IBM PC and Model F/XT Turn 45: A Keyboard's Tale
Happy 45th Birthday to the IBM PC and Model F/XT
On August 12, 1981, IBM launched the Personal Computer, changing computing forever. This article celebrates the 45th anniversary by exploring the Model F/XT keyboard, its origins in the Datamaster, and its evolution. It covers the keyboard's design, variants, and technical details, alongside the PC's development story, including the influence of prior IBM systems and the team behind it.
45 years ago today, on 12th August 1981, the computing landscape changed forever.
- karim79
My first experience with a computer as a child was putting a floppy disk labelled "King's Quest" into an IBM PC XT when my dad wasn't around. And now I'm on this forum.
- kmoser
I have a framed copy on my office wall of this story from the NY Times, August 13, 1981: https://www.nytimes.com/1981/08/13/business/business-digest-...
- rbanffy
I am not a huge fan of the IBM PC. For one, it was a mediocre design. Most important, it caused a mass extinction in the small computer space so that, even today, the majority of desktop computers out there are distant descendants of the original 5150. They probably have a complete 5150 inside them, just for compatibility with ancient software.
- abotsis
I love the keyboard casually hanging off the desk like it’s not 20lbs!
- taude
time to boot up some Lode Runner.