FUNDAMENTALS OF COMPUTER

Detailed explanation-1: -The Altair is widely recognized as the spark that ignited the microcomputer revolution as the first commercially successful personal computer.

Detailed explanation-2: -The Altair 8800, based on the Intel 8080 processor, was aimed at hobbyists but it became the first commercially successful personal computer because it hit the sweet spot of performance and price. It was sold at $439 per kit in a time where other commercial personal computers were in the thousands range.

Detailed explanation-3: -In fact, a fully loaded Altair 8800 was a usable and functional computer well into the mid-80’s. You could run thousands of CP/M software titles (CP/M was the de facto standard operating system before MS-DOS.) You could play hundreds of games, including Colossal Cave Adventure, Star Trek, and Zork (I, II, and III!)

Detailed explanation-4: -Though released after the Micral and MCM/70, the Altair 8800 is often considered the first successful commercial microcomputer. Released in 1974, it was designed by Micro Instrumentation Telemetry Systems (MITS) and was based on the Intel 8080 microprocessor.

Detailed explanation-5: -MITS co-founder Ed Roberts invented the Altair 8800-which sold for $297, or $395 with a case-and coined the term “personal computer”.