Datapoint: The Lost Story of the Texans Who Invented the Personal Computer Revolution

by Lamont Wood

Forget Apple and IBM. For that matter forget Silicon Valley. The first personal computer, a self-contained unit with its own programmable processor, display, keyboard, internal memory, telephone interface, and mass storage of data was born in San Antonio TX. US Patent number 224,415 was filed November 27, 1970 for a machine that is the direct lineal ancestor to the PC as we know it today. The story begins in 1968, when two Texans, Phil Ray and Gus Roche, founded a firm called Computer Terminal Corporation. As the name implies their first product was a Datapoint 3300 computer terminal replacement for a mechanical Teletype. However, they knew all the while that the 3300 was only a way to get started, and it was cover for what their real intentions were - to create a programmable mass-produced desktop computer. They brought in Jack Frassanito, Vic Poor, Jonathan Schmidt, Harry Pyle and a team of designers, engineers and programmers to create the Datapoint 2200. In an attempt to reduce the size and power requirement of the computer it became apparent that the 2200 processor could be printed on a silicon chip. Datapoint approached Intel who rejected the concept as a "dumb idea" but were willing to try for a development contract. Intel belatedly came back with their chip but by then the Datapoint 2200 was already in production. Intel added the chip to its catalog designating it the 8008. A later upgrade, the 8080 formed the heart of the Altair and IMSI in the mid-seventies. With further development it was used in the first IBM PC-the PC revolution's chip dynasty. If you're using a PC, you're using a modernized Datapoint 2000.

Genres: History, Technology

330 pages, Paperback

First published August 30, 2012

Reviews

[Tech Historian · Rating 4 out of 5]

If you’re interested in the history of technology this book should be on your reading list. It describes one of the most underappreciated and underrated companies in the computer business.

The story is a good one and could have been great. Unfortunately the first third of the book reads like a polemic as the author asserts that Datapoint invented the Microprocessor – and he’s going to prove to you by repeating that ad nauseam.

The reality is that like most inventions multiple people played a part in the invention of the microprocessor (including Lee Boysel at a company called 4-Phase.) The sad fact is that Intel’s marketing machine wrote everyone out of the history (including Federico Faggin) not just Datapoint. While Datapoint’s contribution was a part of history I didn't know, writing about it in such an aggrieved tone 40-years after the fact diminished what could have been a wonderful read.

The rest of the book is a good recounting of Datapoint and its contribution to computer history.

The downside is that the book feels like an extended series of newspaper articles rather than a great history. With another author or a great editor this book could have reached a much wider audience.

5-stars if you’re an ex-Datapoint employee or interested in the birth of the computer industry. 3-stars if you’re looking for a great history story.

[Philip Hollenback · Rating 4 out of 5]

Engrossing story, but not as much technical details as I had hoped for.