8080 personal computer kit
Personal computers, designed for individual use, appeared on the market in the mid 1970s. They were often sold in kit form and were developed for and marketed by enthusiasts. IMS Associates were based in San Leandro, California, where the enthusiast market was concentrated. These kits were made possible by the development of the microprocessor – a component with all the electronic circuitry required for arithmetic and logic functions in a single chip.
The IMSAI 8080 had no keyboard. The system was programmed by a series of switches on the front panel which could be flipped into an up or down position. Although selling in the tens of thousands, computers requiring a level of technical savvy in their construction and use remained limited in popularity.
