Kenbak-1
Technical Specifications
- CPU:
- None (TTL logic)
- RAM:
- 256 bytes
- Released:
- Fri Jan 01 1971
- Origin:
- United States
The Kenbak-1 is widely regarded as the first personal computer, released in 1971—years before the microprocessor became commercially available. Designed by John Blankenbaker, it used small- and medium-scale TTL (transistor-transistor logic) chips instead of a CPU, making it a purely logic-based machine.
It featured 256 bytes of memory and was programmed using a series of front-panel switches and LEDs. Despite its historical significance, fewer than 50 units were ever built, and it was a commercial failure—largely due to being too far ahead of its time.
💡 Did You Know?
- The Kenbak-1 was declared the “first personal computer” by the Computer History Museum
- Its creator, John Blankenbaker, sold it for $750 in 1971 (roughly $5,500 today)
- Programming it involved entering binary code manually via switches—no keyboard, no monitor