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MY'STORY

The MOVE Fire

This is a personal recollection on the Move fire on May 13, 1985 Philadelphia police fired thousands of rounds at the MOVE house, city officials approved dropping an explosive device on the roof, the resulting fire was allowed to burn, 11 people—including five children—died, and 61 homes were destroyed. Philadelphia City Council later called it a “brutal attack carried out by the City of Philadelphia on its own citizens” and acknowledged that no individual faced criminal consequences for the bombing. One timeline correction worth preserving for the BHP record: the major previous MOVE-police confrontation was August 8, 1978, about seven years before the bombing, not a year or two earlier. Officer James Ramp was killed, other police and firefighters were wounded, nine MOVE members were later convicted, and television cameras recorded police beating Delbert Africa during his arrest. The 1985 MOVE Commission later specifically criticized city planners for failing to adequately use lessons from that 1978 confrontation. And that actually strengthens the point you’re making: 1985 did not happen without precedent or institutional memory. There had already been a deadly confrontation with MOVE, years of conflict, negotiations and police involvement before Osage Avenue.

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BLACK FACTS
The Truths They Never Taught You...

Ruler of the Mali Empire in the 14th century

Mansa Musa was the ruler of the Mali Empire in West Africa. Details recorded here should be sourced; unknown information is left blank.

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BHP gathered finds from its connected research sources. Showing the 4 strongest Black History matches.
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Wikipedia

List of early microcomputers

This is a list of early microcomputers sold to hobbyists and developers. These microcomputers were often sold as "DIY" kits or pre-built machines in relatively small numbers in the mid-1970s. These systems were primarily used for teaching the use of microprocessors and supporting peripheral devices, and unlike home computers were rarely used with pre-written application software. Most early micros came without alphanumeric keyboards or displays, which had to be provided by the user. RAM was quite small in the unexpanded systems (a few hundred bytes to a few kilobytes). By 1976 the number of pre-assembled machines was growing, and the 1977 introduction of the "trinity" of Commodore PET, TRS-80 and Apple II generally marks the end of the "early" microcomputer era, and the advent of the consumer home computer era that followed.

Discrete logic

[edit]

Before the advent of microprocessors, it was only possible to build small computers using small-scale integrated circuits (ICs), where each IC contained only a few logic gates or flip-flops.

Test, single-board and development machines

[edit]

As microprocessors were developed, companies often released simple development systems to bootstrap the use of the processor. These systems were often converted by hobbyists into complete computer systems.

Intel's Intellec computers were a series of early microcomputers Intel produced starting in the 1970s as a development platform for their processors.

This is a sortable list; click on the icon at the top of each column to sort by the contents of that column.
Model Processor Year Format Remarks Ref
Intel SIM4-01, SIM4-02 Intel 4004 1971 bare board Intel's developer kit for the 4004. Sold as the "MCS-4 Micro Computer Set". [2][3]
Intel SIM8-01 Intel 8008 1972 bare board Intel's developer kit for the 8008. Sold as the "MCS-8 Micro Computer Set". [4][5]
Mycron MYCRO-1 Intel 8080 1974 complete board Single-board computer with CPU, a little RAM, ROM and serial port. Expandable to a full system with a standard double-slot Eurocard backplane and chassis. [6]
MOS Technology KIM-1 MOS Technology 6502 1975 complete board MOS's developer kit for the 6502, widely used in a number of projects
Motorola MEK6800D2 Motorola 6800 1976 complete board
MPT8080 Microtutor Intel 8080 1976 complete board A trainer type single-board-computer. As recently as 2008, it remained in academic use. [7] As of 2011, the MPT8080 was still available for sale.
Rockwell AIM-65 6502 1978 complete board
Synertek SYM-1 6502 1978 complete board
RCA COSMAC VIP RCA 1802 1978 complete board 2K RAM, 512 byte ROM, cassette and video interfaces [8]
Intel SDK-85 Intel 8085 1978 kit [9]
Tesla PMI-80 Intel 8080 clone 1982 complete board A Czechoslovak single-board microcomputer.

