Thursday, April 26, 2012

Motorola DROID RAZR MAXX 4G Android Phone, Black 32GB (Verizon Wireless)

Motorola DROID RAZR MAXX 4G Android Phone, Black 32GB (Verizon Wireless)

Motorola DROID RAZR MAXX 4G Android Phone, Black 32GB  (Verizon Wireless)
Motorola DROID RAZR MAXX 4G Android Phone, Black 32GB  (Verizon Wireless)

Rate : | Price : | Post Date : Apr 26, 2012 12:30:21
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At just 8.99mm (0.35-inch), the DROID RAZR MAXX by Motorola for Verizon is the longest-lasting smartphone on the block and still impossibly thin. Equipped with the same great features as the original DROID RAZR, the DROID RAZR MAXX features a larger 3300 mAh lithium-ion battery with up to 21 hours of talk time on a single charge. Reinforced with Corning Gorilla Glass and encased in laser-cut KEVLAR fiber--the strongest material in smartphones--the DROID RAZR MAXX is still one of the thinnest 4G LTE smartphones around.



DROID strong. RAZR sharp. MAXX battery life. (view larger).


One of the thinnest 4G LTE smartphones (view larger).
DROID RAZR MAXX by Motorola
At a Glance:
  • 3G/4G LTE connectivity

  • Android 2.3 OS

  • Dual-core 1.2 GHz processor

  • 4.3-inch Super AMOLED Advanced touchscreen

  • 8-MP camera + Full HD 1080p video record

  • 16 GB memory + 16 GB microSD card

  • GPS navigation

  • Wireless-N Wi-Fi

  • Stereo Bluetooth

  • Personal/corporate e-mail

  • Up to 21 hours of talk time
At a Glance

Slice through multiple tasks simultaneously with a dual–core 1.2 GHz processor and 1 GB of LP DDR2 RAM, and enjoy brilliant optics with the 4.3-inch Super AMOLED Advanced display. A rear-facing 8-megapixel camera also allows you to capture stunning still photos and Full HD 1080p videos while on the go. It's also outfitted with a 1.3-megapixel front-facing camera with HD 720p video recording for on-the-go chats.

The Verizon Wireless 4G LTE Mobile Broadband network provides speeds up to 10 times faster than Verizon's 3G network. With 4G LTE, you'll enjoy simultaneous voice and data capabilities, allowing you to check e-mail, browse the web, download an app, and check directions on Google Maps while on a call. Verizon's 4G LTE Mobile Broadband network currently reaches one-third of all Americans, with plans to expand the network to the company's entire 3G coverage area over the next three years (learn more about 4G below).

You can share your high-speed 4G connectivity with multiple devices--laptop, another phone, MP3 player, and more--via Wi-Fi using the built-in Mobile Hotspot functionality (additional service charge applicable).

With 16 GB of onboard storage and an included 16 GB microSD card, you'll be able to keep loads of photos and videos directly on the device--and you can use optional microSD memory cards up to 32 GB for even more storage potential. Other features include GPS for navigation and location-based services, and low-energy Bluetooth connectivity for hands-free devices and stereo music streaming (see full specifications below).

DROID is a trademark of Lucasfilm Ltd. and its related companies. Used under license. KEVLAR is a registered trademark of DuPont used under license by Motorola Mobility, Inc.

Secretly Smart

The DROID RAZR MAXX has an advanced artificial intelligence monitors your behavior and self–optimizes to keep you running at peak effectiveness. Deploy your favorite apps even faster. Switch into silent mode automatically to avoid detection. Streamline everyday tasks to get 25 percent more battery life per charge.

DROID RAZR MAXX by Motorola at Play

The phone's multiplayer gaming capabilities allow you to challenge friends to live peer-to-peer gaming, viewed through the device's 4.3-inch Super AMOLED Advanced display with qHD resolution (960 x 540 pixels)--delivering console-quality graphics. The integrated HDMI connectivity also enables you to connect the device to your HDTV (or HDMI-compatible monitor) to experience your games, as well as purchased HD content in full 1080p (HDMI cable sold separately).

For multitaskers, the Mirror Mode function enables simultaneous streaming of video to the TV and on the device. You can also wirelessly stream video and audio to compatible DLNA devices.

