The Beginnings of a Revolution

On the introduction of IBM’s personal computer 20 years ago, the Los Angeles Times reported that the company “tardily but forcefully” entered the PC market with its $1,565 (base price) model.

Although other companies already had begun developing PCs, analysts wondered when IBM would enter the $575-million market. The company unveiled its machine Aug. 12, 1981.

This article, which appeared on the front page of The Times’ Business section the next day, quoted a spokesman from one of IBM’s competitors as saying, “It’s a nice machine but certainly not a breakthrough either technologically or from a price point of view.”