Day 7: Retrocomputing Advent Calendar – Altair 8800
The Altair 8800 was one of the first commercially successful personal computers, introduced in 1975 by MITS, and also one of the most memorable devices in computing history. Powered by the Intel 8080 CPU, an 8-bit processor running at 2 MHz, and initially came with 256 bytes of RAM, expandable via its S-100 bus architecture. Users would mainly interact with the Altair through its front panel-mounted toggle switches for input and LEDs for output.
The Altair 8800 was popularized through a Popular Electronics magazine article, as a kit for hobbyists to build.
It was inexpensive and could be expanded, creating a following of enthusiasts that launched the personal computer market. Specifically, it motivated software development, such as Microsoft’s first product, Altair BASIC.
The Altair moved from hobbyist kits to consumer-ready personal computers because of its modular design, reliance on the S-100 bus that eventually became an industry standard, and the rise of user groups like the Homebrew Computer Club.
Many of ya’ll out there mentioned the Altair 8800, be sure to share your stories! And check out more history of the Altair on its Wikipedia page – along with the National Museum of American History – Behring center.
Have first computer memories? Post’em up in the comments, or post yours on socialz’ and tag them #firstcomputer #retrocomputing – See you back here tomorrow!
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