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=                         Personal_computer                          =
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                            Introduction
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A personal computer, commonly referred to as PC or computer, is a
computer designed for individual use. It is typically used for tasks
such as word processing, internet browsing, email, multimedia
playback, and gaming. Personal computers are intended to be operated
directly by an end user, rather than by a computer expert or
technician. Unlike large, costly minicomputers and mainframes,
time-sharing by many people at the same time is not used with personal
computers. The term home computer has also been used, primarily in the
late 1970s and 1980s. The advent of personal computers and the
concurrent Digital Revolution have significantly affected the lives of
people.

Institutional or corporate computer owners in the 1960s had to write
their own programs to do any useful work with computers. While
personal computer users may develop their applications, usually these
systems run commercial software, free-of-charge software ("freeware"),
which is most often proprietary, or free and open-source software,
which is provided in 'ready-to-run', or binary form. Software for
personal computers is typically developed and distributed
independently from the hardware or operating system manufacturers.
Many personal computer users no longer need to write their programs to
make any use of a personal computer, although end-user programming is
still feasible. This contrasts with mobile systems, where software is
often available only through a manufacturer-supported channel and
end-user program development may be discouraged by lack of support by
the manufacturer.

Since the early 1990s, Microsoft operating systems (first with MS-DOS
and then with Windows) and CPUs based on Intel's x86 architecture -
collectively called Wintel - have dominated the personal computer
market, and today the term PC normally refers to the ubiquitous Wintel
platform, or to Windows PCs in general (including those running ARM
chips), to the point where software for Windows is marketed as "for
PC". Alternatives to Windows occupy a minority share of the market;
these include the Mac platform from Apple (running the macOS operating
system), and free and open-source, Unix-like operating systems, such
as Linux (including the Linux-derived ChromeOS). Other notable
platforms until the 1990s were the Amiga from Commodore, the Atari ST,
and the PC-98 from NEC.


                  {{Anchor|Case of PC}}Terminology
======================================================================
The term 'PC' is an initialism for 'personal computer'. While the IBM
Personal Computer incorporated the designation into its model name,
the term originally described personal computers of any brand. In some
contexts, PC is used to contrast with Mac, an Apple Macintosh
computer.

Since none of these Apple products were mainframes or time-sharing
systems, they were all personal computers but not PC (brand)
computers. In 1995, a CBS segment on the growing popularity of PC
reported: "For many newcomers PC stands for Pain and Confusion."


Origins
=========
In the history of computing, early experimental machines could be
operated by a single attendant. For example, ENIAC which became
operational in 1946 could be run by a single, albeit highly trained,
person. This mode pre-dated the batch programming, or time-sharing
modes with multiple users connected through terminals to mainframe
computers. Computers intended for laboratory, instrumentation, or
engineering purposes were built, and could be operated by one person
in an interactive fashion. Examples include such systems as the Bendix
G15 and LGP-30 of 1956, and the Soviet MIR series of computers
developed from 1965 to 1969. By the early 1970s, people in academic or
research institutions had the opportunity for single-person use of a
computer system in interactive mode for extended durations, although
these systems would still have been too expensive to be owned by a
single person.


1960s
=======
The personal computer was made possible by major advances in
semiconductor technology. In 1959, the silicon integrated circuit (IC)
chip was developed by Robert Noyce at Fairchild Semiconductor, and the
metal-oxide-semiconductor (MOS) transistor was developed by Mohamed
Atalla and Dawon Kahng at Bell Labs. The MOS integrated circuit was
commercialized by RCA in 1964, and then the silicon-gate MOS
integrated circuit was developed by Federico Faggin at Fairchild in
1968. Faggin later used silicon-gate MOS technology to develop the
first single-chip microprocessor, the Intel 4004, in 1971. The first
microcomputers, based on microprocessors, were developed during the
early 1970s. Widespread commercial availability of microprocessors,
from the mid-1970s onwards, made computers cheap enough for small
businesses and individuals to own.

In what was later to be called the Mother of All Demos, SRI researcher
Douglas Engelbart in 1968 gave a preview of features that would later
become staples of personal computers: e-mail, hypertext, word
processing, video conferencing, and the mouse. The demonstration
required technical support staff and a mainframe time-sharing computer
that were far too costly for individual business use at the time.


1970s
=======
Early personal computersgenerally called microcomputerswere often sold
in a kit form and in limited volumes, and were of interest mostly to
hobbyists and technicians. Minimal programming was done with toggle
switches to enter instructions, and output was provided by front panel
lamps. Practical use required adding peripherals such as keyboards,
computer displays, disk drives, and printers.

Micral N was the earliest commercial, non-kit microcomputer based on a
microprocessor, the Intel 8008. It was built starting in 1972, and a
few hundred units were sold. This had been preceded by the Datapoint
2200 in 1970, for which the Intel 8008 had been commissioned, though
not accepted for use. The CPU design implemented in the Datapoint 2200
became the basis for x86 architecture used in the original IBM PC and
its descendants.

