<Tr> <Td> <Ul> <Li> </Li> <Li> </Li> <Li> </Li> </Ul> </Td> </Tr> <Ul> <Li> </Li> <Li> </Li> <Li> </Li> </Ul> <P> The history of the personal computer as a mass - market consumer electronic device began with the microcomputer revolution of the 1980s . The 1981 launch of the IBM Personal Computer coined both the term Personal Computer and PC . A personal computer is one intended for interactive individual use,, as opposed to a mainframe computer where the end user's requests are filtered through operating staff, or a time - sharing system in which one large processor is shared by many individuals . After the development of the microprocessor, individual personal computers were low enough in cost that they eventually became affordable consumer goods . Early personal computers--generally called microcomputers--were sold often in electronic kit form and in limited numbers, and were of interest mostly to hobbyists and technicians . </P> <P> An early use of the term "personal computer" appeared in a 3 November 1962, New York Times article reporting John W. Mauchly's vision of future computing as detailed at a recent meeting of the Institute of Industrial Engineers . Mauchly stated, "There is no reason to suppose the average boy or girl cannot be master of a personal computer". </P>

When was the first personal computer sold to the public