With MotoCast, a free and exclusive app from Motorola, you get secure access to files and media on your computer. Play your entire collection of music and videos on your mobile device over Wi-Fi and 3G/4G networks. MotoCast also lets you use iTunes or Windows Media Player to sync the music files stored on your computer and smartphone.



Eye–piercing color and blinding brilliance from the 4.3-inch Super AMOLED Advanced display (view larger).

DROID RAZR MAXX by Motorola at Work

As a fully featured work device, the DROID RAZR MAXX comes equipped with corporate e-mail, remote wipe and data security, and government-grade encryption capabilities that IT departments appreciate. It comes pre-loaded with the following apps to make your business life a breeze.

GoToMeeting: With the free GoToMeeting app, join online meetings in seconds by tapping a link in an email. Easy-to-use, intuitive features let you view presentations, mockups and reports--whatever the presenter shares on-screen.
Quickoffice: Create, view and edit spreadsheets, presentations and Microsoft Word documents on the go.
Smart Actions: The Smart Actions app helps you extend battery life and automate everyday tasks so you can spend your time more efficiently. With Smart Actions, you can automatically turn down the ringer when you step into work, change the Bluetooth and GPS settings when you get home to save battery.
MOTOPRINT: Print wirelessly to any postscript printer via Wi-Fi without the hassle of cords.

PC Power from Your Smartphone

Create, edit, and interact with all your documents, media, and content using Motorola's webtop application when connected to one of several optional docks. The DROID RAZR MAXX by Motorola can be used to browse your favorite web sites with a full Firefox desktop browser, view social networking sites, and use HTML5 web-based applications and supported cloud computing services while running your Android applications in a window. And calls and text messages continue uninterrupted even if the phone is removed from the dock.

The optional HD Station for DROID RAZR MAXX enables you connect to a big screen (via HDMI port) as well as plug in peripherals such as a keyboard or a mouse via its three USB ports for a PC-like experience while using the webtop application.

The Lapdock 100 has an incredibly thin design with a 10.1-inch screen, full keyboard, and trackpad--plus a battery that delivers up to 5 hours of power. Simply dock your DROID RAZR MAXX into the back of the Lapdock 100 to turn it into an active, connected machine that's lighter and smaller than most laptops on the market.

Vital Statistics

The DROID RAZR MAXX by Motorola weighs 5.1 ounces and measures 5.15 x 2.71 x 0.35 inches. Its 3300 mAh lithium-ion battery is rated at up to 21 hours of talk time, and up to 380 hours (15.8 days) of standby time. It runs on the Verizon Wireless 4G LTE network, as well as EV-DO, Rev A 3G and CDMA 800/1900 frequencies where 4G LTE is not available.

What's in the Box

DROID RAZR MAXX by Motorola handset, rechargeable battery, wall/USB charger, USB cable, 16 GB microSD card, quick start guide





8-megapixel camera with Full HD 1080p video capture (view larger).

Verizon Wireless 4G LTE Network

The Verizon Wireless 4G LTE network allows you to download photos, apps, and games in seconds and entire movies in minutes. LTE (or Long Term Evolution provides significantly increased upload and download speeds over 3G networks, as well as significantly reduced latency (or lag time). Verizon Wireless expects 4G LTE average data rates to be 5-12 megabits per second (Mbps) on the downlink and 2-5 Mbps on the uplink in real-world, loaded network environments.

With these blazing fast speeds, you'll be able to stream HD movies without the annoyance of constant pauses to buffer the video stream--as well as quickly download HD-quality movies right to your phone in minutes. Additionally, you'll be able to download a new song file in about 4 seconds or upload a photo to your favorite social networking site in about 6 seconds.

The Verizon Wireless 4G LTE mobile broadband network will also redefine the mobile office for business users. Business applications that used to require wired networks will be untethered forever, allowing you maximized productivity and efficiency while you're out of the confines of your office. Enhanced security lets you tap into most VPN networks with less waiting, and faster responsiveness enables you to upload 10 MB presentations back to your team in less than 25 seconds.

