<P> The invention of the Intel 8080 microprocessor chip in April 1974 made practical the development of the ( relatively ) affordable mass - market microcomputer . In the USA this first appeared in early 1975 in the form of an unassembled kit , the Altair 8800 ; shortly afterward pre-assembled Altairs were offered . The sudden popularity of desktop computers happened because the 8080 CPU could represent and manipulate 256 discrete values in its 8 - bit registers . Thus the 7 - bit ASCII standard for the representation of alphanumeric data became feasible for the first time in a machine much smaller and less expensive than the furniture - size minicomputers , with their processors that occupied entire circuit boards . This new class of computer was practical for serious work because it could input , process , and output alphanumeric information . It also enabled sophisticated programs such as database managers and BASIC interpreters to become available to a larger market consisting of people possessing lesser technical skills . </P>
<P> The invention of the Intel 8080 microprocessor chip in April 1974 made practical the development of the ( relatively ) affordable mass - market microcomputer . In the USA this first appeared in early 1975 in the form of an unassembled kit , the Altair 8800 ; shortly afterward pre-assembled Altairs were offered . The sudden popularity of desktop computers happened because the 8080 CPU could represent and manipulate 256 discrete values in its 8 - bit registers . Thus the 7 - bit ASCII standard for the representation of alphanumeric data became feasible for the first time in a machine much smaller and less expensive than the furniture - size minicomputers , with their processors that occupied entire circuit boards . This new class of computer was practical for serious work because it could input , process , and output alphanumeric information . It also enabled sophisticated programs such as database managers and BASIC interpreters to become available to a larger market consisting of people possessing lesser technical skills . </P>
what was the first practical and affordable home computer
what was the first practical and affordable home computer
the Altair 8800
the Altair 8800