The Personal Computer Revolution
Computing comes to the home desktop.
The late 1970s saw the release of the "1977 Trinity"—the Apple II, the Commodore PET, and the TRS-80. These machines, specifically the highly successful Apple II designed by Steve Wozniak, transformed computers from massive corporate mainframes into consumer appliances for the home.
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- The Apple II was one of the first computers to offer a color display, making it incredibly appealing for early video games and graphics.
- Its killer app was VisiCalc (1979), the world's first spreadsheet software, which convinced businesses they needed personal computers on every desk.
- It came fully assembled in a plastic case, unlike previous hobbyist kits (like the Altair 8800 or Apple I) that required users to solder their own components.
Frequently Asked Questions
What was The Personal Computer Revolution?
The late 1970s saw the release of the "1977 Trinity"—the Apple II, the Commodore PET, and the TRS-80. These machines, specifically the highly successful Apple II designed by Steve Wozniak, transformed computers from massive corporate mainframes into consumer appliances for the home.
When did The Personal Computer Revolution happen?
The Personal Computer Revolution: 1977 CE.
Why does The Personal Computer Revolution matter?
Computing comes to the home desktop.
Sources & Further Reading
Cite This Page
AskHistoryAI. “The Personal Computer Revolution.” AskHistoryAI — Interactive Timeline of Everything. Updated 2026-09-11. https://askhistoryai.com/event/tech-apple2/
Every fact on this page is checked against the published fact ledger and methodology; sources are listed above.