In areas serviced only by 3G, you can expect download speeds of 600 Kbps to 1.4 Mbps and upload speeds of 500 to 800 Kbps in Mobile Broadband coverage area.

Verizon Wireless Services

Backup Assistant: This complimentary service automatically back up your mobile contacts to your online address book. If your phone is lost, stolen, or damaged, or you decide to upgrade, easily restore your saved address book to your new phone. You can also add, delete, edit, and print your contacts online and send the changes to your mobile phone. There are no subscription fees for the service.

VZ Navigator Capable: With this GPS-enabled phone, you'll be able to access the Verizon Wireless VZ Navigator service (additional charges applicable) for voice-prompted turn-by-turn directions, heads-up alerts, local search of nearly 14 million points of interest in the US (such as landmarks, restaurants and ATMs), and detailed color maps.

V CAST Video: Enjoy unlimited, on-demand access to full episodes of your favorite television shows from all of the major networks, plus the latest in local and national news, live and recorded sports and entertainment and weather. You will receive over 100 channels with over 250 full episode shows and an impressive list of live sporting events each month.

Visual Voice Mail: This innovative service enables you to delete, reply, and forward voice mail messages without having to listen to prior messages or voice instructions. Visual Voice Mail is the ideal tool for the busy mobile professional who may need to prioritize which messages he or she listens to first. Features include on-screen access to voice mail message status, save up to 40 messages for 40 days (or archive permanently), create up to 10 different caller ID-based greetings, and reply via call back, text or even voice mail.



Connectivity

  • Ultra-fast 4G LTE connectivity via the Verizon Wireless 4G Mobile Broadband network, with expected download speeds of 5 to 12 Mbps and upload speeds of 2 to 5 Mbps. Where the 4G LTE network is unavailable, the phone will connect with the Verizon Wireless 3G network.
  • Wireless-N Wi-Fi networking (802.11b/g) for accessing home and corporate networks as well as hotspots while on the go.
  • 4G Mobile Hotspot capability allows you to create a Wi-Fi hotspot using your Verizon Wireless 4G LTE connection, which can then be shared among up to eight Wi-Fi-capable devices (up to five devices on 3G).
  • Bluetooth connectivity (version 2.1) includes communication headset, hands-free car kits, and the A2DP audio streaming Bluetooth profiles.
  • Low-energy Bluetooth 4.0 capabilities including heart rate monitor profile.
  • Onboard GPS for navigation and location services.
    • Integrated Google Maps with turn-by-turn navigation, street and satellite views.
    • Optional VZ Navigator service for GPS navigation with voice-prompted turn-by-turn directions.

Communications & Internet

  • Full messaging capabilities including SMS text, MMS picture/video and IM instant messaging
  • Full HTML browser (Webkit 5) with Flash 10.1 Support
  • Personal and corporate e-mail access with support for Exchange ActiveSync as well as personal e-mail accounts (Google push, Yahoo!, POP3, IMAP).

Hardware

  • Dual-core 1.2 GHz processor capable of opening web pages twice as fast as most other smartphones.
  • 4.3-inch Super AMOLED Advanced multi-touch display (Quarter High Definition; 960 x 540 pixels) with scratch-resistant Gorilla Glass.
  • MicroUSB port
  • Micro HDMI port with 1080p HMDI Mirror Mode output to your HDTV or monitor.
  • 3.5mm headphone jack
  • Non-removable battery

Memory

  • 16 GB internal memory
  • Pre-loaded 16 GB microSD card with support for optional cards up to 32 GB.
  • 1 GB RAM for improved multitasking (LP DDR2).

Camera

  • 8-megapixel camera with launch from lock screen.
  • Full HD 1080p video capture with image stabilization for crisp and clear videos.
  • Front-facing 1.3-megapixel camera for video chats with HD 720p resolution.

Multimedia

  • Music player compatible with MP3, WMA, and AAC/AAC+
  • Video player compatible with MPEG4, H.264, H.263, WMV
  • Access to VCAST Videos



Android Gingerbread Operating System

Android Gingerbread

The Motorola DROID RAZR MAXX runs the Android 2.3 operating system (dubbed Gingerbread). It features a cleaner, more refined interface with new icons, improved top notification bar, and more intuitive navigation.

