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who invented the personal computer

Quick Scoop: Who really invented the personal computer? There isn’t a single, universally agreed “inventor of the personal computer” – but a few key names and machines consistently come up: John Blankenbaker (Kenbak‑1), François Gernelle & André Truong Trong Thi (Micral N), and H. Edward Roberts (Altair 8800).

The Core Answer (Short & Clear)

If you just want the everyday, textbook-style names people use:

  • First personal computer (contest / museum view):
    John Blankenbaker , designer of the Kenbak‑1 (1971).
  • First microprocessor‑based personal computer:
    François Gernelle (with André Truong Trong Thi) and the Micral N (1973).
  • “Father of the personal computer” (popular title):
    H. Edward (Ed) Roberts , creator of the Altair 8800 (1974–75), which kicked off the personal computer era and sold in large numbers.

So if you’re answering “who invented the personal computer?” in one name for general audiences, the safest “headline” answer is:

H. Edward Roberts , thanks to the Altair 8800 , often called the machine that started the personal computer age.

But historically minded folks will quickly add Blankenbaker and Gernelle into the conversation.

Why There’s No Single Inventor

The phrase “personal computer” wasn’t tightly defined at first, so different experts pick different “firsts” depending on what they value: price, size, microprocessor use, or impact on society.

Some common criteria:

  • Built for one person to own and operate , not a big organization.
  • Physically small enough to fit on a desk or in a home.
  • Relatively affordable for individuals or hobbyists.
  • General purpose (programmable for different tasks), not a single‑function calculator.

Because early machines hit these criteria in different ways, historians land on different answers.

The Main Contenders (Mini Sections)

1. John Blankenbaker and the Kenbak‑1 (1971)

Many computer museums and historians call the Kenbak‑1 the world’s first personal computer.

  • Designed by John V. Blankenbaker of Kenbak Corporation around 1970, first sold in early 1971.
  • Used small‑scale and medium‑scale integrated circuits , not a microprocessor (those weren’t widely available yet).
  • Offered 256 bytes of memory and simple input via switches with lights as output.
  • In 1986, the Computer Museum in Boston officially designated it the “first personal computer.”

It wasn’t a mass‑market hit, but it did meet the idea of a small, personal stored‑program computer sold to individual users.

2. Micral N – First Microprocessor PC (1973)

If your definition emphasizes using a microprocessor , the spotlight moves to France.

  • The Micral N was designed by François Gernelle under André Truong Trong Thi.
  • Introduced in 1973 , built around the Intel 8008 microprocessor.
  • The Computer History Museum notes it as the first personal computer using a microprocessor.
  • It was sold commercially, but it did not become a big global success.

For people who care about “first microprocessor personal computer,” Micral N often gets the nod.

3. H. Edward Roberts and the Altair 8800 (1974–75)

The machine that most visibly launched the personal computer revolution is the Altair 8800.

  • Designed by H. Edward (Ed) Roberts , head of MITS (Micro Instrumentation and Telemetry Systems) in Albuquerque, New Mexico.
  • Based on the Intel 8080 CPU, introduced around 1974 and featured in the January 1975 issue of Popular Electronics.
  • Often called the first commercially successful personal computer.
  • It sold in large numbers as a kit , inspiring hobbyist clubs, magazines, and add‑on boards, and is widely said to have inaugurated the personal computer age.

Because of this impact, Roberts is frequently labeled the “father of the personal computer.”

4. Where Kenbak‑1, Micral N, and Altair 8800 Fit (HTML Table)

Here’s a quick side‑by‑side on the main candidates:

html

<table>
  <thead>
    <tr>
      <th>Machine</th>
      <th>Year</th>
      <th>Inventor(s)</th>
      <th>Key “first” claim</th>
      <th>Notes</th>
    </tr>
  </thead>
  <tbody>
    <tr>
      <td>Kenbak‑1</td>
      <td>1971</td>
      <td>John V. Blankenbaker [web:4][web:8][web:10]</td>
      <td>Often called the first personal computer [web:4][web:8][web:10]</td>
      <td>Stored‑program machine using SSI/MSI logic; designated “first PC” by Computer Museum in 1986 [web:4][web:8]</td>
    </tr>
    <tr>
      <td>Micral N</td>
      <td>1973</td>
      <td>François Gernelle, André Truong Trong Thi [web:1][web:4]</td>
      <td>First personal computer using a microprocessor (Intel 8008) [web:1][web:4]</td>
      <td>Commercially sold but not a major global hit [web:1][web:4]</td>
    </tr>
    <tr>
      <td>Altair 8800</td>
      <td>1974–75</td>
      <td>H. Edward Roberts (MITS) [web:7][web:9]</td>
      <td>First commercially successful personal computer [web:3][web:9]</td>
      <td>Sparked the personal computer age; widely credited in popular culture [web:3][web:9]</td>
    </tr>
  </tbody>
</table>

Related Names People Often Confuse

When people ask “who invented the personal computer,” they sometimes mix in broader computer pioneers:

  • Charles Babbage – designed early mechanical computing engines in the 1800s, often called “father of the computer” , but not a personal computer inventor.
  • Alan Turing – foundational to theoretical computer science and early electronic computing, but again, not a PC inventor.
  • Konrad Zuse – created early programmable electromechanical computers (Z1–Z3); hugely important, but pre‑PC era.

These figures set the stage, but the personal computer story really tightens around Blankenbaker , Gernelle/Truong , and Roberts.

Today’s Forum‑Style Take

If you opened a tech forum thread in 2026 titled “who invented the personal computer” , here’s how the discussion would usually go:

Top‑liked answer:
“Officially? Museums often say John Blankenbaker (Kenbak‑1, 1971).
Practically? Most folks credit Ed Roberts with the Altair 8800 , since that’s what launched the PC era.”

Then someone would jump in and say “Don’t forget theMicral N , the first microprocessor‑based PC, by François Gernelle!” and link to European sources.

So the most accurate way to phrase it is:

  • The first personal computer is often credited to John Blankenbaker (Kenbak‑1).
  • The first microprocessor‑based personal computer is the Micral N by François Gernelle (and André Truong Trong Thi).
  • The father of the personal computer , in terms of impact and popular recognition, is H. Edward Roberts with the Altair 8800.

TL;DR:
There is no single universally accepted inventor, but most historians and popular accounts revolve around Blankenbaker (Kenbak‑1), Gernelle/Truong (Micral N), and especially Ed Roberts (Altair 8800), who is widely seen as the father of the personal computer.

Information gathered from public forums or data available on the internet and portrayed here.