Facts for Kids
The Altair 8800 is a groundbreaking personal computer launched in 1975 that helped kick-start the home computing era and led to the development of various software and hardware innovations.
Overview
Clones And Variants
Cultural References
Impact On Computing
Legacy And Influence
History And Development
Technical Specifications
Programming The Altair 8800
Learning Resources And Projects
Inside this Article
Electronics
Technology
Creativity
Computer
Scratch
Memory
People
Altair
Did you know?
💻 The Altair 8800 is widely considered the first commercially successful personal computer.
📅 Released in 1975, it sparked the home computing revolution.
🛠️ The Altair 8800 was designed by Micro Instrumentation and Telemetry Systems (MITS).
🧑💻 It was primarily programmed using assembly language, making programming a challenge for users.
📦 The original model featured a front panel with switches and lights for input and output.
📊 It used the Intel 8080 microprocessor, which was pivotal in early computer development.
🔌 The Altair supported a variety of hardware configurations and expansion cards.
📞 Due to its popularity, it inspired numerous third-party software and peripheral manufacturers.
💡 The Altair 8800 is featured in the famous picture of the
Homebrew Computer Club
where many early computer enthusiasts gathered.
🏆 The Altair 8800 played a crucial role in the founding of Microsoft, as it was one of the first computers to run their software.
Introduction
️ It was made by a company called MITS, which stands for Micro Instrumentation and Telemetry Systems. The Altair 8800 looked like a box with lots of blinking lights and switches. You could even build it yourself! People used it to do exciting things like write programs, play games, and even control robots! This computer is often called the "first personal computer" because it made computing accessible for everyone, not just big companies. It paved the way for the computers we use today! 🌟
Clones And Variants
️ These were called clones. One popular clone was the A500, made by a company called Tandy. Another was the S-100 bus, which allowed people to add extra parts to their computers, just like building a puzzle! 🧩
With these variants, everyone could find a style that fit their needs and creativity!
Cultural References
One famous show is "Silicon Valley," where characters talk about the origins of personal computers. You might even spot it in video games that celebrate computer history! It’s a great way to learn about how computers evolved over time. Just like superheroes have their origin stories, so does the Altair 8800! 🦸
♂️
Impact On Computing
But after it was created, many people wanted to own their own computers! This led to more inventions and made computers a normal part of daily life. The Altair also inspired many kids to become computer programmers. Today, we see laptops and desktops in homes everywhere, all because of this little computer! 🌍
Legacy And Influence
💻 It showed that computers could be small and useful for everyone, leading to the computers we love today! Its legacy continues to be felt, inspiring millions to learn about technology and programming. Every time you use a computer, you're part of that Altair legacy! 🌈
History And Development
People rushed to buy kits to build their own Altair at home! The first version was sold for only $397! Can you believe that? Soon after, Microsoft was born to create software for the Altair. This event changed how we think about computers forever!
Technical Specifications
It had 256 bytes of memory to start, and people could add up to 64 kilobytes more! This computer used switches to input commands and had lights to show what it was doing, known as a front panel. The cool part? You could connect it to a TV or monitor, and it could communicate with printers too! Imagine all those flashing lights! ✨
Programming The Altair 8800
You could write programs using a language called BASIC. To load your programs, you had to type in a special code using the switches on the front! It was a bit tricky, but many kids learned how to do it. Once they did, they could create their own games and apps, making them little computer wizards! 🌟
Learning Resources And Projects
You can build a simple computer using a kit or even try coding with a program like Scratch. There are fun books and videos that explain computers in kid-friendly ways! 📚
And don't forget to check out museum exhibits about the Altair to see it in person and learn from experts! You could even visit a local library for computer classes or workshops where you can explore technology just like Ed Roberts did!
Altair 8800 Quiz
Frequently Asked Questions
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