The Humble Beginnings of the PC: From Radio Hobbyists to Altair
This article traces the early development of the personal computer, showing it wasn't born in a corporate lab, but rather from the American radio hobbyist culture of the early 20th century. The efforts of figures like Hugo Gernsback fostered a culture of hands-on tinkering and futurism, laying the groundwork for the PC. Early amateur computer enthusiasts, such as Stephen Gray, attempted to build PCs but were hampered by the lack of key components like microprocessors. As integrated circuit technology improved, the first rudimentary home computer kits appeared, but their limited functionality prevented widespread success. It wasn't until MITS' Altair 8800, with its powerful Intel 8080 processor and expandability, ignited the PC market and marked the true birth of the personal computer industry.