In 1973, the IBM Los Gatos Scientific Center developed a portable
computer prototype called SCAMP (Special Computer APL Machine
Portable) based on the IBM PALM processor with a Philips compact
cassette drive, small CRT, and full function keyboard. SCAMP emulated
an IBM 1130 minicomputer in order to run APL/1130. In 1973, APL was
generally available only on mainframe computers, and most desktop
sized microcomputers such as the Wang 2200 or HP 9800 offered only
BASIC. Because SCAMP was the first to emulate APL/1130 performance on
a portable, single user computer, 'PC Magazine' in 1983 designated
SCAMP a "revolutionary concept" and "the world's first personal
computer". This seminal, single user portable computer now resides in
the Smithsonian Institution, Washington, D.C.. Successful
demonstrations of the 1973 SCAMP prototype led to the IBM 5100
portable microcomputer launched in 1975 with the ability to be
programmed in both APL and BASIC for engineers, analysts,
statisticians, and other business problem-solvers. In the late 1960s
such a machine would have been nearly as large as two desks and would
have weighed about half a ton.

Another desktop portable APL machine, the MCM/70, was demonstrated in
1973 and shipped in 1974. It used the Intel 8008 processor.

A seminal step in personal computing was the 1973 Xerox Alto,
developed at Xerox's Palo Alto Research Center (PARC). It had a
graphical user interface (GUI) which later served as inspiration for
Apple's Macintosh, and Microsoft's Windows operating system. The Alto
was a demonstration project, not commercialized, as the parts were too
expensive to be affordable.

Also in 1973 Hewlett Packard introduced fully BASIC programmable
microcomputers that fit entirely on top of a desk, including a
keyboard, a small one-line display, and printer. The Wang 2200
microcomputer of 1973 had a full-size cathode ray tube (CRT) and
cassette tape storage. These were generally expensive specialized
computers sold for business or scientific uses.


1974 saw the introduction of what is considered by many to be the
first true personal computer, the Altair 8800 created by Micro
Instrumentation and Telemetry Systems (MITS). Based on the 8-bit Intel
8080 Microprocessor, the Altair is widely recognized as the spark that
ignited the microcomputer revolution as the first commercially
successful personal computer. The computer bus designed for the Altair
was to become a 'de facto' standard in the form of the S-100 bus, and
the first programming language for the machine was Microsoft's
founding product, Altair BASIC.

In 1976, Steve Jobs and Steve Wozniak sold the Apple I computer
circuit board, which was fully prepared and contained about 30 chips.
The Apple I computer differed from the other kit-style hobby computers
of the era. At the request of Paul Terrell, owner of the Byte Shop,
Jobs and Wozniak were given their first purchase order, for 50 Apple I
computers, only if the computers were assembled and tested and not a
kit computer. Terrell wanted to have computers to sell to a wide range
of users, not just experienced electronics hobbyists who had the
soldering skills to assemble a computer kit. The Apple I as delivered
was still technically a kit computer, as it did not have a power
supply, case, or keyboard when it was delivered to the Byte Shop.
The first successfully mass-marketed personal computer to be announced
was the Commodore PET after being revealed in January 1977. However,
it was back-ordered and not available until later that year. Three
months later (April), the Apple II (usually referred to as the Apple)
was announced with the first units being shipped 10 June 1977, and the
TRS-80 from Tandy Corporation / Tandy Radio Shack following in August
1977, which sold over 100,000 units during its lifetime. Together,
especially in the North American market, these 3 machines were
referred to as the "1977 trinity". Mass-market, ready-assembled
computers had arrived, and allowed a wider range of people to use
computers, focusing more on software applications and less on
development of the processor hardware.

In 1977 the Heath company introduced personal computer kits known as
Heathkits, starting with the Heathkit H8, followed by the Heathkit H89
in late 1979. With the purchase of the Heathkit H8 you would obtain
the chassis and CPU card to assemble yourself, additional hardware
such as the H8-1 memory board that contained 4k of RAM could also be
purchased in order to run software. The Heathkit H11 model was
released in 1978 and was one of the first 16-bit personal computers;
however, due to its high retail cost of $1,295 was discontinued in
1982.


1980s
=======
During the early 1980s, home computers were further developed for
household use, with software for personal productivity, programming
and games. They typically could be used with a television already in
the home as the computer display, with low-detail blocky graphics and
a limited color range, and text about 40 characters wide by 25
characters tall. Sinclair Research, a UK company, produced the ZX
Seriesthe ZX80 (1980), ZX81 (1981), and the ZX Spectrum; the latter
was introduced in 1982, and totaled 8 million unit sold. Following
came the Commodore 64, totaled 17 million units sold, the Galaksija
(1983) introduced in Yugoslavia and the Amstrad CPC series (464-6128).

In the same year, the NEC PC-98 was introduced, which was a very
popular personal computer that sold in more than 18 million units.
Another famous personal computer, the revolutionary Amiga 1000, was
unveiled by Commodore on 23 July 1985. The Amiga 1000 featured a
multitasking, windowing operating system, color graphics with a
4096-color palette, stereo sound, Motorola 68000 CPU, 256 KB RAM, and
880 KB 3.5-inch disk drive, for US$1,295.

IBM's first PC was introduced on 12 August 1981 setting what became a
mass market standard for PC architecture.

In 1982 'The Computer' was named Machine of the Year by 'Time'
magazine.

Somewhat larger and more expensive systems were aimed at office and
small business use. These often featured 80-column text displays but
might not have had graphics or sound capabilities. These
microprocessor-based systems were still less costly than time-shared
mainframes or minicomputers.

