On August 12, 1981, IBM introduced its first personal computer, the IBM Model 5150. Developed by a small team at IBM’s Boca Raton facility under the code name Project Chess, the machine was created in just about a year.
Rather than build everything in-house, the team used commercially available components, including an Intel 8088 processor and Microsoft’s MS-DOS operating system. The IBM PC’s open architecture also allowed other companies to develop compatible hardware and software, helping establish a standard that would shape the personal computer industry.
The $1,565 computer had just 16 kilobytes of memory, yet its impact was enormous. IBM sold more than 750,000 PCs within two years, far exceeding expectations, while the platform helped fuel the growth of the software industry.
From its Boca Raton beginnings, the IBM PC helped bring personal computing into offices, businesses, and homes around the world.
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