1976

• David Jackson founds Altos Computer Systems.
• Paul Terrell begins signing dealership agreements, allowing Byte Shop franchises to open elsewhere in the US.

• Bill Gates writes software routines for BASIC on the Altair to use diskettes for storage.
• Lee Felsenstein and Bob Marsh deliver the first Processor Technology Sol computer to Popular Electronics magazine publisher Les Solomon.
• David Bunnell publishes an open letter from Bill Gates to the microcomputer hobbyists, complaining of software piracy.

• Steve Wozniak and Steve Jobs finish work on a computer circuit board, that they call the Apple I computer.
• By the end of its first year in business, Micom Data Systems ships 180 Micom 2000 computers, worth $2 million.
• The First World Altair Computer Convention is held in Albuquerque, New Mexico.
• Paul Terrell incorporates Byte, Inc.
• Intel introduces the 5-MHz 8085 microprocessor. Speed is 0.37 MIPS. It uses 6500 transistors, based on 3-micron technology. It supports an 8-bit bus. Operates on a single 5-volt power supply.

• Bill Gates writes a second open letter to computer hobbyists, condemning software piracy.
• Steve Jobs and Steve Wozniak form the Apple Computer Company, on April Fool's Day.
• National Semiconductor releases the SC/MP 8-bit microprocessor, providing early advanced multiprocessing.

• Digital Research copyrights CP/M, its industry-standard microcomputer operating system, created by company founder Gary Kildall.
• The Trenton Computer Festival is held, in New Jersey.

• The Western Digital MCP-1600 3-chip CPU appears.
• Texas Instruments introduces the TMS9900, the first 16-bit microprocessor. The microprocessor implemented Texas Instrument's 16-bit architecture on the TI 990 minicomputer.
• The Midwest Area Computer Club conference is held.
• Processor Technology unveils the Sol-20 to the public at PC '76 at the Shelbourne Hotel in Atlantic City. It is sold in kit form, using the Intel 8080 CPU.

• The Apple I computer board is sold in kit form, and delivered to stores by Steve Jobs and Steve Wozniak. Price: US$666.66.
• Paul Terrell orders 50 Apple computers from Steve Jobs, for his Byte Shop.
• Zilog releases the 2.5-MHz Z80, an 8-bit microprocessor whose instruction set is a superset of the Intel 8080.
• Micom Data Systems ships its first product, the Micom 2000 word processing computer.

• Paul Terrell receives his order for 50 Apple computers.
• iCOM advertises their "Frugal Floppy" in BYTE magazine, an 8-inch floppy drive, selling for US$1200.
• Several computer hobbyist clubs hold their first convention at the Personal Computing Festival, in Atlantic City, New Jersey.
• Steve Wozniak begins work on the Apple II.

• Computer Shack is incorporated. The name is later changed to ComputerLand, due to objections from Radio Shack.

• Commodore International buys MOS Technology.
• Mike Markkula, ex-marketing wizard at Intel, visits Steve Jobs' garage, to see the Apple computers.
• Steve Wozniak decides to remain at Hewlett-Packard, but is soon convinced that he should leave and join Apple Computer permanently.

• The tradename "Microsoft" is registered.
• ComputerLand opens a pilot store in Hayward, California, as a retail outlet and a training facility for franchise owners.
• Paul Allen resigns from MITS.

• Bill Gates drops out of Harvard.
• Michael Shrayer completes writing Electric Pencil, the first popular word-processing program for microcomputers.
• Shugart announces its 5.25 inch "minifloppy" disk drive for US$390.
• Dick Wilcox demonstrates his Alpha Micro, a multi-user CPU board, at a meeting of the Homebrew Computer Club.
• Don French and Steve Leininger are given official blessings to develop a microcomputer for Radio Shack.
• Management at Radio Shack finally approves of a proposal to build and sell a mocrocomputer.
• Steve Wozniak and Randy Wigginton demonstrate the first prototype Apple II at a Homebrew Computer Club meeting.

• (early) Hewlett-Packard begins Project Capricorn, to build a computer-like calculator.

• Advanced Micro Devices and Intel sign a patent cross-license agreement, giving Advanced Micro Devices the right to copy Intel's microcode.

• Fairchild introduces the Channel F, the first programmable (via plug-in cartridges) home video game system. Price: US$170.

• Processor Technology releases VDM, a video display module. It works on the Altair, IMSAI, Sol, Polymorphic computers, and any other with an S-100 bus.

• Dynalogic of Canada creates its own advanced microcomputer.

• Gary Kildall founds Intergalactic Digital Research.

• Kentucky Fried Computers is founded.

• Tom Snyder's "Tomorrow" TV show features the Sol computer, playing a game called "Target".

• IMS is renamed IMSAI.

• John Martin sells Bill Millard on the idea of a chain of computer stores. Bill promises John shares in the company in exchange for the idea. The chain later becomes ComputerLand.

• U.S. Robotics is founded, in Skokie, Illinois.

• MOS Technology ships the 6502 microprocessor. The 6502 was developed by Chuck Peddle.

• MOS Technology Inc. announces the KIM-1 Microcomputer System, with 1-MHz 6502 CPU, 1KB RAM, 2KB ROM monitor, 23-key keypad, LED readout, cassette and serial interfaces, for US$245.

• MITS unveils the Altair 680, based on the Motorola 6800 microprocessor.

• Steve Wozniak proposes that Hewlett-Packard create a personal computer. Steve Jobs proposes the same to Atari. Both are rejected.

• Warner Communications buys Atari from Nolan Bushnell for US$26 million.

• Lore Harp and Carole Ely form Vector Graphic Incorporated, selling memory boards for S-100 bus systems.

• George Morrow founds MicroStuf.

• The first issue of Dr. Dobbs is published.

• IMSAI begins shipping the IMSAI 8080.

• Polymorphic Systems introduces the Poly-88.

• Stephen Wozniak demonstrates the Apple I at the Homebrew Computer Club.

• The bus of the Altair is named (or renamed) the S-100 bus.

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