A Short History of the Personal Computer. Questo articolo non è disponibile.A Short History of the Personal Computer

A short History of the Personal Computer relates the 38 year history of one of the world’s greatest technology revolutions. It begins with the Homebrew Club of hobbyists at Menlo Park in California in 1973, through the heady years of high growth to the current, in 2012, period as a commodity. Distinctively, it takes the view that it was specific software developments that were the major drivers of the spectacular growth of the PC, more so than the remarkable hardware developments. Time and again over the last 35 years it has been the arrival of critical new software that has caused the PC industry to realize incredible growth spurts.Our history illustrates the developments with short descriptions of the contributions of the companies and individuals that led the industry at various stages. It is also interspersed with the unique experiences of the author in working in and around the industry both as a consultant and as an avid user.It is sprinkled with insights about how technology companies succeed that will be useful to entrepreneurs and their backers building these companies.Enjoy!

Peter Farwell is a Chartered Professional Accountant and Certified Financial Analyst. He is uniquely positioned to write A Short History of the Personal Computer. Peter was an early purchaser of an Apple II and an avid user of Visicalc. He is a retired partner of Public Accounting Firm Ernst & Young. He was the leader of the Canadian Firm’s services to the High Technology Industry for fourteen years. Peter was the co-author of several studies of the Canadian High Technology Industry. These included a study of trends in the Canadian Software Industry, conducted by interviewing 12 of the CEO’s of Canada’s leading Software companies. He coordinated the Canadian Electronic Industry’s participation in a four country, four industry study of Total Quality Management practices. Peter has written articles and given speeches on aspects of Strategic Planning and Financing for High Technology companies. These included a lecture to the Association of Canadian Venture Capital Companies on the six stages of growth of technology companies, based on a 1972 landmark paper on the subject by Professor Greiner of Harvard University. Recently, in 2012 and 2013, he has coauthored three studies of Research In Motion that endeavor to determine its chances of survival and what changes management have to make to do so.