Final answer:
The Altair 8800 was the first marketed personal computer to use a microprocessor, leading to the personal computer revolution. It inspired many companies to produce more user-friendly computers, with Apple and IBM being key players. The advances in microprocessor technology drove exponential growth in the number and computing power of personal computers.
Step-by-step explanation:
The Altair 8800 and Its Impact on Personal Computers
The Altair 8800 holds a monumental place in computer history as the first marketed personal computer to use a microprocessor, specifically an Intel microprocessor. Released in 1975 by a company in New Mexico, the Altair catered to computer hobbyists and paved the way for consumer-friendly personal computers. Its adoption resonated through the industry, prompting other companies like Apple, Commodore, and Tandy to launch their own computers, resulting in the personal computing revolution.
The affordability and smaller size of computers ushered in by the invention of the microchip transformed the market. Steve Jobs and others were able to develop personal computers that were accessible to a broader audience. The resulting competition, particularly between Apple and IBM, accelerated growth and drove innovations such as the graphical user interface, which became standardized after being popularized by Apple's Macintosh.
Intel's microprocessor and the subsequent advances in microprocessor technology, often described by Moore's Law, were significant factors in the rapid proliferation and advancement of personal computers throughout the 1980s. Computers transitioned from niche hobbyist kits to ubiquitous household items, fundamentally changing the way society interacts with information and each other.