The 25 Most Important PCs in History

[Iggy]

Ah, the good old days. When you were convinced that one day everyone would have a computer, but you weren't too sure what they'd be using them for.
And while you quietly advocating their purchase you had to explain to your
Uncle Ned that balancing his checkbook was probably not a good reason to buy one.

[Iggy]

Compatibility/standardised=Not the best

8 bit = MSX vs others with better sound/sprites/colours.
16 bit = EGA PC 8086 vs Amiga/ST
32/64bit = PC vs $200 360 (as a gamer)

Also no personality/quirkyness outside console hardware wars today.

Consoles which all use processors designed by the same company and are derived from PowerPC processors.
The top two selling consoles having GPUs designed by the same firm, and the third ranking seller using a GPU from that company's biggest rival.

Yeah, they're quirky, but the let's face it they're also standardized (more so than PCs). You can't even modify them, create your own software or use anything but officially sanctioned software.

What happened to the first part of your argument?

[Iggy]

Back then I was in the mainframe biz. When the boss heard I was looking for a computer, he thought I was nuts... "You work computers all day, then you want to go home to one?", He says. "But it's *mine*", sez I. ;-)

I don't think IBM ever really understood the idea of personal computing either. Why else would they totally out source all the elements their original PC?

[Iggy]

Well, I wouldn't count out ARM. Basically if it isn't a console or a computer, it probably runs ARM. They pretty much rule the embedded market.

As far as IBM using off-the-shelf parts for their original PC, my understanding was always that it was a question of cost and convenience, since they wanted a product on the market quick. Once the BIOS was cloned, the rest was history.

Yes, that was my understanding as well, that it was a cost issue. But that doesn't explain IBM and Apple's strategy at the time of selling relatively low cost  PCs with lost cost components at a premium price.

I don't know what 8088s were  going for, but a $5.00 6502 in a $1000 computer? Something's wrong there.

[Iggy]

A 1000 dollars would have been a bargain in the mid 80s for a PC or Mac

In the end, they charged what they thought people were willing to pay. And people were indeed willing to pay 1500 dollars for a computer that at the time was barely more capable than most 8 bits

Well in that regard, things have improved. Lower prices, more availability, and better performance.

Comparing even a sub $300 netbook to an original PC makes today's products look good.