Kits

[edit]

Many early microcomputers were available in electronic kit form. Machines were sold in small numbers, with final assembly by the user. Kits took advantage of this by offering the system at a low price point. Kits were popular, beginning in 1975, with the introduction of the famous Altair 8800, but as sales volumes increased, kits became less common. The introduction of useful fully assembled machines in 1977 led to the rapid disappearance of kit systems for most users. The ZX81 was one of the last systems commonly available in both kit and assembled form.

Some magazines published plans and printed circuit board layouts from which a reader could in principle duplicate the project, although usually commercially made boards could be ordered to expedite assembly. Other kits varied from etched, drilled, printed circuit boards and a parts list to packages containing cases, power supplies, and all interconnections. All kits required significant assembly by the user.

This is a sortable list; click on the icon at the top of each column to sort by the contents of that column.
Model Processor Year Format Remarks Ref
Comstar Star System 4 Intel 4004 1972 PCB and several chips/cards; optionally expandable Intended for embedded/industrial applications which did not merit a minicomputer. A complete basic system included one PROM board and chip, one RAM board and chip, a CPU module, digital I/O board, power supply, and mounting rack, altogether for $995. Was in use by November 1972 in a paper tape editing system. [10][11][12][13]
SCELBI Intel 8008 1974 Was the earliest commercial kit computer based on the Intel 8008 microprocessor. Sold for embedded control applications. [14]
Mark-8 Intel 8008 1974 Plans published; an etched board was available but constructors had to source all parts [15]
MITS Altair 8800 Intel 8080 1975 PCB, parts, and case Introduced S-100 bus
IMSAI 8080 Intel 8080 1975 PCB, parts, and case
Comp-Sultants Micro 440 Intel 4040 1975 First 4040-based micro
SWTPC 6800 Motorola 6800 1975 PCB, parts, and case Introduced SS-50 bus
The Digital Group Zilog Z80 1976 Kits or assembled PCBs. Including cases from 1978 The first company to produce mostly complete systems built around the Zilog Z80 processor. Their products also included options for MOS 6502 and Motorola 6800 processors.
COSMAC Elf RCA 1802 1976
Apple I MOS Technology 6502 1976 Assembled PCB; buyer supplied rest of components
Processor Technology Sol-20 Intel 8080 1976 Offered both as kit and assembled, but the vast majority were sold assembled.
Nascom, Nascom 1 Zilog Z80 1977
Nascom 2 Z80 1979
Telmac 1800 RCA 1802 1977
Newbear 77-68 Motorola 6800 1977
Heathkit H8 Intel 8080 1977 All parts, case and power supply, detailed instructions Heathkit was a notable manufacturer of electronics kits
Heathkit H11 LSI-11 1977 All parts, case and power supply, detailed instructions A 16-bit microcomputer compatible with a PDP-11
Electronics Australia 77up2 aka "Baby 2650" Signetics 2650 1977
Netronics ELF II RCA 1802 1977
Quest SuperELF RCA 1802 1978 [16]
Elektor TV Games Computer Signetics 2650 1979
System 68 Motorola 6800 1977 Electronics Today International magazine project
PSI Comp 80 Z80 1979 By Powertran from a design in the magazine Wireless World
RGS-008 Intel 8008 1974 By RGS Electronics; the first computer system ever reviewed in Byte [17]
Science of Cambridge MK14 National Semiconductor SC/MP 1978 Low-cost kit expandable to video output [18]
Acorn System 1 6502 1979
Tangerine Microtan 65 6502 1979 Rack-based extendible system
Compukit UK101 6502 1979 Practical Electronics magazine project (clone of Ohio Scientific Superboard II) BASIC in ROM
Sinclair ZX80 Z80 1980 PCB, parts, and case Among the last popular kit systems
Sinclair ZX81 Z80 1981 PCB, parts, and case Among the last popular kit systems
MicroBee Zilog Z80 1982 The computer was conceived as a kit, with assembly instructions included in Your Computer magazine, in February 1982. [19]

