Early Home Computers That Were Bigger Than Your Dog
In the 1930s, the first computers emerged. These were giant, complex, and very heavy machines that took up a lot of space. Having a computer at home wasn't for everyone because they were expensive and because not everyone could understand how they worked; they required knowledge that most people didn't yet possess.
Initially, computers were bulky machines that required ventilation and were used for specific projects and professions.
The Z1 is considered the world's first computer. It was designed by the German engineer Konrad Zuse between 1935 and 1936 and completed in 1938. The computer could be programmed using punched tape and functioned as an enormous calculator that weighed around 2,200 pounds and could store information in its memory.
Looking back at these giant computers today, we can observe how technological progress has unfolded, from large computers to the small devices we know today.
Commodore PET
Fayette School students and a teacher standing around a Commodore PET computer, sometime in 1982.
Vintage Computer
Vintage computer office model in the 1960s.
IBM Clone
First computer IBM clone, 1987.
IBM Computer
Woman wiring an early IBM computer, 1948.
First Computer
The first computer invented in 1943.
Computer Of The '80s
“Some of my classmates playing a game on our computer, 1980.”
Apple II
Gregg Collins running the first free home computer dating service with his matchmaking Apple II, March 21, 1982.
CDC Cyber 70
Office equipped with a CDC Cyber 70 series computer, early 1970s.
Early Apple Computer
“My grandfather using an early Apple computer.”
IBM Computer
“My frandmother looking at an early IBM computer brought over to England, Keele University, June 1963.”
Computer Room
“My father in his computer room workshop, 1980.”
ENIAC
Man operating the ENIAC, the first electronic computer.
Engineers
Engineers with their computers, 1953.
RCA Institute
Man working on computers at the RCA Institute, 1958.
National Bank’s Computer Center
First National Bank’s computer center, Los Angeles, June 1965.
Computer In The '70s
Computer class, 1972.
Atari
Atari computer demonstration, 1979.
Gary Fouts
Astronomer Gary Fouts, seated at a computer, 1982.
Commodore 64
A man attempted to transfer files from his Commodore 64 to his Apple compute, 1984.
Computer Operator
A 1955 computer operator working on the 1954 census.
