WEEK 2 LECTURE SUMMARY

The computer has its origins in various adding machines, most notably Charles Babbage's 19th century Difference Engine which was designed to calculate and print mathematical tables. As the inventor of the Computer in such, Babbage never completed building his Difference Machine.
Computers were first commercially produced by IBM in the 1950s.

The first generation of computers were large, unwieldy and expensive machines for military, government and corporate work but it quickly became apparent that computers would get smaller, quicker and less expensive at an exponential rate.

The PC Revolution
At Xerox PARC in the early 70s, a think-tank developed concepts such as the mouse, the graphical user interface (GUI) and pull-down menus that made the personal computers of today possible and approachable by the general user.

It wasn't until 1975, however, that the first PC (personal computer) was released. It was called the 0 and in modern day slang it SUCKED, it was worthless at its peak. Although a man named Bill Gates changed that. Creating Microsoft which gave computers a language in which they could communicate. By the end of 1975 more companies had joined the PC industry.

The Introduction of Apple!
Several computer nerds got together at regular, hobbyist 'Home Brew' meetings. They exchanged ideas and displayed their latest and greatest home-made PCs. It was in this environment that Steve Jobs and Steve Wozniak got hooked up together and started their own little company - Apple.

IBM and Microsoft Join Forces!
It was around this time that IBM started to notice something was going on. IBM was a large ultra-conservative. They were heavily involved in producing huge mainframes for big companies but, by 1980, they were determined to get into the PC market. The then chairman, Frank Carey, called for help and in came Bill Lowe, who promised IBM a product within one year.

To run computers, there are two types of software required: the Language and the Operating System. IBM considered two possible vendors for their software: Gary Kildall, the head of Digital Research, Inc, and Bill Gates the owner of Microsoft (the biggest software provider in the valley). IBM set up a meeting with Gates, expecting to be able to get both sets of software at the same place. Microsoft did not produce an Operating System, they directed IBM to Kildall. Kildall and his partner would not sign a non-disclosure agreement before conducting a meeting so IBM walked away - back to Microsoft.

Microsoft/Bill Gates made a decision to promise an Operating System (in for a penny in for a pound!). They found and bought an Operating System which had been developed by Tim Patterson. It was called Kudos and was based heavily on Kildall's CPM. Microsoft paid Seattle Computer Products (Patterson's employer)

Over the ensuing years, IBM gained more and more of the market share - largely through its association with the software giant Microsoft.

And that is Computers at it very interesting beginning