The Altair 8800: The Unsung Hero of the PC Revolution

Before Apple, before Commodore, there was the MITS Altair 8800. Released in 1975, this kit-based computer, featured on the cover of Popular Electronics, is considered the first commercially successful personal computer. Priced at $397, it lacked a keyboard and display, relying on switches and lights. Its popularity, exceeding 25,000 units sold, spurred the creation of Microsoft (Bill Gates and Paul Allen developed BASIC for it) and inspired Steve Wozniak's Apple I. The Altair's legacy extends to the S-100 bus standard, solidifying its place as a pivotal moment in computing history.