What is Personal Computer (PC)?

What is Personal Computer (PC)? A personal computer (PC) is a multi-purpose microcomputer that is small enough, capable enough, and affordable enough for individual usage. Personal computers are developed to be used by common people rather than by computer experts or professionals. Personal computers, unlike massive, costly minicomputers and mainframes computers, do not allow many users to use the same computer at the same time. The term “home computer” was more common in the late 1970 and early 1980.

In 1960, institutional or corporate computer owners had to build their own programs in order to perform anything productive with the machines. While users of personal computers can create their own applications, most systems run commercial software, freeware, which is generally proprietary, or available as open software, which is offered in “ready-to-run,” or binary, form.

Usually, software for personal computers is produced and released separately from the hardware or operating system vendors. Although end-user programming is still possible, many computer customers no longer need to build their own programs in order to utilize a computer. This is in contrast to mobile devices, where software is frequently only available throughout a manufacturer-supported channel, and loss of supplier involvement may hinder end-user application development.

Microsoft operating systems and Intel hardware have controlled much of the computer industry since the early 1990s, initially with MS-DOS and then with Windows. Competitors to Microsoft’s Windows operating systems account for a small portion of the market. Apple’s macOS and open and free Unix-like operating systems like Linux are examples.

Personal computers and the ensuing Digital Revolution have had a tremendous effect on people’s lives in all countries.