Workstations were characterized by high-performance processors and
graphics displays, with large-capacity local disk storage, networking
capability, and running under a multitasking operating system.
Eventually, due to the influence of the IBM PC on the personal
computer market, personal computers and home computers lost any
technical distinction. Business computers acquired color graphics
capability and sound, and home computers and game systems users used
the same processors and operating systems as office workers.
Mass-market computers had graphics capabilities and memory comparable
to dedicated workstations of a few years before. Even local area
networking, originally a way to allow business computers to share
expensive mass storage and peripherals, became a standard feature of
personal computers used at home.

An increasingly important set of uses for personal computers relied on
the ability of the computer to communicate with other computer
systems, allowing interchange of information. Experimental public
access to a shared mainframe computer system was demonstrated as early
as 1973 in the Community Memory project, but bulletin board systems
and online service providers became more commonly available after
1978. Commercial Internet service providers emerged in the late 1980s,
giving public access to the rapidly growing network.

In 1984, Apple Computer  launched the Macintosh, with an advertisement
during the Super Bowl. The Macintosh was the first successful
mass-market mouse-driven computer with a graphical user interface or
'WIMP' (Windows, Icons, Menus, and Pointers). Based on the Motorola
68000 microprocessor, the Macintosh included many of the Lisa's
features at a price of US$2,495. The Macintosh was introduced with 128
KB of RAM and later that year a 512 KB RAM model became available. To
reduce costs compared the Lisa, the year-younger Macintosh had a
simplified motherboard design, no internal hard drive, and a single
3.5-inch floppy drive.  Applications that came with the Macintosh
included MacPaint, a bit-mapped graphics program, and MacWrite, which
demonstrated WYSIWYG word processing.

The Macintosh was a successful personal computer for years to come.
This is particularly due to the introduction of desktop publishing in
1985 through Apple's partnership with Adobe. This partnership
introduced the LaserWriter printer and Aldus PageMaker to users of the
personal computer. During Steve Jobs's hiatus from Apple, a number of
different models of Macintosh, including the Macintosh Plus and
Macintosh II, were released to a great degree of success. The entire
Macintosh line of computers was IBM's major competition up until the
early 1990s.


1990s
=======
In 1991, the World Wide Web was made available for public use. The
combination of powerful personal computers with high-resolution
graphics and sound, with the infrastructure provided by the Internet,
and the standardization of access methods of the Web browsers,
established the foundation for a significant fraction of modern life,
from bus time tables through unlimited distribution of free videos
through to online user-edited encyclopedias.


Workstation
=============
A workstation is a high-end personal computer designed for technical,
mathematical, or scientific applications. Intended primarily to be
used by one person at a time, they are commonly connected to a local
area network and run multi-user operating systems. Workstations are
used for tasks such as computer-aided design, drafting and modeling,
computation-intensive scientific and engineering calculations, image
processing, architectural modeling, and computer graphics for
animation and motion picture visual effects.


Desktop computer
==================
Before the widespread use of PCs, a computer that could fit on a desk
was remarkably small, leading to the 'desktop' nomenclature. More
recently, the phrase usually indicates a particular style of computer
case. Desktop computers come in a variety of styles ranging from large
vertical tower cases to small models which can be tucked behind or
rest directly beneath (and support) LCD monitors.

While the term 'desktop' often refers to a computer with a vertically
aligned computer tower case, these varieties often rest on the ground
or underneath desks. Despite this seeming contradiction, the term
'desktop' does typically refer to these vertical tower cases as well
as the horizontally aligned models which are designed to literally
rest on top of desks and are therefore more appropriate to the
'desktop' term, although both types qualify for this 'desktop' label
in most practical situations aside from certain physical arrangement
differences. Both styles of these computer cases hold the systems
hardware components such as the motherboard, processor chip and other
internal operating parts. Desktop computers have an external monitor
with a display screen and an external keyboard, which are plugged into
ports on the back of the computer case. Desktop computers are popular
for home and business computing applications as they leave space on
the desk for multiple monitors.

A gaming computer is a desktop computer that generally comprises a
high-performance video card, processor and RAM, to improve the speed
and responsiveness of demanding video games.

An all-in-one computer (also known as single-unit PCs) is a desktop
computer that combines the monitor and processor within a single unit.
A separate keyboard and mouse are standard input devices, with some
monitors including touchscreen capability. The processor and other
working components are typically reduced in size relative to standard
desktops, located behind the monitor, and configured similarly to
laptops.

A nettop computer was introduced by Intel in February 2008,
characterized by low cost and lean functionality. These were intended
to be used with an Internet connection to run Web browsers and
Internet applications.

A home theater PC (HTPC) combines the functions of a personal computer
and a digital video recorder. It is connected to a TV set or an
appropriately sized computer display, and is often used as a digital
photo viewer, music and video player, TV receiver, and digital video
recorder. HTPCs are also referred to as media center systems or media
servers. The goal is to combine many or all components of a home
theater setup into one box. HTPCs can also connect to services
providing on-demand movies and TV shows. HTPCs can be purchased
pre-configured with the required hardware and software needed to add
television programming to the PC, or can be assembled from components.

Keyboard computers are computers inside of keyboards, generally still
designed to be connected to an external computer monitor or
television. Examples include the Atari ST, Amstrad CPC, BBC Micro,
Commodore 64, MSX, Raspberry Pi 400, and the ZX Spectrum.


