A personal a computer is an inexpensive microcomputer
? designed to be used by only one person at a time. The first personal computers that appeared in the
1970s (see
Home Computers) were markedly less versatile and powerful that business computers of the day. Nevertheless, the low cost of personal computers and the appear of having an entire computer to ones's self led to great popularity in the home and business markets during the
1980s. During the
1990s, the power of personal computers increased radically, blurring the formerly sharp distinction between personal computers and multi-user computers such as
mainframes. Today higher-end computers often distinguish themselves from personal computers by greater reliability or greater ability to multitask, rather than by straight
CPU power.
(Formerly, "Personal Computers" was redirected to "Home Computers", which discusses early machines like Apple ][s only. We ought to have a more comprehensuve article here linked to "Home Computers" for early history.)
Isn't the term personal computer formalized only after IBM's introduction of the PC? Before then, only home computer was the common name?