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Programmed Data Processor
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<p>Programmed Data Processor (PDP), referred to by some customers, media and authors as "Programmable Data Processor," is a term used by the <a href="/facts/Digital_Equipment_Corporation/ztxs6keA">Digital Equipment Corporation</a> from 1957 to 1990 for several lines of <a href="/facts/Minicomputer/g8hvpQxe">minicomputers</a>. </p><p>The name "PDP" intentionally avoids the use of the term "computer". At the time of the first PDPs, computers had a reputation of being large, complicated, and expensive machines. The <a href="/facts/Venture_capital/yeH3m7zo">venture capitalists</a> behind Digital (especially <a href="/facts/Georges_Doriot/SXBCRFtq">Georges Doriot</a>) would not support Digital's attempting to build a "computer" and the term "minicomputer" had not yet been coined. So instead, Digital used their existing line of logic modules to build a <i>Programmed Data Processor</i> and aimed it at a market that could not afford the larger computers. </p><p>The various PDP machines can generally be grouped into families based on <a href="/facts/Word_length/2e5umRaj">word length</a>. </p>