Harc's PC Timeline

From 1978 to 1982 was an epic era for Atari; continuing after the success of the Atari 2600 game system, Atari releases the Atari 400 and Atari 800 PCs. Built as hybrid game machine and computer system, they set the precedent for computer gaming for decades to come.

We live in Vero Beach now, and my dad works for Harris Corp; on the side he and his friend have a small PC shop selling these bad boys; I still remember my nights there with my dad, learning (and playing) on the Atari’s they sold.

Texas Instruments has been active in PC manufacturing for some years, and puts out successor to the TI-99/4 model originally released back in 1979. The new unit is a 99 4/A, and it’s the very first 16-bit PC (ever).

I’m 11 now, and I get a TI 99 4/A for my birthday! I guess pops figured I liked the computers at the store so much, why not? With the computer comes some basic instructions on the operating system, on how to “load” games which requires some basic programming (TI Basic to be exact). I guess these interactions and a programming book that came with the computer led me to want to make my own text adventure game; I only half finished the story as I hit the memory limit on the machine.

Apple, Texas Instruments, Atari, and Commodore put out great PCs in these years; it’s just before the 8086 IBM DOS architecture releases to mainstream, so machines all have different and unique options.

Between my brother having a Commodore-64, a new friend at school who has a TRS-80 and even better an Apple IIe, I’m a full fledged computer hobbyist, having created programs on all these models. For my 14th birthday in 1986 I get a “dream machine” – the Atari 1040ST!

1988 – 1995 is the era of the IBM compatible PC architectures: 8088, 8086, 80386, 80486 / DOS and Windows emerge (as well as OS/2 from IBM, which was probably a superior OS but never quite made it mainstream).

I was busy working my first job (Little Caesar’s Pizza) from 15 – 17, so not nearly enough time to keep up with my programming hobbies. We also move from Melbourne, FL to Marietta, GA in Christmas of ’88 – I finish High School and attend Kennesaw State, just outside of Atlanta, for my Bachelor’s in Computer Science. You can find the rest on my professional credentials…