A Brief History of Computers

Considering how much computers have become a part of our lives, we
sometimes forget how recent a phenomenon the inception of computers
is. Although the making of the first freely programmable computer could
be traced back to the 1930s,  (http://inventors.about.com/library/blcoindex.htm)
the more noted usage started in the 1950s where IBM mainframes were
used for defense computation. The ARPANET (also created by the Department
of Defense) which is considered the original internet, was not created till 1969.
The first microprocess chip by Intel was created in 1971. The first consumer
computers (commercial IBM 5100) were made by IBM in 1974. In 1976, Apple
came forward with it's I, II & TRS-80 series which were the first consumer
computers by Apple.

IBM introduced it's PC - Home computer in 1981, which created the home computing
revolution. It was followed by Apple Macintosh computers introduced in the 1984.     
(http://news.yahoo.com/photos/first-apple-computer-to-be-auctioned-slideshow/)
I thought this slide show was really interesting about the first Macs introduced in the
1970s. Microsoft Windows were introduced in 1985 and started the competitive war
with Apple.