Multitasking in Gingerbread allows you the ability to run more than one app at a time. If you're playing a game, you can easily switch to an incoming e-mail and then switch back to the game without losing your place. And like the previous version of Android ("Froyo"), Gingerbread provides support for Adobe Flash Player 10.1 for access to the full Web.

The onscreen keyboard makes it easier to type thanks to additional spacing between the keys and larger font sizes. And the more you use the keyboard, the easier typing will be as the enhanced suggest feature records previous input history to make better suggestions.

The DROID RAZR MAXX also brings one-touch access to the popular Google mobile services you use every day. It also provides easy access to both personal and corporate e-mail, calendars, and contacts supported by Exchange Server and Gmail. And through Android Market, you'll get access to thousands of useful applications, widgets, and fun games to download and install on your phone, with many more apps being added every day.

Google Integration
  • Android Market for browsing and downloading thousands of free and paid apps
  • Pre-loaded Android apps: Browser, Calculator, Calendar (Google or Corporate), Camera, Clock, Contacts, Email, Gallery, Messaging, Music, News & Weather, Phone, Settings, Video Player, Voice Dialer, Voice Search, YouTube
  • Google applications: Gmail, Google Search, Google Voice Search, Google Latitude, Google Maps, Google Places, Google Talk
  • Google Maps Navigation with spoken turn-by-turn directions showing real-time traffic and 360° views of the destination

 

Also Available for This Android Device

Amazon Appstore for Android
Get a great paid app for free every day.

Kindle
Buy a book once and read it everywhere with our free Kindle Reading App for Android.

Amazon MP3
Shop 15 million songs and stream your Cloud Drive music directly from your Android device.

IMDB
Find local movie showtimes and TV listings, watch trailers, and search the world's largest source of entertainment information.

Audible
Download audiobooks directly to your Android device, then listen wherever you go, get audiobook news, earn badges, and more.

Amazon Mobile
Shop for millions of products, get product details, and read reviews--right from your mobile device.


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Friday, April 20, 2012

Samsung I9250 Galaxy Nexus 16GB (Unlocked)

Samsung I9250 Galaxy Nexus 16GB (Unlocked)

Samsung I9250 Galaxy Nexus 16GB (Unlocked)
Samsung I9250 Galaxy Nexus 16GB (Unlocked)

Rate : | Price : $454.99 | Post Date : Apr 20, 2012 16:34:14
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World's First Smartphone to feature Android 4.0 Ice Cream Sandwich and a 4.65" HD Super AMOLED display

Disclaimer : This site/page does not included in any the parts with amazon.com but it is participant in the amazon services LLC associates program by advertising and linking to amazon.com , Certain content that appears on this site comes from amazon services LLC. This content is provided 'as is' and is subject to change or removal at any time.

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Saturday, April 14, 2012

Motorola SB6121 DOCSIS 3.0 Cable Modem in New Official Manufacturer Brown Box (Environmentally Safe) - Non-Retail Box, 100% New and Complete SB-6121

Motorola SB6121 DOCSIS 3.0 Cable Modem in New Official Manufacturer Brown Box (Environmentally Safe) - Non-Retail Box, 100% New and Complete SB-6121
Brand : Motorola | Rate : | Price :
Post Date : Apr 14, 2012 03:15:16 | Usually ships in 24 hours

Motorola SB6121 DOCSIS 3.0 Cable Modem in New Official Manufacturer Brown Box (Environmentally Safe) - Non-Retail Box, 100% New and Complete SB-6121

Utilizing the power of DOCSIS 3.0, the SB6121 enables channel bonding of up to four downstream channels and four upstream channels, which allowsan operator to offer their customers advanced multimedia services with data rates of well over 100 Mbps in each direction.

The Motorola SB6121 is backwards compatible to DOCSIS 1.0, 1.1 and 2.0. The SB-6121 also supports both IPv4 and IPv6, Advanced Encryption Services, and all other DOCSIS3.0 standards. The Motorola SB6121 features a 10/100/1000Base-T Ethernet(RJ-45) port, as well as intuitive, easy-to-read front-panel operational status LEDs.