Luggable
==========
The potential utility of portable computers was apparent early on.
Alan Kay described the Dynabook in 1972, but no hardware was
developed. The Xerox NoteTaker was produced in a very small
experimental batch around 1978. In 1975, the IBM 5100 could be fit
into a transport case, making it a portable computer, but it weighed
about 50 pounds. Such early portable computers were termed 'luggables'
by journalists owing to their heft.

Before the introduction of the IBM PC, portable computers consisting
of a processor, display, disk drives and keyboard, in a suit-case
style portable housing, allowed users to bring a computer home from
the office or to take notes at a classroom. Examples include the
Osborne 1 and Kaypro; and the Commodore SX-64. These machines were
AC-powered and included a small CRT display screen. The form factor
was intended to allow these systems to be taken on board an airplane
as carry-on baggage, though their high power demand meant that they
could not be used in flight. The integrated CRT display made for a
relatively heavy package, but these machines were more portable than
their contemporary desktop equals. Some models had standard or
optional connections to drive an external video monitor, allowing a
larger screen or use with video projectors.

IBM PC-compatible suitcase format computers became available soon
after the introduction of the PC, with the Compaq Portable being a
leading example of the type. Later models included a hard drive to
give roughly equivalent performance to contemporary desktop computers.

The development of thin plasma display and LCD screens permitted a
somewhat smaller form factor, called the 'lunchbox' computer. The
screen formed one side of the enclosure, with a detachable keyboard
and one or two half-height floppy disk drives, mounted facing the ends
of the computer. Some variations included a battery, allowing
operation away from AC outlets.


Laptop
========
A laptop computer is designed for portability with 'clamshell' design,
where the keyboard and computer components are on one panel, with a
hinged second panel containing a flat display screen. Closing the
laptop protects the screen and keyboard during transportation. Laptops
generally have a rechargeable battery, enhancing their portability. To
save power, weight and space, laptop graphics chips are in many cases
integrated into the CPU or chipset and use system RAM, resulting in
reduced graphics performance when compared to desktop machines, that
more typically have a graphics card installed. For this reason,
desktop computers are usually preferred over laptops for gaming
purposes.

Unlike desktop computers, only minor internal upgrades (such as memory
and hard disk drive) are feasible owing to the limited space and power
available. Laptops have the same input and output ports as desktops,
for connecting to external displays, mice, cameras, storage devices
and keyboards. Laptops are also a little more expensive compared to
desktops, as the miniaturized components for laptops themselves are
expensive.

Notebook computers such as the TRS-80 Model 100 and Epson HX-20 had
roughly the plan dimensions of a sheet of typing paper (ANSI A or ISO
A4). These machines had a keyboard with slightly reduced dimensions
compared to a desktop system, and a fixed LCD display screen coplanar
with the keyboard. These displays were usually small, with 8 to 16
lines of text, sometimes only 40 columns line length. However, these
machines could operate for extended times on disposable or
rechargeable batteries. Although they did not usually include internal
disk drives, this form factor often included a modem for telephone
communication and often had provisions for external cassette or disk
storage. Later, clamshell format laptop computers with similar small
plan dimensions were also called 'notebooks'.

A desktop replacement computer is a portable computer that provides
the full capabilities of a desktop computer. Such computers are
currently large laptops. This class of computers usually includes more
powerful components and a larger display than generally found in
smaller portable computers, and may have limited battery capacity or
no battery.


Netbooks, also called mini notebooks or subnotebooks, were a subgroup
of laptops suited for general computing tasks and accessing web-based
applications. Initially, the primary defining characteristic of
netbooks was the lack of an optical disc drive, smaller size, and
lower performance than full-size laptops. By mid-2009 netbooks had
been offered to users "free of charge", with an extended service
contract purchase of a cellular data plan. Ultrabooks and Chromebooks
have since filled the gap left by Netbooks. Unlike the generic Netbook
name, Ultrabook and Chromebook are technically both specifications by
Intel and Google respectively.


Tablet
========
A tablet uses a touchscreen display, which can be controlled using
either a stylus pen or finger. Some tablets may use a 'hybrid' or
'convertible' design, offering a keyboard that can either be removed
as an attachment, or a screen that can be rotated and folded directly
over top the keyboard. Some tablets may use desktop-PC operating
system such as Windows or Linux, or may run an operating system
designed primarily for tablets. Many tablet computers have USB ports,
to which a keyboard or mouse can be connected.


Smartphone
============
Smartphones are often similar to tablet computers, the difference
being that smartphones always have cellular integration. They are
generally smaller than tablets, and may not have a slate form factor.


Ultra-mobile PC
=================
The ultra-mobile PC (UMPC) is a small tablet computer. It was
developed by Microsoft, Intel and Samsung, among others. Current UMPCs
typically feature the Windows XP, Windows Vista, Windows 7, or Linux
operating system, and low-voltage Intel Atom or VIA C7-M processors.


Pocket PC
===========
A pocket PC is a hardware specification for a handheld-sized computer
(personal digital assistant, PDA) that runs the Microsoft Windows
Mobile operating system. It may have the capability to run an
alternative operating system like NetBSD or Linux. Pocket PCs have
many of the capabilities of desktop PCs. Numerous applications are
available for handhelds adhering to the Microsoft Pocket PC
specification, many of which are freeware. Microsoft-compliant Pocket
PCs can also be used with many other add-ons like GPS receivers,
barcode readers, RFID readers and cameras.

