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Unit 2: Generation of Computers

5. VAX, developed by DEC in 1978 was the first super minicomputer.
Various historical events during 1964–1980 are described in Table 2.4. Notes
Table 2.4: History of Computers During the Year 1964–1978

Year Invention

1964 IBM 360 computer, built by IBM.
1967 First floppy disk, built by IBM. Unix, developed at AT&T’s Bell
Laboratories.
1970 First 4004 microprocessor, created by Intel.
1971 Intel introduced its 4-bit bus, 108-KHz 4004 chip—the first
microprocessor. Niklaus Writhe invented the Pascal programming
language.
1972 Traf-O-Data Company formed by Bill Gates and Paul Allen.
5.25 inch diskettes first appeared.
1973 Gary Kildall wrote a simple operating system in his PL/M
language, called CP/M. IBM introduced the IBM 3340 hard disk
unit, known as the Winchester.
1974 2-MHz 8080 chip, an 8-bit microprocessor, released by Intel. The
C programming language, developed by Brian Kernighan and
Dennis Ritchie.
1975 Gates and Allen’s Traf-O-Data Company was renamed Microsoft.
1976 Intel introduced the 5-MHz 8085 microprocessor.

2.1.6 Fourth Generation Computers (1978–Till Date)

The third generation computers became out-dated, when it was found in around 1978 that thousands
of ICs could be integrated onto a single chip, called Large Scale Integration (LSI). The fourth generation
of computers (1978–till date) was marked by use of large-scale Integrated (LSI) circuits in place of
ICs. As thousands of ICs could be put onto a single circuit, so LSI circuits are still more compact
than ICs. In 1978, it was found that millions of components could be packed onto a single circuit,
known as Very Large Scale Integration (VLSI). VLSI is the latest technology of computer that led to
the development of the popular Personal Computers (PCs), also called as Microcomputers. All present
day computers are fourth generation of computers. These computers are very powerful having a
high memory and a fast processing speed. Today’s PCs are even more powerful than mainframe
computers.

1. IBM PC, developed in 1981 was the first industry standard personal computer,
having Intel 8088 memory chip.
2. IBM PC/AT, developed in 1982 was the first advanced technology PC, having
Intel 80286 memory chip.
3. 386, developed in 1985, had Intel 80386 memory chip.
4. CRAY-2, developed in 1985, was the fourth generation supercomputer.
5. 486, developed in 1989, had Intel 80486 memory chip.
6. Pentium, developed in 1995, has Pentium (80586) memory chip.
Various events occurred during 1975—till date are described in Table 2.5.

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