Personal Computer

Personal Computer

1962

FirstMention.com explores the history and origins

of common products and phrases.

We all love (and hate) our PCs, whether HPs, IBMs, Dells, Toshibas, or Macs. But when did they first come to be called personal computers?

I'm sure some sci-fi story or Popular Mechanics type magazine sometime back in the 1940's or 1950's was the first to describe -- and use the term -- personal computer.

But the First Mention I've come across was this pretty on-target (except for the delivery chute!) write up from the Hillsboro (Ohio) Press-Gazette on December 28, 1962.

Mauchly was widely quoted at the time, including some articles earlier in 1962, but this is the first I saw with actual phrase, personal computer.

And if you're interested in a 1964 description of a very Google-like "answer machine", check out this story.

Know of an earlier First Mention? Drop me a line at david@firstmention.com

FirstMention.com

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