Complete microcomputers

[edit]

A number of complete microcomputers were offered even before kits became popular, dating to as far back as 1972. For some time there was a major market for assembled versions of the Altair 8800, a market that grew significantly through the late 1970s and into the early 1980s. The introduction of three computers aimed at personal users in 1977, the Radio Shack TRS-80, Apple II, and Commodore PET, significantly changed the American microcomputer market and led to the home computer revolution.

This is a sortable list; click on the icon at the top of each column to sort by the contents of that column.
Model Processor Year Remarks Ref
Seiko S-500 Intel 8008 1972 Programmable desktop calculator marketed as a desktop computer, which could be used as such by connecting other peripherals such as teletypes. Advertised as early as May 1972, just a month after the release of the Intel 8008. [20][21][13]
Q1 Corp. Q1 Intel 8008 1972 The first general purpose microcomputer to ship with a built in alphanumeric user interface. First delivered on December 11th, 1972 and advertised in early 1973. [22][23][24][25]
Omni Electronics Omni 2700 Intel 4004 or 8008 1972 Typewriter-sized general-purpose data processing machine introduced sometime before 1973. Also used Intel's PROM and RAM chips. [12][13]
MicroSystems International CPS-1 MIL MF7114 1973 Using a locally produced microprocessor based on the design of the Intel 4004. First built in 1972, a small number shipped in early 1973. [26][27]
Micral N Intel 8008[28] 1973 Awarded the title of "the first personal computer using a microprocessor" by a panel at the Computer History Museum in 1986. [29]
Seiko 7000 Intel 8080 1974 Another desktop calculator usable as a computer when connected to a teletype. Introduced in February 1974, presumably using pre-release engineering samples of the Intel 8080, which were first produced just two months earlier. [30][31]
Q1 Corp. Q1/Lite Intel 8080 1974 The first self-contained general-purpose desktop computer to ship with the Intel 8080 microprocessor in April 1974 (as a pre-production unit) and one of the first commercially available computers with the 8080 in June 1974 (first production units shipped August 1974). Also included a built-in printer and early multi-line flat-panel plasma display. [23][32]
Sord Computer Corporation SMP80/20 Intel 8080 1974 Debuted in May 1974 with an Intel 8080 and 8k of RAM. Preceded by the Intel 8008-based SMP80/08, which was announced in early 1973 but never commercially released. [30][33]
Intelligent Systems Corp. Intecolor 8000 Intel 8008, later Intel 8080 (buyer's choice) 1974 First offered in May 1974. Marketed as an intelligent terminal, and initially contained an Intel 8008 (later 8080 optionally) and up to 24k RAM. Fit entirely on a desktop and was capable of raster color text and graphics. [34][35]
Micral S Intel 8080 1974 Introduced by R2E as the successor to the Micral N and G by August 1974. Used the then-new Intel 8080. [36]
MCM/70 Intel 8008 1974 Primarily designed to run APL. According to the IEEE Annals of Computer History, the MCM/70 is the earliest commercial, non-kit personal computer. [37]
IBM 5100 IBM PALM 1975 An early portable computer with integrated monitor; the 5100 was possibly one of the first portable microcomputers using a CRT display.
Sphere 1 Motorola 6800 1975 A personal computer that was among the earliest complete all-in-one microcomputers that could be plugged in, turned on, and be fully functional.
Tandberg Radiofrabrikk/Tandberg Data TDV-2114 Intel 8080 1976 One of the first all-in-one microcomputers developed in Europe. It was sold as a complete package, with CPU-module, Memory-modules and a 8" floppy-disk drive w/module all built into a case with a TDV-2115 dumb-terminal. It was initially marketed towards businesses as an "intelligent terminal" and workstation, running Tandberg-OS (having the look and feel of Intel ISIS). After the separation of Tandberg Data, this machine would also be available in OEM form as the Siemens System 6.610. [38][39][40]
Radio Shack TRS-80 Zilog Z80 1977 Mainly targeting North America, it was very popular as a home computer.
Apple II 6502 1977 Quickly became the leading business desktop workstation with software such as VisiCalc, but also somewhat popular as a home computer. Initially only available in the US, but would eventually be available worldwide.
Commodore PET 6502 1977 Most popular as an educational computer used in schools, but some success as a business or academic workstation too. Later, the PET would eventually see limited popularity in Europe.
ECD Micromind MOS Technology 6512 1977
Ohio Scientific Model 500 6502 1978
Exidy Sorcerer Z80 1978
Explorer/85 8085 1979
ComPAN 8 8080/8085 1980 Designed in the Institute of Industry Automation Systems PAN in Gliwice and produced in the MERA-ELZAB factory in Zabrze. [41][42]