With Motorola's cable modems, high-speed Internetaccess is always at your fingertips - always on and always connected. The SB6121 is the ideal competitive solution for the high-end residential user, the small home office owner, and the medium tolarge business enterprise.

The SB6121 is a data-only modem and does not support telephony services. The SB6121 is not a wireless modem, but can be connected to an external wireless router.

  • SB6121 is DOCSIS 3.0 certified & backward-compatible to DOCSIS 1.0/2.0. Plug & Play
  • SB-6121 is 100% New from Motorola and complete with power adapter and Cat5 cable
  • SB6121 is compatible with Windows, Macintosh, and UNIX computers makes the SB6121 a great choice.
  • Enhanced security: supports Advanced Encryption Services (AES) traffic encryption
  • SB6121 offers innovative, high-bandwidth data and multimedia services to customers

Disclaimer : This site/page does not included in any the parts with amazon.com but it is participant in the amazon services LLC associates program by advertising and linking to amazon.com , Certain content that appears on this site comes from amazon services LLC. This content is provided 'as is' and is subject to change or removal at any time.

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Wednesday, April 4, 2012

Blackberry Playbook 7-Inch Tablet (16GB)

Blackberry Playbook 7-Inch Tablet (16GB)

Blackberry Playbook 7-Inch Tablet (16GB)

Brand : BlackBerry
Rate :
Price : $199.00
Post Date : Apr 04, 2012 06:30:27
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Blackberry Playbook 7-Inch Tablet (16GB)

The BlackBerry PlayBook delivers professional-grade, consumer-friendly experiences that redefine the possibilities of mobile computing. This ultra-portable tablet looks and feels great, measuring less than half an inch thick and weighing less than a pound. The micro USB port allows for an easy connection to your computer with memory of 16 Gb. It features a vivid 7-inch high-resolution display-WSVGAn display resolution (1024 x 600) that is highly-responsive with a fluid touch screen experience. It also offers industry leading performance, uncompromised web browsing with support for Adobe Flash Player 10.1, true multitasking, HD multimedia, advanced security features, out-of-the-box enterprise support and a robust development environment.

Disclaimer : This site/page does not included in any the parts with amazon.com but it is participant in the amazon services LLC associates program by advertising and linking to amazon.com , Certain content that appears on this site comes from amazon services LLC. This content is provided 'as is' and is subject to change or removal at any time.

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Thursday, March 22, 2012

Samsung Exhibit II 4G Prepaid Android Phone (T-Mobile)

Samsung Exhibit II 4G Prepaid Android Phone (T-Mobile)

Brand : Samsung
Rate :
Price : $198.00
Post Date : Mar 22, 2012 16:32:09
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Samsung Exhibit II 4G Prepaid Android Phone (T-Mobile)

Samsung Exhibit II 4G Prepaid Android Phone (T-Mobile)

Samsung Dart Prepaid Android Phone (T-Mobile)

Disclaimer : This site/page does not included in any the parts with amazon.com but it is participant in the amazon services LLC associates program by advertising and linking to amazon.com , Certain content that appears on this site comes from amazon services LLC. This content is provided 'as is' and is subject to change or removal at any time.

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Thursday, March 15, 2012

Jabra FREEWAY Bluetooth Speakerphone (Black, Retail Packaging)

!±8±Jabra FREEWAY Bluetooth Speakerphone (Black, Retail Packaging)

Brand : Jabra
Rate :
Price : $100.94
Post Date : Mar 15, 2012 13:21:04
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Consider it the ultimate sidekick. The Jabra Freeway Bluetooth in-car speakerphone makes going hands-free a breeze. Featuring a 3 speaker stereo system and virtual surround sound, the thin speaker easily clips onto your car's sun visor or overhead console. The voice-controlled speaker allows you to make and take calls completely hands-free. An added dual-microphone eliminates background noise, making your calls clearer than ever. Connected through Bluetooth technology, it automatically turns on and off when you enter and exit your car. The Freeway also syncs up to read GPS directions and blast your favorite tunes.