In 2007, with the release of Windows Mobile 6, Microsoft dropped the
name Pocket PC in favor of a new naming scheme: devices without an
integrated phone are called Windows Mobile Classic instead of Pocket
PC, while devices with an integrated phone and a touch screen are
called Windows Mobile Professional.


Palmtop and handheld PCs
==========================
Palmtop PCs were miniature pocket-sized computers running DOS that
first came about in the late 1980s, typically in a clamshell form
factor with a keyboard. Non-x86 based devices were often called
palmtop computers, examples being Psion Series 3. In later years a
hardware specification called Handheld PC was later released by
Microsoft that run the Windows CE operating system.


                              Hardware
======================================================================
Computer hardware is a comprehensive term for all physical and
tangible parts of a computer, as distinguished from the data it
contains or operates on, and the software that provides instructions
for the hardware to accomplish tasks. Some sub-systems of a personal
computer may contain processors that run a fixed program, or firmware,
such as a keyboard controller. Firmware usually is not changed by the
end user of the personal computer.

Most 2010s and 2020s-era personal computers require users only to plug
in the power supply, monitor, and other cables. A typical desktop
computer consists of a computer case (or 'tower'), a metal chassis
that holds the power supply, motherboard, a storage device such as a
hard disk drive or solid-state drive, and often an optical disc drive.
Most towers have empty space where users can add additional
components. External devices such as a computer monitor or visual
display unit, keyboard, and a pointing device (mouse) are usually
found in a personal computer.

The motherboard connects all processor, memory and peripheral devices
together. The RAM, graphics card and processor are in most cases
mounted directly onto the motherboard. The central processing unit
(microprocessor chip) plugs into a CPU socket, while the ram modules
plug into corresponding ram sockets. Some motherboards have the video
display adapter, sound and other peripherals integrated onto the
motherboard, while others use expansion slots for graphics cards,
network cards, or other input/output devices. The graphics card or
sound card may employ a break out box to keep the analog parts away
from the electromagnetic radiation inside the computer case. Disk
drives, which provide mass storage, are connected to the motherboard
with one cable, and to the power supply through another cable.
Usually, disk drives are mounted in the same case as the motherboard;
expansion chassis are also made for additional disk storage.

For large amounts of data, a tape drive can be used or extra hard
disks can be put together in an external case. The keyboard and the
mouse are external devices plugged into the computer through
connectors on an I/O panel on the back of the computer case. The
monitor is also connected to the input/output (I/O) panel, either
through an onboard port on the motherboard, or a port on the graphics
card. Capabilities of the personal computer's hardware can sometimes
be extended by the addition of expansion cards connected via an
expansion bus. Standard peripheral buses often used for adding
expansion cards in personal computers include PCI, PCI Express (PCIe),
and AGP (a high-speed PCI bus dedicated to graphics adapters, found in
older computers). Most modern personal computers have multiple
physical PCI Express expansion slots, with some having PCI slots as
well.

A peripheral is "a device connected to a computer to provide
communication (such as input and output) or auxiliary functions (such
as additional storage)". Peripherals generally connect to the computer
through the use of USB ports or inputs located on the I/O panel. USB
flash drives provide portable storage using flash memory which allows
users to access the files stored on the drive on any computer. Memory
cards also provide portable storage for users, commonly used on other
electronics such as mobile phones and digital cameras, the information
stored on these cards can be accessed using a memory card reader to
transfer data between devices. Webcams, which are either built into
computer hardware or connected via USB are video cameras that records
video in real time to either be saved to the computer or streamed
somewhere else over the internet. Game controllers can be plugged in
via USB and can be used as an input device for video games as an
alternative to using keyboard and mouse. Headphones and speakers can
be connected via USB or through an auxiliary port (found on I/O panel)
and allow users to listen to audio accessed on their computer;
however, speakers may also require an additional power source to
operate. Microphones can be connected through an audio input port on
the I/O panel and allow the computer to convert sound into an
electrical signal to be used or transmitted by the computer.


                              Software
======================================================================
Computer software is any kind of computer program, procedure, or
documentation that performs some task on a computer system. The term
includes application software such as word processors that perform
productive tasks for users, system software such as operating systems
that interface with computer hardware to provide the necessary
services for application software, and middleware that controls and
co-ordinates distributed systems.
Software applications are common for word processing, Internet
browsing, Internet faxing, e-mail and other digital messaging,
multimedia playback, playing of computer game, and computer
programming. The user may have significant knowledge of the operating
environment and application programs, but is not necessarily
interested in programming nor even able to write programs for the
computer. Therefore, most software written primarily for personal
computers tends to be designed with simplicity of use, or
'user-friendliness' in mind. However, the software industry
continuously provide a wide range of new products for use in personal
computers, targeted at both the expert and the non-expert user.


Operating system
==================
An operating system (OS) manages computer resources and provides
programmers with an interface used to access those resources. An
operating system processes system data and user input, and responds by
allocating and managing tasks and internal system resources as a
service to users and programs of the system. An operating system
performs basic tasks such as controlling and allocating memory,
prioritizing system requests, controlling input/output devices,
facilitating computer networking, and managing files.

Common contemporary desktop operating systems are Microsoft Windows,
macOS, Linux, Solaris and FreeBSD. Windows, macOS, and Linux all have
server and personal variants. With the exception of Microsoft Windows,
the designs of each of them were inspired by or directly inherited
from the Unix operating system.

