IBM PC Launch Marks Birth of Modern Computing

The IBM PC was a game-changer when it launched in August 1981. Prior to this, computers were massive room-sized machines used primarily for calculations and other tasks.

IBM had been producing microcomputers for businesses, but as the market grew so did competition from companies like Apple with their Macintosh computers. Over a year using existing components, IBM created the PC 5150, priced at $1,565 or approximately $5,749 today.

The IBM PC became the standard, holding more than twice the market share of Apple by 1984. Its impact on computer development is still seen today with machines boasting terabytes of memory and processing power capable of streaming the entire world digitally in seconds.