Final answer:
The IBM PC was introduced in 1981, and IBM quickly captured significant market share in the personal computer market by marketing to business and government users. The development of microprocessors dramatically reduced the size and cost of computers, which, along with IBM's established infrastructure, contributed to the widespread adoption of personal computers in the 1980s.
Step-by-step explanation:
The IBM Personal Computer (IBM PC) was introduced in 1981, signifying a pivotal moment in the journey from minicomputers to personal computers. The invention of the microchip and the subsequent development of microprocessors had paved the way for a reduction in the size and cost of computers. IBM, which had been a dominant force in the mainframe market since the late 1950s with about a 70% market share, recognized the potential of personal computers and entered the market, quickly becoming a dominant force by targeting business and government users.
Their dominance was further solidified through strategic partnerships, such as the one with Microsoft for the operating system, which played a crucial role in the establishment of Microsoft as a major company in the industry. IBM PCs, leveraging the company's large sales and service infrastructure, effectively captured significant market share in a relatively short span of time, propagating the era of personal computing in the professional sphere.
This shift, along with competition from companies like Apple, led to an exponential rise in the number of personal computers, from 5.5 million in 1982 to many more as computing power increased. By making these machines affordable and user-friendly, they were no longer the domain of just hobbyists but accessible to a broad consumer base, transforming computing into an integral part of business operations and everyday life.