Early personal computers used operating systems that supported command
line interaction, using an alphanumeric display and keyboard. The user
had to remember a large range of commands to, for example, open a file
for editing or to move text from one place to another. Starting in the
early 1960s, the advantages of a graphical user interface began to be
explored, but widespread adoption required lower-cost graphical
display equipment. By 1984, mass-market computer systems using
graphical user interfaces were available; by the turn of the 21st
century, text-mode operating systems were no longer a significant
fraction of the personal computer market.


Applications
==============
Generally, a computer user uses application software to carry out a
specific task. System software supports applications and provides
common services such as memory management, network connectivity and
device drivers, all of which may be used by applications but are not
directly of interest to the end user. A simplified analogy in the
world of hardware would be the relationship of an electric light bulb
(an application) to an electric power generation plant (a system): the
power plant merely generates electricity, not itself of any real use
until harnessed to an application like the electric light that
performs a service that benefits the user.

Typical examples of software applications are word processors,
spreadsheets, and media players. Multiple applications bundled
together as a package are sometimes referred to as an 'application
suite'. Microsoft Office and LibreOffice, which bundle together a word
processor, a spreadsheet, and several other discrete applications, are
typical examples. The separate applications in a suite usually have a
user interface that has some commonality making it easier for the user
to learn and use each application. Often, they may have some
capability to interact with each other in ways beneficial to the user;
for example, a spreadsheet might be able to be embedded in a word
processor document even though it had been created in the separate
spreadsheet application.

End-user development tailors systems to meet the user's specific
needs. User-written software include spreadsheet templates, word
processor macros, scientific simulations, graphics and animation
scripts; even email filters are a kind of user software. Users create
this software themselves and often overlook how important it is.


Gaming
========
PC gaming is popular among the high-end PC market. According to an
April 2018 market analysis done by 'Newzoo', PC gaming was the third
largest gaming sector behind console and mobile gaming in terms of
market share sitting at a 24% share of the entire market. The market
for PC gaming continues to grow and is expected to generate $32.3
billion in revenue in the year 2021. PC gaming is at the forefront of
competitive gaming, known as esports, with games such as 'League of
Legends, Dota 2' and 'Counter-Strike: Global Offensive' leading the
industry that is suspected to surpass a billion dollars in revenue in
2019. According to a December 2023 market analysis done by 'Visual
Capitalist', the PC gaming sector was the second-largest category
across all platforms as of 2022, valued at US$45 billion, surpassing
console market revenue by 2020.

There are multiple different game distributors; players are able to
purchase games in-person at retail stores and digitally. Some large
names for digital game distributors are Epic Games, Valve Corporation,
Electronic Arts, and Ubisoft. Distributors such as the ones listed
allow many games to be purchasable and accessible to users. Though
some distributors may only sell games that have been created by their
own company, many games and franchises are available on multiple
distributor platforms. Some multiplayer pc games can also be
cross-platform, allowing players the ability the play with other
platforms, such as pc and different consoles. There are 'games' on
distributor platforms that may allow players to play other known games
using the game application as an emulator; these games originally may
not be supported by the player's current device, whether it be
platform locked or no longer supported by the operating system of the
pc. The number of different video game genres can range across each
distributor platform, first-person shooters, MMO games, adventure
games, etc. Many games, frequently free-to-play games, have
microtransactions available for players. These transactions can help
enhance gameplay or to personalize their characters. There are games
such as The Sims that allow players to purchase additional game packs
in order to gain access to additional new gameplay.


Market share
==============
ImageSize=width:375 height:350
PlotArea=left:60 bottom:51 top:10 right:16
AlignBars=justify
Period=from:0 till:400
TimeAxis=orientation:horizontal

Colors=
id:gray value:gray(0.5)
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id:line2 value:gray(0.7)

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ScaleMinor=unit:year increment:50 start:0 gridcolor:line1

BarData=
bar:1996 text:1996
bar:1997 text:1997
bar:1998 text:1998
bar:1999 text:1999
bar:2000 text:2000
bar:2001 text:2001
bar:2002 text:2002
bar:2003 text:2003
bar:2004 text:2004
bar:2005 text:2005
bar:2006 text:2006
bar:2007 text:2007
bar:2008 text:2008
bar:2009 text:2009
bar:2010 text:2010
bar:2011 text:2011
bar:2012 text:2012
bar:2013 text:2013
bar:2014 text:2014
bar:2015 text:2015
bar:2016 text:2016
bar:2017 text:2017

PlotData=
color:tan1 width:10



bar:1996 from:start till:70.90000 text:70.9 million
bar:1997 from:start till:80.60000 text:80.6 million
bar:1998 from:start till:92.90000 text:92.9 million
bar:1999 from:start till:113.500000 text:113.5 million
bar:2000 from:start till:134.700000 text:134.7 million
bar:2001 from:start till:128.10000 text:128.1 million
bar:2002 from:start till:132.40000 text:132.4 million
bar:2003 from:start till:168.90000 text:168.9 million
bar:2004 from:start till:189.0000 text:189 million
bar:2005 from:start till:218.50000 text:218.5 million
bar:2006 from:start till:239.4 text:239.4 million
bar:2007 from:start till:271.20000 text:271.2 million
bar:2008 from:start till:290.80000 text:290.8 million
bar:2009 from:start till:308.30000 text:308.3 million
bar:2010 from:start till:350.90000 text:350.9 million
bar:2011 from:start till:365.400000 text:365.4 million
bar:2012 from:start till:351.100000 text:351.1 million
bar:2013 from:start till:316.50000 text:316.5 million
bar:2014 from:start till:313.70000 text:313.7 million
bar:2015 from:start till:287.70000 text:287.7 million
bar:2016 from:start till:269.70000 text:269.7 million
bar:2017 from:start till:259.40000 text:259.4 million

