IBM PC Model 5150 (1981-1987)

✅ IBM PC Model 5150

🥇First Commercially-Released Personal Computer Marketed Specifically to Businesses 

The IBM Personal Computer Model 5150, launched on August 12, 1981, was the landmark machine that transformed the "microcomputer" from a hobbyist curiosity into a global corporate standard. Developed in just one year by a secret team in Florida, the 5150 featured an "open architecture" that allowed outside companies to build compatible parts and upgrades for its internal slots. While the base model started at $1,565 with a basic cassette tape interface, most business users opted for configurations featuring dual 5.25-inch floppy drives and IBM's iconic monochrome green-screen monitor. Its most significant legacy was its software: IBM licensed its operating system from a then-small company called Microsoft, setting the stage for the massive "PC compatible" market that would dominate the industry for decades. With its heavy-duty, ultra-tactile keyboard and professional industrial design, the 5150 legitimized personal computers for major businesses and effectively standardized desktop computing.

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