Today, in our technologically advancing world, computers are
everywhere, `at home, the office, at school, or even at the construction
site.  Computers, in the form of laptop and desktop, play a vital part in our
daily life, and in the running of a successful business.

 IBM, or International Business Machines, created the first fully
automatic, digital computer.  This computer was made for completing
calculations for the US Navy, during World War II.  The machine was
named Mark 1.  Mark 1 was not compact, it was actually humungous,
compared to modern PC`s.  It was 55 feet(16.5 metres) long, 8 feet(2.4
metres) high and 3½ feet(1.05 metres) deep, it weighed several tons, and
also contained several million components.  It was designed, by Howard
Aiken, and produced in New York, USA.

 In 1952, IBM produced the Model 701.  It was the first computer
designed for business purposes.  This machine was made up of small,
separate modules, so it could be disconnected and moved around the
room, not like other computers of that particular era.  The Model 701
contained 1024 bits of RAM, which stands for Random-Access Memory,
and a tape drive for backing up and storing data.

 One year later, IBM introduced the Model 650.  It was nicknamed
the ‘Model T’, because, as like the Model T Ford, it was the first mass
produced product of its kind. 2000 Model 650`s were produced.  The 650
could read and write magnetic tapes, and was used for everything from
payroll processing to engineering analysis.  The new 650 was also very
reliable.

 In 1964, IBM brought out the System 360 and the Model 1403
Chain Printer.  The 360 replaced 15 computers of the past, that could not
link up to each other.  IBM produce 5 different versions of the 360, which
were all compatible with each other.  The Model 1403 Chain Printer was
introduced onto the market so the 360 would have a printer fast enough to
keep up with constant printing of invoices, payrolls, letters and bills.  The
1403 was extremely fast.  It could print 1100 lines of writing in just 1
minute.  The 1403 served IBM`s machines right into the 1980`s, when
laser technology was introduced.

 Inventors of the Intel Pentium, Intel, created the Intel 4004 in 1971.
This machine ran on a chip that could process 4 bits of data at the one
time.  It performed 60 000 instruction per second.  In comparison to
today`s computers,  they could process 100 million instructions per
second, running on a 32-64 bit processor.  One year later, the 4004 was
used in the Pioneer 10 spacecraft.  This was a big honour for Intel.

 Chairman of Intel, Gordon Moore, stated in 1973, that the quantity
of transistors on a microprocessor would double every 18 months.  This
was named “Moore`s Law”, and it held for over 20 years.

 1975 saw Digital introduce the first computer which used VDT, or
Video Display Terminals, which was called the VT-52 Terminal.  This
was the first of high quality, high speed and inexpensive computers from
Digital.  the VT-52 Terminal was half price, compared to its competitors,
IBM.  Earlier computers could only produce punctured cards and magnetic
tapes, but Digital went that one step further, with video display.

 In 1976, Apple introduced the Apple I.  This was a single board
computer, which meant that is consisted of only the one circuit board.
This machine was sold without a case or a power supply.

 Later on that year, Apple brought out the Apple 2e.  This machine
was revolutionary.  It had a built in keyboard, power supply and it could
be upgraded, because it had seven expansion slots.  Other companies
manufactured  compatible plug-in cards for the Apple 2e.  This made the
machine compatible to play games and more.  Millions of the Apple 2e`s
were made, and some are still in use today.

 1982 saw IBM bring out the IBM PC.  This used an Intel 8088
processor, and could hold 256 kilobytes of memory, which was 4 time that
of the Apple 2e, and colour moniters were optional.  IBM used a huge
advertising campaign, so that everyone would know about the smaller and
faster IBM`s.

 The Lisa, by Apple, was on the shelves in 1983.  All in the box was
the screen, circuits and diskdrive.  It ran on a 16 bit Motorola 6800
processer, and it could hold about ½MB of memory, which was a lot for
that time.  It also had a mouse and keyboard.

 In 1984, the Macintosh 128 was introduced.  It was very much like
the Lisa, with a video display, mouse and keyboard, but with a reasonable
price ($2495).  It also came with standard software package.
 1987 saw the release of the Macintosh II.  The Mac II came with a
B&W or colour screen, and seven expansion slots, for things like scanners
and extra video cards.  Macintosh were moved right up there with the best
selling computer manufacturers after the release of the Macintosh II.

 Portable computing was brought onto the market by Osborne, in the
form of the Osborne I.  This 17 pound (7.65kg) laptop did not have a Hard
Drive, but instead had 2 floppy disk drives.  It had a tiny 5” screen which
could only display 52 characters across.  It was priced at US$1795.
Osborne sold tens of thousands of the prototype machine, but was then
over run by Compaq, which, these days, are a leading PC manufacturer.

 Compaq released their first laptop in 1983, simply named The
Compaq Portable Computer.  The machine was 100% IBM compatible,
which was quite risky because of a possibility for IBM to file a lawsuit
against anyone to build a computer that runs off an IBM diskette.  The
Compaq machine weighed a massive 28 pounds (12.6kg), business people
referred to it as a “sewing machine”, as they carried around airports and
hotels.  The Compaq also had 5 expansion slots for IBM cards, but this
also added to the weight of the machine.

 In 1991, the Apple Powerbook Series were brought onto the market.
These were the start of more bright and better screens on portable
computers.  Apple then became the leader in the laptop computer industry
because of their battery powered machines.  This helped them get over
arch rivals Compaq and Toshiba.

 Intel released the Intel Pentium CPU chip in 1993.  This was a great
breakthrough for Intel because the Pentiums were so fast compared to
others.  Modern computers use Intel`s Pentium Processors which reach up
to 266Mhz.

 In 1997, Intel brought out the Pentium II processor.  The II`s were
even faster than the original Pentiums.  Pentium II`s are the base for a
modern computer these days, and can speed up to 450Mhz.  They are very
much like the Pentiums, but instead of being put into sockets, such as a
Socket 7, the Pentium II`s are slided into a slot, for example Slot 1.