History of computing hardware (1960s–present)

<p>The history of computing hardware starting at 1960 is marked by the conversion from <a href="/facts/Vacuum_tube/VHd1BNLq">vacuum tube</a> to <a href="/facts/Solid-state_electronics/US0Qbq28">solid-state</a> devices such as <a href="/facts/Transistor/Bmr8zwL0">transistors</a> and then <a href="/facts/Integrated_circuit/fjn6vg7C">integrated circuit</a> (IC) chips. Around 1953 to 1959, discrete transistors started being considered sufficiently reliable and economical that they made further vacuum tube computers <a href="/facts/Competition_(economics)/zscsQx5l">uncompetitive</a>. <a href="/facts/Metal%E2%80%93oxide%E2%80%93semiconductor/eTDJT2Km">Metal–oxide–semiconductor</a> (MOS) <a href="/facts/Large-scale_integration/fjn6vg7C">large-scale integration</a> (LSI) technology subsequently led to the development of <a href="/facts/Semiconductor_memory/XXP0CacJ">semiconductor memory</a> in the mid-to-late 1960s and then the <a href="/facts/Microprocessor/Fx9CaQht">microprocessor</a> in the early 1970s. This led to primary <a href="/facts/Computer_memory/hQKVQ51J">computer memory</a> moving away from <a href="/facts/Magnetic-core_memory/4TFIXSNd">magnetic-core memory</a> devices to solid-state static and dynamic semiconductor memory, which greatly reduced the cost, size, and power consumption of computers. These advances led to the miniaturized <a href="/facts/Personal_computer/koaYfNce">personal computer</a> (PC) in the 1970s, starting with <a href="/facts/Home_computer/CDEPVd1T">home computers</a> and <a href="/facts/Desktop_computer/edFPINdK">desktop computers</a>, followed by <a href="/facts/Laptop/3EFwTAb2">laptops</a> and then <a href="/facts/Mobile_computer/eHT86bQU">mobile computers</a> over the next several decades.
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History of computing hardware (1960s–present) open-in-new

History of computing hardware (1960s–present)