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Saturday, February 25, 2012

New Trent iCruiser IMP1000 11000mAh External Battery Pack and Charger for iPad2, iPad, iPhone 4S 4 3Gs 3G (AT&T and Verizon), iPod Touch (1G 2G 3G 4G 5G), HTC Android EVO, Blackberry, Samsung Galaxy S, Droid, Nintendo, Sony PSP and much more

!±8± New Trent iCruiser IMP1000 11000mAh External Battery Pack and Charger for iPad2, iPad, iPhone 4S 4 3Gs 3G (AT&T and Verizon), iPod Touch (1G 2G 3G 4G 5G), HTC Android EVO, Blackberry, Samsung Galaxy S, Droid, Nintendo, Sony PSP and much more


Rate : | Price : | Post Date : Feb 25, 2012 17:30:20
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This is the 4th Generation USB type power bank which is compatible with latest iPad 2. It will never let your smart phones and Tablet PCs run out of battery. This compact and ultra long-lasting backup battery will let you carry the power source where ever you go. When you travel, there's no need to charge your device through an electrical outlet, THE IMP1000 IS THE ultimate POWER SOURCE! Take this with you whenever you go on a trip.

New Trent is a trademark of New Trent Inc, is exclusively marketed by authorized reseller idealpoint on amazon.com.

Key features includes
-With the ground breaking capacity of 11000mAh at 5V output voltage, this tiny device can get you an extra 50 hours of iPhone 4 ipod touch movie time and 17 hours ipad 2 movie time. It is stylish and powerful!

-This backup battery pack will work with almost every device in the market, such as your iPhone 4S 4 3Gs 3G (Verizon and AT&T), and 1G 2G 3G 4G iPod Touch, Motorola Droid, HTC Android EVO phones, and Samsung galaxy smart phone.

-IMP1000 can also power Sony PSP and Nintendo DS lite, DSi, Gameboy, and Samsung galaxy tablet with additional adapters .

Remember to look for the New Trent logo on retail box and product itself--
Be sure to find New Trent's logo on both package and battery pack to qualify for 6 months product warranty.

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Thursday, February 16, 2012

Motorola SURFboard Gateway SBG6580 DOCSIS 3.0 Wireless Cable Modem

!±8± Motorola SURFboard Gateway SBG6580 DOCSIS 3.0 Wireless Cable Modem


Rate : | Price : $118.48 | Post Date : Feb 16, 2012 11:42:11
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The SBG6580 SURFboard Wi-Fi Cable Modem Gateway enables the delivery of innovative ultra-broadband data and multimedia services as well as high-bandwidth home networking. Designed for seamless mobility, Motorola’s SBG6580 is a fully integrated all-in-one home networking solution that combines the functionality of a DOCSIS/EuroDOCSIS 3.0 cable modem, four-port 10/100/1000 Ethernet switch with advanced firewall, and an 802.11n Wi-Fi access point in a sleek, stylish package for the sophisticated consumer. It’s the perfect networking solution for the home, home office, or small business, allowing users to create a custom network to share a single ultra-broadband connection, files, and networked peripherals using wired or Wi-Fi connectivity. Cost-effective, efficient, and secure, the SBG6580 enables users to maximize the potential of their existing resources, while benefiting from next generation high-bandwidth services.

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Thursday, January 5, 2012

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Monday, January 2, 2012

Who Invented Personal Computing? Celebrating the Thirtieth Anniversary of Microcomputing

!±8± Who Invented Personal Computing? Celebrating the Thirtieth Anniversary of Microcomputing

A generation of young people just leaving college and going out to seek their fortune have grown up with computers, and their computers have always been personal. They've always used a keyboard to enter data and have always viewed their work on a screen that reacted pretty much instantly to their input. Increasingly, they use a small portable computer with a flat high resolution screen, or maybe even a hand-held device, with a user interface they've customized to their own liking. Personal computing. Where did it come from?

I've had reason to think about this, having been involved in the early software business and having recently published a book about my experiences selling software in the late 1970s. The book is called Priming the Pump: How TRS-80 Enthusiasts Helped Spark the PC Revolution. In the book, co-authored with my husband David, we talk about how Steve Leininger, a newly-hired engineer and computer hobbyist, and Don French, a company insider, created this ground-breaking product for Tandy Corporation for under 0,000 in development costs. Tandy, parent of the nationwide chain of Radio Shack stores (3500 at the time) sold the TRS-80 for 9.95. It was the most expensive product Radio Shack had ever sold, and it was a phenomenal success, so successful that Radio Shack was overwhelmed with orders it couldn't fill. People had to go on waiting lists to get one.

