of 1951, the U.S. Census bureau sold 46 of these computers at over $1 million dollars each. It used 5,200 vacuum tubes and consumed 125 kW of power and a mercury delay line capable of storing 1,000 words of 11 decimal digits plus sign (72-bit words) for memory. I keep in my backpack 2 Gb flash drive just to give some perspective on technology.
•· Vacuum Tubes to Transistors!
When computers were first being innovated and produced, it was thought the technology would be scarce due to the size, cost and skill to interpret the results. Transistors came into play and reduce the size and the cost. Transistors made the switching of ones and zeros to the speed of millionth even billionth per second. The IBM 1401 was now being produced on a worldwide scale and captured one third of the computer market.
•· The Beyond
Microchip and the Microprocessor took the computer to the levels of which we see today. This was around the 1960's where only businesses, universities, and computer centers for industry. Although other computers were out with similar technology, Steve Wozniak was credited for developing the first home computer called the Apple I.
So that is the basic history of the computer. Now, Here are some pictures and descriptions of some of the newest technology and some interesting looking computers.
The Macbook Air is a ultrathin laptop, no thicker than your index finger, that also provides high resolution pictures and a 120Gb hard drive.
This is the actual thinnest laptop in the world. The Dell Adamo is the 0.65-inch thick and weighs four pounds. The Adamo is also powered by a 1.2GHz Intel Core 2 Duo processor, has 2GB RAM, 128GB solid state drive.
The Singulum Laptop. The options include your choice of exotic wood, ivory or gold keyboard and even a Diamond track point tip.
This is the Asus Bamboo Laptop Computer. The shell of the computer is made of bamboo in effort to become more eco-friendly, but it also includes 12.1-inch screen, Intel Core 2 Duo microprocessor, and Microsoft's Windows Vista Operating System.
This is the Tsunami Dream. Personally, I have not seen a problem with this computer yet and it has style like no other. It runs incredibly fast and has all the latest technology on it.
These are just a few computers that have caught my eye. Comment on past or present computers that you have experienced or seen a concept of.