See also

[edit]

References

[edit]
  1. ^ p. 4/3, A history of the personal computer: the people and the technology, Roy A. Allan, 2001, ISBN 0-9689108-0-7.
  2. ^ "Intel SIM4-01". www.oldcomputermuseum.com. Retrieved 2024-08-19.
  3. ^ MCS-4 Micro Computer Set (PDF). Intel. 1971. Retrieved 2024-08-20.
  4. ^ "Intel SIM8-01". www.oldcomputermuseum.com. Retrieved 2024-08-19.
  5. ^ MCS-8 Micro Computer Set (PDF). Intel. 1972. Retrieved 2024-08-20.
  6. ^ "Electronics magazine, December 1974, page 21" (PDF). www.worldradiohistory.com. Retrieved 2025-11-04.
  7. ^ Department of Physics (2008-10-06). "Machine code programming". Second Year Physics Laboratory Manual 2008/2009 (PDF). University of London. p. 54. Retrieved 2011-03-03.
  8. ^ RCA COSMAC VIP CDP18S7i1 Instruction Manual (PDF). RCA. February 1978. Retrieved 6 January 2026.
  9. ^ SDK-85 System Design kit User's Manual (PDF). Intel. 1978. Retrieved 6 January 2026.
  10. ^ Interim Comstar Star System 4 User's Manual. Comstar. November 21, 1972.
  11. ^ Anderson, Leroy H. (1975). "Development of a portable compiler for industrial microcomputer systems". Proceedings of the May 19-22, 1975, national computer conference and exposition on - AFIPS '75. ACM Press. pp. 33–40. doi:10.1145/1499949.1499959. ISBN 978-1-4503-7919-9.
  12. ^ a b Electronics (PDF). January 4, 1973. pp. 44–45.
  13. ^ a b c Intel Micro Computers. April 1973.
  14. ^ "Famous First Hobby and Home Computers Scelbi - Mark-8 - Altair - IBM …". Retrieved 2010-04-17.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: deprecated archival service (link)
  15. ^ p. 4/8, A history of the personal computer: the people and the technology, Roy A. Allan, 2001, ISBN 0-9689108-0-7.
  16. ^ "Super ELF". oldcomputermuseum.com. Retrieved 2024-11-05.
  17. ^ Hogenson, James (September 1975). "The RGS 008A Microcomputer Kit". Byte. 1 (1). Green Publishing: 16–19 – via the Internet Archive.
  18. ^ http://www.nvg.ntnu.no/sinclair/computers/mk14/mk14_pe0579.htm "Science of Cambridge MK14", May 1979, retrieved 2011 July 2
  19. ^ Microbee computer Archived 2010-05-29 at the Wayback Machine, From:Owen Hill Date:24 Aug 1998, Link list on Australian network policy and communications
