Editing Microcomputer (section)

=== Early microcomputers ===
In late 1972, a French team headed by [[François Gernelle]] within a small company, Réalisations & Etudes Electroniques (R2E), developed and patented a computer based on a microprocessor – the Intel 8008 8-bit microprocessor. This [[Micral|Micral-N]] was marketed in early 1973 as a "Micro-ordinateur" or ''microcomputer'', mainly for scientific and process-control applications. About a hundred [[Micral|Micral-N]] were installed in the next two years, followed by a new version based on the Intel 8080. Meanwhile, another French team developed the Alvan, a small computer for office automation which found clients in banks and other sectors. The first version was based on LSI chips with an Intel 8008 as peripheral controller (keyboard, monitor and printer), before adopting the [[Zilog Z80]] as main processor.

In late 1972, a [[California State University, Sacramento|Sacramento State University]] team led by Bill Pentz built the Sac State 8008 computer, able to handle thousands of patients' medical records.  The Sac State 8008 was designed with the Intel 8008. It had a full set of hardware and [[Computer program#Sac State 8008|software components]]: a disk operating system included in a series of programmable read-only memory chips (PROMs); 8 Kilobytes of RAM; IBM's Basic Assembly Language (BAL); a hard drive; a color display; a printer output; a 150 bit/s serial interface for connecting to a mainframe; and even the world's first microcomputer front panel.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.digibarn.com/stories/bill-pentz-story/index.html |title=Digibarn Stories: Bill Pentz and (Earliest) History of the Microcomputer (August 2008) |website=DigiBarn Computer Museum |date=August–November 2008 |access-date=2012-08-30}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|last=Terdiman |first=Daniel |url=https://www.cnet.com/news/inside-the-worlds-long-lost-first-microcomputer/ |title=Inside the world's long-lost first microcomputer |website=[[CNET]] |date=2010-01-08 |access-date=2012-08-30}}</ref>

In early 1973, [[Sord Computer Corporation]] (now [[Toshiba|Toshiba Personal Computer System Corporation]]) completed the SMP80/08, which used the [[Intel 8008]] microprocessor. The SMP80/08, however, did not have a commercial release. After the first general-purpose microprocessor, the [[Intel 8080]], was announced in April 1974, Sord announced the SMP80/x, the first microcomputer to use the 8080, in May 1974.<ref name="ipsj">{{Cite web | url=http://museum.ipsj.or.jp/en/computer/personal/0086.html |title = SMP80/X series-Computer Museum}}</ref>

Virtually all early microcomputers were essentially boxes with lights and switches; one had to read and understand binary numbers and machine language to program and use them (the Datapoint 2200 was a striking exception, bearing a modern design based on a monitor, keyboard, and tape and disk drives).  Of the early "box of switches"-type microcomputers, the MITS [[Altair 8800]] (1975) was arguably the most famous.  Most of these simple, early microcomputers were sold as [[electronic kits]]—bags full of loose components which the buyer had to solder together before the system could be used.

[[Image:PDP-11-M7270.jpg|thumb|Microcomputer module LSI-11/2]]

The period from about 1971 to 1976 is sometimes called the [[:Category:Early microcomputers|first generation]] of microcomputers. Many companies such as [[Digital Equipment Corporation|DEC]],<ref>{{cite web
 |title = 16-bit timeline
 |url = http://gordonbell.azurewebsites.net/digital/timeline/16-bit.htm
 |date = 19 November 1997
}}</ref> [[National Semiconductor]],<ref>{{cite magazine
 |title = Paper Tape Readers Work With IMP Micros
 |magazine = Computerworld
 |date = 23 Oct 1974
 |page = 28
 |url = https://books.google.com/books?id=GpEtWjI3whwC&pg=PA28
}}</ref> [[Texas Instruments]]<ref>{{cite magazine
 |title = Upward Compatible Software and Downward Compatible Price
 |magazine = Computerworld
 |date = 10 Dec 1975
 |page = 49
 |url = https://books.google.com/books?id=shitkFDw7DkC&pg=PA49
}}</ref> offered their microcomputers for use in terminal control, peripheral device interface control and industrial machine control. There were also machines for engineering development and hobbyist personal use.<ref>{{cite magazine|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=kawCnk4051wC&pg=PA154|title=Computer Adventures|last=Hawkins|first = William J.|date = December 1983|magazine = Popular Science}}</ref> In 1975, the [[Processor Technology]] [[SOL-20]] was designed, which consisted of one board which included all the parts of the computer system. The [[SOL-20]] had built-in EPROM software which eliminated the need for rows of switches and lights. The [[Altair 8800|MITS Altair]] just mentioned played an instrumental role in sparking significant hobbyist interest, which itself eventually led to the founding and success of many well-known [[personal computer]] hardware and software companies, such as [[Microsoft]] and [[Apple Computer]]. Although the Altair itself was only a mild commercial success, it helped spark a huge industry.