Definition: Altair

A microcomputer kit introduced in late 1974 from Micro Instrumentation and Telemetry Systems (MITS). It sold for $439 and used an 8080 microprocessor. In 1975, the Altair was packaged with the Microsoft MBASIC interpreter written by Paul Allen and Bill Gates. Although computer kits were advertised earlier by others, an estimated 10,000 Altairs were sold, making it the first commercially successful personal computer. The machine was also available fully assembled for $621. See S-100 bus, 8080, Bytesaver and SCELBI 8H.




Altair 8800 Computer