So was the TRS-80 the first truly personal computer? We do make the claim that it was the first mass produced (all made in factories in the US) off-the-shelf microcomputer. But in 1977, exactly thirty years ago, the TRS-80 was only one of three microcomputers introduced. There was also the PET from Commodore and the Apple I and II, designed by the guru of geekdom, Steve Wozniak. These three microcomputers hit the market that year, and for the TRS-80, it was the beginning of a series of upgrades and add-ons that eager users snapped up over the next seven or eight years. For Apple, their Apple II computer, which had color from the beginning and was a superb game machine, had an even longer run and sold in huge numbers. In fact, Steve Wozniak, in her new book, iWoz, claims that he "invented the personal computer" (iWoz: How I invented the personal computer, co-founded Apple, and had fun doing it, by Steve Wozniak and Gina Smith, Norton & Company, 2006). But did anyone really "invent" the personal computer?

Before there were personal computers, there were big corporate computers. In the 1960s, computers were large and expensive and did not have a screen. The input/output device was likely to be a teletype machine, itself a large, clunky and expensive machine. Or it may have been connected to a "terminal," another expensive machine that did have a TV-like screen and a keyboard. You might think that this type of computer somehow evolved into the smaller ones we use today, but that is not so.

Small computers, known initially as microcomputers, arose in the 1970s as a result of developments in electronics, specifically the microprocessor, which let many components that used to be individually mounted on a board be part of one integrated device. This was a technology that moved fast once the principles were in place. Intel founder Gordon Moore observed the fast pace and declared a proposition: Moore's Law stated that processing power would double every 18 months, and he's proved right in this observation. But it was more than technical advances that brought about personal computing. It was also a pent-up desire on the part of many people to own their own computer. This is what drove Ted Nelson to write his self-published book, Computer Lib, in 1974 and later write that he sought "the freedom of people to do their own thing with computers." It is what drove Ed Roberts to build the Altair, the first microcomputer, which appeared on the cover of Popular Electronics in January 1975. Roberts was once quoted as saying that he "lusted" after a computer of his own and that "to have a computer was better than sex."

When the Intel 4004 chip came out, it was a beginning, but only a concept, as this first microprocessor did not do enough to power a computer. Then came the 8008 and finally the 8080, the one that became the brains of the Altair and the IMSAI, kit computers that found an eager following. These chips were expensive but soon there were other microprocessors, like the 6502 from MOS Technologies and the Z80 from Zilog. Among the fruit trees of northern California soon to be known as Silicon Valley, a young Steve Wozniak had obtained two 6502 microprocessors at a computer show for the incredibly cheap price of each. The man selling them was Chuck Peddle, who had designed them. I recently heard Chuck give a talk (via internet) to the Vintage Computer Festival in New Jersey in which he stated that his company, MOS Technologies, had experienced many quality control problems and a lot of the chips did not work. He wanted to conceal the problems and make it look like he had produced the chips in abundance, so he filled a barrel with them, but only the ones on top actually worked! Good thing Woz got two that worked, because with those he built the first Apple.

Chuck Peddle sold out to Commodore, which began work on a microcomputer project. Wozniak says in his book that Peddle came to see the prototype Apple II in Steve Jobs' garage and was considering buying the rights to it, but Commodore decided to do their own design. The Commodore PET, released in 1977, had a keyboard for input and a tape cassette for storage; it was a complete system.

In 1976, another Steve - Steve Leininger - was working at National Semiconductor and moonlighting at Paul Terrell's Byte Shop, where Wozniak's Apple I models were for sale. Terrell launched Jobs and Wozniak into a real business with a ,000 order for the hand-built computer, which had no keyboard or monitor; it was really just a board that hobbyists could make into a real computer with add-ons. Leininger found himself talking one day to some buyers from Tandy Corporation, parent of Radio Shack. He later received an offer of employment and was flown to Fort Worth Texas to meet with John Roach, company CEO, and the man who would be his partner in designing the TRS-80, Don French.