  20. ^ "Japanese Advert of SEIKO S-500 - radioc.dat". Archived from the original on 2021-09-19. Retrieved 2024-12-23.
  21. ^ "SEIKO S-500". www.hardoff.net. Retrieved 2024-12-23.
  22. ^ "The Byte Attic: Q1™". 2022-09-08.
  23. ^ a b "Q1/History/Q1 Daniel Alroy Story.pdf at main · TheByteAttic/Q1" (PDF). GitHub. Retrieved 2024-08-19.
  24. ^ Computerworld. January 31, 1973. p. 17.
  25. ^ Electronic Design (PDF). February 1, 1973. p. 19.
  26. ^ Zbigniew Stachniak, "The MIL MF7114 Microprocessor", IEEE Annals of Computer History, 22 September 2009, pg. 48-59
  27. ^ "MIL CPS-1 Emulator". York University Computer Museum. 2023. Retrieved 2024-02-03. The CPS-1 computer was developed by Micosystems International Ltd. (MIL) of Ottawa between 1972 and 1973. The CPS-1 was powered by Canada's first microprocessor — the MIL 7114. This computer is one of the world's first commercially available microprocessor-based computer.
  28. ^ "The Computer Museum Report - The Catalog of Personal Computers" (PDF). Fall 1986. Archived from the original (PDF) on 2014-12-27.
  29. ^ Computer History Museum
  30. ^ a b Akamaki. "黎明期の個人用コンピューターの広告[No.1] - Diary on wind". diarywind.com (in Japanese). Retrieved 2024-12-23.
  31. ^ "CALCUSEUM SEIKO: 7000". www.calcuseum.com. Retrieved 2024-12-23.
  32. ^ "Q1/History/Q1 Lite 8080 illustration.pdf at main · TheByteAttic/Q1" (PDF). GitHub. Retrieved 2024-10-15.
  33. ^ "SMP80/X series-Computer Museum".
  34. ^ Datamation (PDF). May 1974. p. 133.
  35. ^ Electronics (PDF). October 25, 1975. p. 90.
  36. ^ Micral S Microcomputer Handbook (PDF). Réalisations et Études Électroniques. August 1974.
  37. ^ Zbigniew Stachniak. "The Making of the MCM/70 Microcomputer". IEEE Annals of the History of Computing, 2003: pg. 62-75
  38. ^ Historielaget Grefsen-Kjelsås-Nydalen (2012-11-20). "En norsk datahistorie fra Kjelsås".
  39. ^ "Tandberg Data Newsletter, Vol.5 Nr.1" (Document). Tandberg Data. June 1982. p. 4.
  40. ^ "Siemens Intern, 1979 Nr.3" (Document). Siemens A/S. 1979-10-09. p. 8.
  41. ^ Komputery - www.nfsk.prv.pl - Notatnik Fana Starych Komputerów Archived 2008-03-02 at the Wayback Machine
  42. ^ Polish Computers Fan Site
Notes
  • "Timeline". Computer History.org. Retrieved 25 December 2007.
[edit]

