-
TX-0 Wikipedia
Egineers at the MIT Lincoln Lab, Ken Olsen and Harlan Anderson, begin development on an experimental 18-bit Computer that replaces bulky vacuum tubes with new fangled transistors that is used as a test bed for the more complex 36-bit TX-2. -
After noticing that people in the MIT Labs tended to flock to the less powerful TX-0, Ken, Harlan, and Ken's brother Stan decided to try and open a computer company aimed at building smaller, interactive computers. However, due to the failure of recent computer compary start-ups, they have difficulty finding investors. The only serious investor is George Deriot from the American Research and Development Corporation.
-
In 1958, DEC ships its Digital Labratory Modules used for regular computing and testing other computers, even from other companies. Picture: By RTC at the English language Wikipedia, CC BY-SA 3.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=3586557
-
DEC's digital modules remain a product up until the 70's
-
-
Engineer Ben Gurley starts design phase in August and the PDP-1 is shown off the the world. Picture: By Alex Handy (cropped by Arnold Reinhold) - http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Steve_Russell_and_PDP-1_-_Vintage_Computer_Fair_2006.jpg, CC BY-SA 2.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=15695140
-
-
The PDP-4 was introduced in november 1962 as a follow up to the PDP-1.The PDP-2 was said to be a cancelled project that started during the PDP-1 design phase and the PDP-3 is said to have been built for the CIA, but there is limited information about it. The PDP-4 cost $65,000 (512,470.83 today) and had a slower memory and different packaging to lower cost.
-
DEC makes a computer off the first minicomputer LINC developed in the MIT Lincoln Labs. Striped down version of the LINC that sold for $27,000.
-
The first computer in DEC's mainframe series of computers that was intened for high-performance needs. It flopped compared to due to being considered inferioir to Honeywell and IBM counterparts. It was most important in the development of the TOPS Operating System. Picture: By Computer History Museum - archive.computerhistory.org, CC BY 3.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=7198721
-
DEC redisigns the PDP-4 with Flip-chip Modules. Sold 120 of this model. Picture: By en:User:Toresbe - From english Wikipedia. Original description was: The Oslo PDP-7, before restoration started. I took the picture., CC SA 1.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=1963657
-
Replacement for the PDP-5 as a lower cost computer with the Flip-Chip redesign. Sold for less than the PDP- 5 and the PDP8/S version sold for even less. Picture: Public Domain, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=517876
-
PDP-9 was a major upgrade from the PDP-1 and ran about twice as fast as the PDP-7. Inteded for use in large scale, sold at a price of 19,900 (about $139,000 today).
-
-
PDP-10 marketed in 1968 as the follow up to and retry at the mainframe market. Sold over 700 units by 1984 when it was discontinued.
-
PDP-15 introduced as a redesign of the PDP-9. It ran quicker than the 9 even on its basic design and included a Floating Point Unit and a sperate input/output processor for better performance.
-
16 bit computer that was designed for simpler interfacing.
-
Researchers present the first 2 minicomputer to DEC but president Ken Olsen decides not to proceed.
-
Extenstion of the PDP-11 architecture that changed from 16 bit to 32 bit and added a complete virtual memory system with simple paging and memory protection.
-
First computer to use the VAX architecture, known as the VAX superminicomputer.
-
During their period of greatest success, DEC diversifies into making relational databases which can potentially save development time of computer software.
-
DEC launches first 10 MBit Ethernet which allows for networking and VAXcluster which gives customers the abillity to combine computing and storage power of individual computers instead of buying one large computer.
-
DEC registars the dec.com server
-
Most of DECs properties were sold to many different companies.
-
-
DEC introduces the first implementation fo the Alpha instruction set.
-
After missing major market shifts from mainframes to desktop computers in the 1980's, DEC's board of directors forces Ken Olsen to resign his position at DEC due to his failure to predict these changes and poor judgement on the market.
-
DEC reports despite the best efforts of the new CEO Robert Palmer, DEC loses $260.5 million in its first quarter and over 2.8 billion by the end of 1992.
-
Robert Palmer presents reorganization strategy and weeks later DEC announces most successful profits in years.
-
-
What was left of the DEC company was sold to Compaq and was considered the largest merger of a computer company at the time.