TextData=
pos:(70,20) textcolor:gray fontsize:S text:Worldwide PC sales
TextData=
pos:(70,5) textcolor:gray fontsize:S text:(1996-2017)


In 2001, 125 million personal computers were shipped in comparison to
48,000 in 1977. More than 500 million personal computers were in use
in 2002 and one billion personal computers had been sold worldwide
from the mid-1970s up to this time (year 2002). Of the latter figure,
75% were professional or work related, while the rest were sold for
personal or home use. About 81.5% of personal computers shipped had
been desktop computers, 16.4% laptops and 2.1% servers. The United
States had received 38.8% (394 million) of the computers shipped,
Europe 25% and 11.7% had gone to the Asia-Pacific region, the
fastest-growing market as of 2002. The second billion was expected to
be sold by 2008. Almost half of all households in Western Europe had a
personal computer and a computer could be found in 40% of homes in
United Kingdom, compared with only 13% in 1985.

The global personal computer shipments were 350.9 million units in
2010,
308.3 million units in 2009
and 302.2 million units in 2008.
The shipments were 264 million units in the year 2007, according to
iSuppli, up 11.2% from 239 million in 2006. In 2004, the global
shipments were 183 million units, an 11.6% increase over 2003. In
2003, 152.6 million computers were shipped, at an estimated value of
$175 billion. In 2002, 136.7 million PCs were shipped, at an estimated
value of $175 billion. In 2000, 140.2 million personal computers were
shipped, at an estimated value of $226 billion. Worldwide shipments of
personal computers surpassed the 100-million mark in 1999, growing to
113.5 million units from 93.3 million units in 1998. In 1999, Asia had
14.1 million units shipped.

As of June 2008, the number of personal computers in use worldwide hit
one billion, while another billion is expected to be reached by 2014.
Mature markets like the United States, Western Europe and Japan
accounted for 58% of the worldwide installed PCs. The emerging markets
were expected to double their installed PCs by 2012 and to take 70% of
the second billion PCs. About 180 million computers (16% of the
existing installed base) were expected to be replaced and 35 million
to be dumped into landfill in 2008. The whole installed base grew 12%
annually.

Based on International Data Corporation (IDC) data for Q2 2011, for
the first time China surpassed US in PC shipments by 18.5 million and
17.7 million respectively. This trend reflects the rising of emerging
markets as well as the relative stagnation of mature regions.

In the developed world, there has been a vendor tradition to keep
adding functions to maintain high prices of personal computers.
However, since the introduction of the One Laptop per Child foundation
and its low-cost XO-1 laptop, the computing industry started to pursue
the price too. Although introduced only one year earlier, there were
14 million netbooks sold in 2008. Besides the regular computer
manufacturers, companies making especially rugged versions of
computers have sprung up, offering alternatives for people operating
their machines in extreme weather or environments.

In 2011, Deloitte consulting firm predicted that, smartphones and
tablet computers as computing devices would surpass the PCs sales (as
has happened since 2012). As of 2013, worldwide sales of PCs had begun
to fall as many consumers moved to tablets and smartphones. Sales of
90.3 million units in the fourth quarter of 2012 represented a 4.9%
decline from sales in the fourth quarter of 2011. Global PC sales fell
sharply in the first quarter of 2013, according to IDC data. The 14%
year-over-year decline was the largest on record since the firm began
tracking in 1994, and double what analysts had been expecting. The
decline of Q2 2013 PC shipments marked the fifth straight quarter of
falling sales. "This is horrific news for PCs", remarked an analyst.
"It's all about mobile computing now. We have definitely reached the
tipping point." Data from Gartner showed a similar decline for the
same time period. China's Lenovo Group bucked the general trend as
strong sales to first-time buyers in the developing world allowed the
company's sales to stay flat overall. Windows 8, which was designed to
look similar to tablet/smartphone software, was cited as a
contributing factor in the decline of new PC sales. "Unfortunately, it
seems clear that the Windows 8 launch not only didn't provide a
positive boost to the PC market, but appears to have slowed the
market," said IDC Vice President Bob O'Donnell.

In August 2013, Credit Suisse published research findings that
attributed around 75% of the operating profit share of the PC industry
to Microsoft (operating system) and Intel (semiconductors). According
to IDC, in 2013 PC shipments dropped by 9.8% as the greatest drop-ever
in line with consumers trends to use mobile devices.

In the second quarter of 2018, PC sales grew for the first time since
the first quarter of 2012. According to research firm Gartner, the
growth mainly came from the business market while the consumer market
experienced decline.

In 2020, as the result of the COVID-19 Pandemic with more people
working at home and learning remotely, PC sales grew by 26.1% compared
to previous years according to IDC. According to Canalys, 2020 was the
highest growth rate for the PC market since 2011.

