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When Computing Got Personal: A history of the desktop computer
This is the story of how a handful of geeks and mavericks dragged the computer out of corporate back rooms and laboratories and into our living rooms and offices. It is a tale not only of extraordinary innovation and vision but also of cunning business deals, boardroom tantrums and acrimonious lawsuits. Here you will find some of the most intelligent and eccentric people you could hope to meet, including wide-eyed hippies, subversive students, computer nerds, entrepreneurs, hackers, crackers and financial backers. Some lost out and some became millionaires, but all played a part in transforming our world.
304 pages, Kindle Edition
First published February 6, 2014
37 people are currently reading
161 people want to read
About the author
Matt Nicholson
3 books8 followersI was a computer journalist from 1983 and have edited a number of popular newsstand magazines, including PC Plus and What Micro. I have had articles covering various aspects of the computer industry published in many other titles, such as the Financial Times and the Computing section of the Guardian newspaper. I published my first book in 2014 and my first novel in 2021.
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Displaying 1 - 15 of 15 reviews
December 7, 2014
It's easy to underestimate just how much personal computing (including access to the internet) has done for us. Yet so many jobs have been transformed - mine as writer certainly has - as has everything from the sheer access to information to the ability to play immersive games in the personal sphere. Matt Nicholson, a long time IT journalist, takes us on the fascinating journey of the development of the desktop personal computer, from the earliest kit computers, through Sinclair Spectrums and BBC Bs to the IBM PC (with its many descendants) and the Apple Mac.
Nicholson tells the story at just the right level, bringing in all the key players and technologies and giving a real in-depth feel to his discussion of the technology, business and politics of the many decisions that left us with the personal computing landscape we have today. From the rise of Microsoft to Apple teetering on the knife-edge of disappearance before it found its way with a new generation of machines, if you are interested in computing this is an excellent account. I've read all the personality-based books on the early developments, that focus almost entirely on the likes of Gates and Jobs, but this achieves a much better balance between the people and the details of the technology (as long as you are techie-minded).
The only thing I really wasn't entirely happy with was the ending. Nicholson decided not to follow personal computing into the laptop/tablet/smartphone era. There's no mention, for instance, of Chrome and only passing references to iPhones and iPads. I think that's a shame, because it's still part of the same revolution, but I can understand him wanting to stick to the very specific rise of the desktop computer. Even so, the actual last few pages end very suddenly without a nice tie-up. Otherwise the whole thing is excellent, particularly surprising as this appears to be a self-published book, but it has clearly been well edited. The only thing that sets it apart is that for some reason self-published books never get the text layout on the page working quite as a well as a properly typeset book. But it's no real problem.
There is one proviso to this review, including those five stars. This is a book that could have been written for me as an audience. I started programming IBM PCs in 1984 (the year the Mac launched). I had the second PC AT in the UK, on which I lost two hard disks in 6 months, so Nicholson's comment 'it soon became apparent that there was something wrong with its 20 Mb hard disk, as users started reporting that it was prone to crashing and losing data for no apparent reason' hit me between the eyes. I was heavily involved in the introduction of Windows and my first ever paid piece of writing was a review of the launch version of Excel for Windows. This is so much a history of my early working life that I can't help but be entranced by it. If you have embraced your inner computer geek you should find it equally enjoyable, but it might not work as well for someone with less of an in-depth interest in the topic.
So - if the thought of finding out why IBM was so tardy bringing in the 80386, what happened to products like Borland Sidekick and Visi On, the real story of the demise of CP/M, whatever happened to OS/2, Microsoft's U-turn in embracing the internet and far more, click away (because surely you shop online) and buy this book.
Nicholson tells the story at just the right level, bringing in all the key players and technologies and giving a real in-depth feel to his discussion of the technology, business and politics of the many decisions that left us with the personal computing landscape we have today. From the rise of Microsoft to Apple teetering on the knife-edge of disappearance before it found its way with a new generation of machines, if you are interested in computing this is an excellent account. I've read all the personality-based books on the early developments, that focus almost entirely on the likes of Gates and Jobs, but this achieves a much better balance between the people and the details of the technology (as long as you are techie-minded).
The only thing I really wasn't entirely happy with was the ending. Nicholson decided not to follow personal computing into the laptop/tablet/smartphone era. There's no mention, for instance, of Chrome and only passing references to iPhones and iPads. I think that's a shame, because it's still part of the same revolution, but I can understand him wanting to stick to the very specific rise of the desktop computer. Even so, the actual last few pages end very suddenly without a nice tie-up. Otherwise the whole thing is excellent, particularly surprising as this appears to be a self-published book, but it has clearly been well edited. The only thing that sets it apart is that for some reason self-published books never get the text layout on the page working quite as a well as a properly typeset book. But it's no real problem.
There is one proviso to this review, including those five stars. This is a book that could have been written for me as an audience. I started programming IBM PCs in 1984 (the year the Mac launched). I had the second PC AT in the UK, on which I lost two hard disks in 6 months, so Nicholson's comment 'it soon became apparent that there was something wrong with its 20 Mb hard disk, as users started reporting that it was prone to crashing and losing data for no apparent reason' hit me between the eyes. I was heavily involved in the introduction of Windows and my first ever paid piece of writing was a review of the launch version of Excel for Windows. This is so much a history of my early working life that I can't help but be entranced by it. If you have embraced your inner computer geek you should find it equally enjoyable, but it might not work as well for someone with less of an in-depth interest in the topic.
So - if the thought of finding out why IBM was so tardy bringing in the 80386, what happened to products like Borland Sidekick and Visi On, the real story of the demise of CP/M, whatever happened to OS/2, Microsoft's U-turn in embracing the internet and far more, click away (because surely you shop online) and buy this book.
