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CXO

Tech history in photos: Heroes of the PC revolution

By Conner Forrest May 8, 2014, 5:46 AM PDT

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Tech history in photos: Heroes of the PC revolution

Steve Wozniak and Steve Jobs

Image: James Martin/CNET

Steve Wozniak and Steve Jobs

Steve Wozniak, Steve Jobs, and Ronald Wayne co-founded Apple Computer in the 1970s. Wozniak designed and built the Apple II, which was released in 1977, and became one of the most popular mass-produced personal computers.

Image: James Martin/CNET
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Tech history in photos: Heroes of the PC revolution

Ed Roberts, creator of Altair

Image: Haverford College

Ed Roberts, creator of Altair

Roberts founded Micro Instrumentation and Telemetry Systems (MITS) and later developed the Altair 8800 personal computer. Roberts later contracted Bill Gates and Paul Allen to develop Altair BASIC.

Image: Haverford College
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Tech history in photos: Heroes of the PC revolution

Douglas Engelbart, inventor of computer mouse

Image: Wikimedia Commons/Alex Handy

Douglas Engelbart, inventor of computer mouse

Engelbart is credited as the inventor of the computer mouse. His work at Xerox PARC led to the development of the Xerox Alto, the first personal computer with a mouse and a GUI, among other things.

Image: Wikimedia Commons/Alex Handy
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Tech history in photos: Heroes of the PC revolution

John W. Mauchly and J. Presper Eckert

Image: Collections of the University of Pennsylvania Archives

John W. Mauchly and J. Presper Eckert

John Mauchly (far left) and Presper Eckert (far right) are pictured here with Major General Gladeon Barnes. Mauchly and Eckert are responsible for the creation of the ENIAC, the first general purpose computer, and the UNIVAC I, one of the first computers available to the public.

Image: Collections of the University of Pennsylvania Archives
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Tech history in photos: Heroes of the PC revolution

Edmund Berkeley, developer of Simon

Image: Blinkenlights Archaeological Institute

Edmund Berkeley, developer of Simon

Edmund Berkeley was a computer scientist who helped co-found the Association for Computing Machinery (ACM) in 1947 and who developed the plans for Simon, one of the first personal computers. For about $600 in 1950, you could have built a Simon of your own.

Image: Blinkenlights Archaeological Institute
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Tech history in photos: Heroes of the PC revolution

John Lentz, inventor of IBM 610

Image: Columbia University

John Lentz, inventor of IBM 610

During his time at the Watson Lab at Columbia University, Lentz is credited with the development of the IBM 610, which is commonly referred to as IBM’s first personal computer.

Image: Columbia University
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Tech history in photos: Heroes of the PC revolution

Nolan Bushnell of Atari

Image: Wikimedia Commons/Tech Cocktail

Nolan Bushnell of Atari

Bushnell is the founder of Atari, Inc., which produced early video games and personal computers. The Atari 400 and the Atari 800 are regarded as Atari’s entrance into personal computing. Bushnell is also the founder of Chuck E. Cheese’s.

Image: Wikimedia Commons/Tech Cocktail
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Tech history in photos: Heroes of the PC revolution

Sir Clive Sinclair

Image: Wikimedia Commons/Adrian Pingstone

Sir Clive Sinclair

Sinclair is the founder of Sinclair Radionics, where he produced pocket calculators and computers. The Sinclair ZX80 was one of the first low-price mass-market personal computers to be sold in the UK.

Image: Wikimedia Commons/Adrian Pingstone
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Tech history in photos: Heroes of the PC revolution

Gordon French and the Homebrew Computer Club

Image: Wikimedia Commons/Cromemco

Gordon French and the Homebrew Computer Club

Early computer hobbyists in Silicon Valley often attended meetings of the Homebrew Computer Club. The first meeting was held in French’s garage, and the meetings would eventually draw the likes of future industry leaders such as Steve Wozniak.

Image: Wikimedia Commons/Cromemco
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By Conner Forrest
Conner is a former Senior Editor for TechRepublic. He is now a Senior Research Analyst at 451 Research.
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