The TRS-80 Model I, introduced in August 1977, had some features that the others lacked. Unlike the annoying "chiclet" keyboard of the PET, the TRS-80 had a full size keyboard. The PET came with a monitor, but the TRS-80 had a larger one. Most importantly, the PET was an all-in-one case model, with no expandability, but the TRS-80 was designed for expansion; the tape cassette recorder (the storage device) and the monitor were separate and could be replaced with something else. Eventually, Radio Shack released an "expansion interface" that let users connect a disk drive and add more memory. The TRS-80, with the BASIC language built-in, could accomplish many useful tasks, and its popularity went well beyond the enthusiastic hobbyist market. Small business owners were among the most eager buyers.

The initial events that made the personal computer possible were about technical advances - better, faster microprocessors - and hardware innovations, such as the five-inch disk drive. But the next wave of innovation that made computers essential to modern life was software, all kinds of software that helped people do common tasks more efficiently. Word Processing. Accounting. Mail lists. Database. And the first "killer app" - spreadsheets, beginning with VisiCalc. At the same time, microcomputers were a new form of entertainment. Games were tremendously popular; some mimicked the arcade games of the day and others were analogies to board games like chess. Some broke new ground for gaming, like Scott Adams' Adventure games, and the popular Oregon Trail. Without all the programmers out there creating useful applications, the computer would never be personal. In our case, David created a word processor called Lazy Writer. It received rave reviews in the many computer magazines that reviewed popular software. We sold copies all over the US and the world, with many buyers in Australia (who used a TRS-80 clone machine called the Dick Smith System 80). We never got rich selling software, but we felt the excitement of being part of something that really was a revolution.

So who invented personal computing? Was it Steve Wozniak, with his amazing designs, or was it Ed Roberts, who believed people lusted after a kit that let them build a computer called Altair, was it Chuck Peddle who gave the world a cheap microprocessor, or was it Leininger and French who built the TRS-80, a machine that had so many fans? Notice that I have not even mentioned Bill Gates or the IBM PC. Gates was there from the beginning, and he too has a claim on inventing personal computing. It was Gates who created the version of the BASIC language that was in the Altair and who later supplied the operating system for the IBM PC, the machine that first gave us the term, "Personal Computer." But it seems clear to me that the vision of a personal computer was out there long before IBM got into the act. In fact, it seems unlikely that we can ever name one person who deserves the credit for "inventing" personal computing. A computer as a personal tool - an idea that was in the ether, as they say, and that had many inventors, both through breakthroughs in hardware and creativity in software.

The tremendous strides we've made in how we use our computers is exemplified for me in two remarks from family members. The first was something my daughter, born in 1985, said to me some years back. She said that when she first heard that computers were once huge machines that filled a room, she pictured in her mind a giant modern computer, with a gigantic screen filling a whole wall and a huge keyboard, with a person jumping from one enormous key to another. She couldn't see how else a computer could fill a room. The other remark was just recently made by my sister, who is relatively new to computer ownership. She had finished reading my book, which she said she enjoyed despite her lack of computer savvy, and I was pleased because we did not intend our book just for geeks. Then she said, "I always thought early computers would be kind of like modern ones only maybe slower, but now I see that they were completely different." My first reaction to this was wanting to say "No they weren't," but I didn't say that because I wanted to think about why she would make this remark. I realized that the way a user interacts with a PC today really is completely different from looking at a screen displaying a blinking cursor and the word "Ready." That's what we used to see on our TRS-80 when we turned it on. It was ready for us to give it a command and until we did, it would do nothing. And it could only do one thing at a time. Just look at the graphics, sound and interactivity of modern personal computers and, even though they are the descendants of the blank screen with a blinking cursor, the way we use computers and take their amazing abilities for granted is completely different from the era of microcomputers that dazzled us thirty years ago.

You can buy Priming the Pump from the book website at http://www.microcomputerpioneers.com or from amazon.com.


Who Invented Personal Computing? Celebrating the Thirtieth Anniversary of Microcomputing

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