April 18, 2021
A well-written book on the history of personal computers. It covers the early homebrew and kit phase and subsequent commercialisation, the development of the home and business markets, and the various "wars" over buses, operating systems, browsers, etc. It also looks back at some of the developments that preceded and enabled the subsequent personal computing technology - for example, the work at Xerox PARC. It also covers some things that aren't really specific to personal computers but somehow fit the story - for example, the open software movement.
For me, it was an excellent trip down memory lane - I must have read many articles and reports by the author when he was covering all this as a journalist. So, for me, it was a very enjoyable read. Some of the detail may not be quite so entertaining to someone who didn't follow some of this at the time, but the book is an easy read anyway so that shouldn't put you off.
January 3, 2023
This book stands out amongst those I have read in recent times. I have had a succession of personal computers since the early 1980s, having to guide my buying decisions largely from ephemera like "Computer Shopper". Now, through this book, the patterns stand out, it has been an exercise in nostalgia of the most intense and enjoyable kind.
Of course our increasing dependence on computers has led to all sorts of problems, but on the whole they have been life-enhancing. If and when I go into a residential home, all I want in my room is a computer, forget the TV!
The book is well-written, as one would expect from an experienced journalist, and well-researched, including plenty on the rise of Microsoft and other aspects of software as well as hardware developments. Now we live in the age of multiple cores, and much will depend on successful parallelization of these and of Graphical Processing Units.
Of course our increasing dependence on computers has led to all sorts of problems, but on the whole they have been life-enhancing. If and when I go into a residential home, all I want in my room is a computer, forget the TV!
The book is well-written, as one would expect from an experienced journalist, and well-researched, including plenty on the rise of Microsoft and other aspects of software as well as hardware developments. Now we live in the age of multiple cores, and much will depend on successful parallelization of these and of Graphical Processing Units.
August 20, 2019
Excellent coverage of history both UK and US of personal computing - 1970s to 2000s. Lots of anecdotes and personal profiles of people, hardware, software, aspirations, academic and commercial drivers for research and development plus many commercial off-shoots.
Very well written. Really enjoyed the real mix of technical and personal. Only blip (for me) was the at length minutia of the period involving PC 86/286/386/Bus enhancements etc.
Recommended.
Very well written. Really enjoyed the real mix of technical and personal. Only blip (for me) was the at length minutia of the period involving PC 86/286/386/Bus enhancements etc.
Recommended.
January 17, 2024
A comprehensive history of the early years of personal computing (the book was first published in 2015, so it’s not the full story). Like many history books, it does get a bit dry from time to time. But saying that, it’s well written and well structured book, making it an easy and enjoyable read. Having purchased my first personal computer in the early 80s (a Commodore 64), I relished reliving this exciting period in my life!
March 23, 2022
All computing, no personal.
This book felt like it was written by an engineer, rather than a human. It was just a list of facts told sequentially, without any story. Some of those facts were interesting, but without a narrative, it was hard to put anything together and see what it meant.
Read 50%.
This book felt like it was written by an engineer, rather than a human. It was just a list of facts told sequentially, without any story. Some of those facts were interesting, but without a narrative, it was hard to put anything together and see what it meant.
Read 50%.
July 10, 2018
This was a very informative book, and indefinitely got me ready for informatics class. The book spent a good amount of time articulating the states of mind of the founders of the computer industry.
I read it twice, and I found it useful.
I read it twice, and I found it useful.
November 3, 2019
Exactly what title says
Books nicely sums history of personal computing. Has a lot of non standard English words (at least for non native) so it took me a bit more time to finish it. Anyways, nicely written and I recommend reading it.
Books nicely sums history of personal computing. Has a lot of non standard English words (at least for non native) so it took me a bit more time to finish it. Anyways, nicely written and I recommend reading it.
May 6, 2024
Provides a well balanced historical run down of the early days of computers and major breakthroughs over the years. This book is a good "introduction" to the topics and so if you find it interesting then there's plenty more out there for deeper coverage.
September 20, 2015
Good engaging read, focused on the modern era -- the rise of PCs and the Internet, Jobs and Gates etc. Along the lines of "Fire in the Valley" and the library of Apple/Jobs books. Having read a shelf full of these books, the question was, would I learn anything new? The answer is YES, Mr Nicholson does manage to tease out details and anecdotes I had not encountered before, in a very engaging narrative. As an example, while necessarily US-centric based on the subject matter, the British author does go out of his way to recount key events in the UK. If you're into this genre, this is a worthy addition.
Note the title, it does indeed focus on the history of the DESKTOP PC ... and so only tangentially mentions developments around laptops, smartphones, tablets etc.
I listened to the audio book, but quickly decided there was enough interesting detail I'd want to revisit and retain that I ordered the paperback to keep on hand.
Note the title, it does indeed focus on the history of the DESKTOP PC ... and so only tangentially mentions developments around laptops, smartphones, tablets etc.
I listened to the audio book, but quickly decided there was enough interesting detail I'd want to revisit and retain that I ordered the paperback to keep on hand.
June 15, 2015
Really good, short but comprehensive overview of the personal computing revolution. Follows the essential threads of the times and doesn't just focus on the well-known big names of today.
January 2, 2017
I love reading about the history of computers and Matt made reading easy and enjoyable. I did think he hurried the ending of the book. I also disagree with his conclusion.
August 19, 2016
This book had great insight that I knew very little about. I was amazed how many of the products that I take for granted today originally came about. Great read.
January 26, 2017
A great telling of the history of the personal computer. My favorite part is the coverage of graphical user interfaces (GUI) for MS-DOS prior to the release of Windows.
Displaying 1 - 15 of 15 reviews