February 2005

WebBits Archive

A Moment In Time
by JJ Oakley

And the there is the computer that so much has evolved from...

So, here are some thoughts by a few notable people about the computer . . . that make a moment in time look somewhat miniscule.

"Computers in the future may weigh no more than 1.5 tons."
Popular Mechanics, forecasting the relentless march of science, 1949

"I think there is a world market for maybe five computers."
Chairman of IBM, 1943

"I have traveled the length and breadth of this country and talked with the best people, and I can assure you that data processing is a fad that won't last out the year."
The editor in charge of business books for Prentice Hall, 1957

"But what ... is it good for?
Engineer at the Advanced Computing Systems Division of IBM, 1968, commenting on the microchip.

"There is no reason anyone would want a computer in their home."
President, Chairman and founder of Digital Equipment Corp., 1977

"So we went to Atari and said, ‘Hey, we've got this amazing thing, even built with some of your parts, and what do you think about funding us? Or we’ll give it to you. We just want to do it. Pay our salary, we'll come work for you.’ And they said, ‘No.’ So then we went to Hewlett-Packard, and they said, ‘Hey, we don't need you. You haven't got through college yet.’"
Apple Computer Inc. founder Steve Jobs on attempts to get Atari and H-P interested in his and Steve Wozniak's personal computer.

Last but not least...

"640K ought to be enough for anybody."
Bill Gates, 1981

Now who would have thought? Oh my, I need to check my email, or did you get that download I sent you? Today the personal computer is a household fixture, not unlike your Kids cell phones. My what a wonderful world!