Final answer:
Minicomputers first became popular as smaller and more affordable alternatives to mainframe computers. They were initially used by smaller companies and university research laboratories, supporting multiple users at once. Minicomputers played a significant role in bringing computing technology to a wider audience and paving the way for personal computers.
Step-by-step explanation:
Minicomputers first became popular as smaller and more affordable alternatives to mainframe computers. These midrange systems were introduced in the 1960s and were initially used by smaller companies and university research laboratories. The development of integrated circuits made minicomputers possible, and they offered computing capacity that was lower than mainframes but supported multiple users at once. Minicomputers played a significant role in bringing computing technology to a wider audience and paving the way for the emergence of personal computers.