Personal Computer

The introduction of the landmark IBM-PC in 1981 was one of the main catalysts of the persona;-computer revolution. Early analysts underestimated the PC’s draw--predicting that no more than 80 million would sell by 2000--but at the end of last year, more than a half-billion were in use.

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Original IBM Personal Computer (1981)

Cost: $4,500 (includes system unit, display, keyboard and printer)

Chip:4.77 MHz 8088 microprocessor

Memory: 256 K of RAM

Storage: 5.25” diskette drive (160 Kb diskette capacity); model includes two diskette drives

Graphics: 256 characters in four colors

Operating System: MS DOS 1.1

Size: 20” wide, 16” deep and 5.5” high

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IBM NetVista X40i Personal Computer (2001)

Cost: $1,652 (includes system unit, flat panel monitor and wireless keyboard and mouse)

Chip: 1 GHz Pentium III processor

Memory: 128 MB of RAM

Storage: 20 GB hard drive

Graphics: 16 MB video memory; 1,677,216 possible colors

Operating System: Windows Millennium

Size: 16’3” wide, 10’3” deep, 16’3.” high

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Comes standard with: 56 KB modem, integrated 10/100 MB Ethernet, built-in stereo speakers, seven USB ports

Processors

The latest processors are more than 300 times faster than the one installed in the first IBM PC. Here’s how Intel’s Pentium 4, introduced last month, compares to the processor from 1981:

* Pentium 4

Speed: 1 GHz

Number of transistors: 42 million

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* Intel 8088

Speed: 5 MHz

Number of transistors: 29,000

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Prices as of August 2001

Round-trip airfare Los Angeles to New York: $333.70

‘01 Toyota Echo, $10,450

Nike ‘Grail’ Cross-training Shoes, $49.99

RCA 19” color TV, $209

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Prices as of August 1981

Round-trip airfare Los Angeles to New York: $278

‘81 Toyota Tercel, $4,488

Nike ‘Sierra’ Training Shoes, $14.88

RCA 19” color TV, $369.97

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Sources: IBM, Intel

Researched by CHRISTINE FREY/Los Angeles Times