Source: Wikipedia. Article content is retrieved live through the MediaWiki API.

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Wikipedia

List of early microcomputers

This is a list of early microcomputers sold to hobbyists and developers. These microcomputers were often sold as "DIY" kits or pre-built machines in relatively small numbers in the mid-1970s. These systems were primarily used for teaching the use of microprocessors and supporting peripheral devices, and unlike home computers were rarely used with pre-written application software. Most early micros came without alphanumeric keyboards or displays, which had to be provided by the user. RAM was quite small in the unexpanded systems (a few hundred bytes to a few kilobytes). By 1976 the number of pre-assembled machines was growing, and the 1977 introduction of the "trinity" of Commodore PET, TRS-80 and Apple II generally marks the end of the "early" microcomputer era, and the advent of the consumer home computer era that followed.

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Wikipedia

3D Microcomputers

3D Microcomputers Wholesale and Distribution, Inc., often referred to as 3D Microcomputers or 3D Micro, was a computer company based in Markham, Ontario. The company was among the top five personal computer vendors in Canada in the mid-1990s. The company was partially owned by Hong Kong–based computer manufacturer PC Chips for several years; many of the parts for 3D Micro's computers were of overseas origin.

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Wikipedia

Apple Inc.

Apple Inc. is an American multinational technology company headquartered in Cupertino, California, in Silicon Valley, and known for consumer electronics, software and online services. Founded in 1976 as Apple Computer Company by Steve Jobs, Steve Wozniak and Ronald Wayne, the company was incorporated by Jobs and Wozniak as Apple Computer, Inc. the following year. Its current name was adopted in 2007 as the company expanded its focus from computers to consumer electronics. Apple is one of the Big Tech companies. The company was founded to market Wozniak's Apple I computer. Its successor, the Apple II, became one of the first successful mass-produced personal microcomputers. Apple introduced the Lisa in 1983 and the Macintosh in 1984, popularizing graphical user interfaces navigated by a mouse. By 1985, internal conflicts led to Jobs leaving the company to form NeXT and Wozniak stepping back from active employment. During the 1990s, Apple lost considerable market share to lower-priced Wintel computers, Intel-powered PC clones running Windows. By 1997, Apple was reporting major losses and struggling to deliver a modernized operating system, leading it to acquire NeXT, which brought Jobs back to the company. Under his leadership, Apple returned to profitability through the iMac, iPod, iPhone, and iPad, the iTunes Store, the Apple Store retail chain, and the "Think different" advertising campaign. Jobs resigned in 2011 for health reasons and died later that year. Apple's product lineup includes portable and home hardware like the iPhone, iPad, Mac, Apple Watch, and AirPods; several in-house operating systems such as iOS, iPadOS, and macOS; and various software and services including Apple Pay and iCloud, as well as multimedia streaming services like Apple Music and Apple TV. Since 2011, Apple has for the most part been the world's largest company by market capitalization, and, as of 2024, is the largest manufacturing company by revenue, the fourth-largest PC vendor, the largest vendor of tablet computers, and the largest vendor of mobile phones. Apple became the first publicly traded US company to be valued at over $1 trillion in 2018, and, as of October 2025, is valued at just over $4 trillion. Apple has received criticism regarding its contractors' labor conditions, its relationship with trade unions, its environmental practices, and its corporate ethics, including anti-competitive tactics, materials sourcing, and its acquisitions of smaller businesses. Nevertheless, the company has a large following and enjoys a high level of customer loyalty. Apple has consistently been ranked as one of the world's most valuable brands since the late 2000s.

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Wikipedia

Minicomputer

A minicomputer, or colloquially mini, is a type of general-purpose computer mostly developed from the mid-1960s, built significantly smaller and sold at a much lower price than mainframe computers. Minicomputers are small relative to earlier and bigger machines. The class formed a distinct group with its own software architectures and operating systems. Minis were designed for control, instrumentation, human interaction, and communication switching, as distinct from calculation and record keeping. Many were sold indirectly to original equipment manufacturers (OEMs) for final end-use application. During the two-decade lifetime of the minicomputer class (1965–1985), almost 100 minicomputer vendor companies formed. Only a half-dozen remained by the mid-1980s. When single-chip MOSFET CPU microprocessors appeared in the 1970s, the definition of "minicomputer" subtly shifted: the word came to mean a machine in the middle range of the computing spectrum, between mainframe computers and microcomputers. The easily-misunderstood term "minicomputer" is less often applied to later like systems; a near-synonymous (IBM-adjacent) expert term for this class of system is "midrange computer".

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TOPIC OF THE DAY

Greenwood / Black Wall Street

Before the 1921 destruction of Tulsa’s Greenwood District, Black residents had created a remarkable center of business and community life. The district included stores, professional offices, entertainment venues and homes owned by Black citizens. Understanding Greenwood means learning what was built—not only what was burned.

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TRIVIA QUESTION OF THE DAY

Which Supreme Court case ruled state-sponsored public-school segregation unconstitutional?

Brown v. Board of Education in 1954.