This upward trend continued into 2021, with global PC shipments
reaching over 340 million units, the highest since 2012, representing
a 14.6% year-over-year growth. Notebooks and mobile workstations led
the charge, with shipments growing 16% to reach 275 million units,
while desktops and desktop workstations increased 7% to reach 66
million units. Major vendors such as Lenovo, HP, Dell, and Apple all
saw significant increases in sales.

The market saw increased demand not only from consumers and students
but also from businesses investing in hybrid work infrastructure.
However, by late 2022, the market began to stabilize as demand cooled
down and supply chain challenges, including chip shortages, began to
ease. Worldwide shipments of desktop and laptop computers fell by
19.5% in the third quarter of 2022 compared with the year-ago period,
marking the steepest decline Gartner has documented in more than two
decades of tracking the market.

After a period of volatility, the global PC market began to stabilize
in 2023. According to IDC, worldwide PC shipments during the fourth
quarter of 2024 grew 1.8% year-over-year, reaching 68.9 million units.
Canalys reported a 3.2% annual growth in the first quarter of 2024,
totaling 57.2 million units, with notebook shipments increasing by
4.2%.

In the first quarter of 2025, global PC shipments experienced a
significant uptick, growing 9.4% year-over-year to 62.7 million units.
This surge was partly attributed to manufacturers accelerating
shipments to the U.S. ahead of newly implemented tariffs under
President Donald Trump's trade policies. Lenovo maintained its lead in
the global PC market, shipping 15.2 million units with an 11% growth,
followed by HP with 12.8 million units (6% growth), Dell with 9.5
million units (3% growth), and Apple with 6.5 million units, marking a
22% increase.

The integration of artificial intelligence (AI) capabilities into PCs
emerged as a significant trend during this period. Canalys projected
that AI-capable PC shipments would reach 48 million units in 2024,
representing 18% of total PC shipments, and surpass 100 million units
in 2025, accounting for approximately 40% of the market. Gartner
provided a slightly more optimistic forecast, estimating 54.5 million
AI PC shipments in 2024 and 116 million in 2025.


Average selling price
=======================
Selling prices of personal computers steadily declined due to lower
costs of production and manufacture, while the capabilities of
computers increased. In 1975, an Altair kit sold for around only , but
required customers to solder components into circuit boards;
peripherals required to interact with the system in alphanumeric form
instead of blinking lights would add another , and the resultant
system was of use only to hobbyists.

At their introduction in 1981, the  price of the Osborne 1 and its
competitor Kaypro was considered an attractive price point; these
systems had text-only displays and only floppy disks for storage. By
1982, Michael Dell observed that a personal computer system selling at
retail for about  was made of components that cost the dealer about ;
typical gross margin on a computer unit was around . The total value
of personal computer purchases in the US in 1983 was about ,
comparable to total sales of pet food. By late 1998, the average
selling price of personal computer systems in the United States had
dropped below .

For Microsoft Windows systems, the average selling price (ASP) showed
a decline in 2008/2009, possibly due to low-cost netbooks, drawing
for desktop computers and $689 for laptops at U.S. retail in August
2008. In 2009, ASP had further fallen to  for desktops and to  for
notebooks by January and to  in February. According to research firm
NPD, the average selling price of all Windows portable PCs has fallen
from  in October 2008 to  in October 2009.


                        Environmental impact
======================================================================
External costs of environmental impact are not fully included in the
selling price of personal computers.

Personal computers have become a large contributor to the 50 million
tons of discarded electronic waste generated annually, according to
the United Nations Environment Programme. To address the electronic
waste issue affecting developing countries and the environment,
extended producer responsibility (EPR) acts have been implemented in
various countries and states. In the absence of comprehensive national
legislation or regulation on the export and import of electronic
waste, the Silicon Valley Toxics Coalition and BAN (Basel Action
Network) teamed up with electronic recyclers in the US and Canada to
create an e-steward program for the orderly disposal of electronic
waste. Some organizations oppose EPR regulation, and claim that
manufacturers naturally move toward reduced material and energy use.


                              See also
======================================================================
* ATX
* IBM PC-compatible
* List of computer system manufacturers
* List of home computers
* Public computer
* Portable computer
* Mobile workstation
* Quiet PC
* Pocket computer
* Market share of personal computer vendors
* Personal Computer Museum
* Gaming computer
* PC System Design Guide
* Wintel
* x86-64


                          Further reading
======================================================================
* 'Accidental Empires: How the boys of Silicon Valley make their
millions, battle foreign competition, and still can't get a date',
Robert X. Cringely, Addison-Wesley Publishing, (1992),
* [https://books.google.com/books?id=qURs4j9vKn4C 'PC Magazine', Vol.
2], No. 6, November 1983, "SCAMP: The Missing Link in the PC's Past?"


                           External links
======================================================================
* How Stuff Works pages:
**
[https://web.archive.org/web/20081225064841/http://videos.howstuffworks.com/harvard-extension-schools-computer-science-e-1-understand/1290-dissecting-a-pc-video.htm
Dissecting a PC]
** [http://computer.howstuffworks.com/pc.htm How PCs Work]
**
[http://videos.howstuffworks.com/labratstv/3548-how-to-upgrade-your-computer-video.htm
How to Upgrade Your Computer]
** How to Build a Computer
** [https://icecat.com/search/pcsworkstations Global archive with
product data-sheets of PCs and Workstations]


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