MITS Altair

MITS Altair
Name	MITS Altair 8800
Caption	Altair 8800 front panel
Developer	Micro Instrumentation and Telemetry Systems
Release date	1975
Discontinued	1977
Units sold	~10,000
Cpu	Intel 8080
Memory	256 bytes–64 KB (expandable)
Os	None (later CP/M, Altair BASIC)
Predecessor	Altair 680
Successor	IMSAI 8080

MITS Altair

The MITS Altair was a pioneering microcomputer kit introduced by Micro Instrumentation and Telemetry Systems in 1975 that catalyzed the personal computer revolution centered in Silicon Valley, Boston, and Seattle. It used the Intel 8080 microprocessor and spawned early software ecosystems including Altair BASIC from Microsoft founders linked to Harvard University and University of Washington alumni. The Altair influenced hardware vendors such as Apple Computer, Commodore International, and Zilog, while attracting hobbyists from organizations like the Homebrew Computer Club and publications such as Popular Electronics and Byte (magazine).

History

The Altair's development was led by Ed Roberts at Micro Instrumentation and Telemetry Systems following projects serving NASA contractors and United States Air Force research laboratories. Public introduction in Popular Electronics's January 1975 issue placed the Altair alongside contemporaries like the Mark-8 and stimulated correspondence between Roberts and software pioneers including Paul Allen and Bill Gates, who were then students at Lakeside School and Harvard College respectively. The Altair's rapid adoption prompted competitors such as IMS Associates, Inc. (IMSAI), Processor Technology, and North Star Computers to enter the kit market, influencing events at venues like the Homebrew Computer Club and trade shows in San Francisco and New York City.

Design and Hardware

The Altair used a backplane bus architecture inspired by industrial systems and later standardized approaches like the S-100 bus. Core hardware centered on the Intel 8080 CPU, supporting memory boards from vendors including MITS, Processor Technology, and Vector Graphic. I/O was handled via toggle-switch front panels and serial interfaces compatible with Teletype machines, modems from RadioShack suppliers, and terminal devices such as the DEC VT100 and Tektronix displays. Expansion encouraged third-party peripherals: floppy disk subsystems from Shugart Associates, video cards from Graphics Technology, and high-reliability components from firms including Western Digital and Texas Instruments.

Software and Operating Systems

Initially shipped without a native operating system, the Altair relied on machine code entry and bootstrap loaders; later software ecosystems emerged with contributions from Microsoft, Gordon Bell, Digital Equipment Corporation, and independent developers publishing in Dr. Dobb's Journal. The arrival of Altair BASIC—licensed by Gates and Allen—demonstrated the commercial viability of software distribution and presaged products like CP/M from Gary Kildall and Digital Research. Hobbyist and commercial applications for the Altair encompassed assemblers, debuggers, and languages developed at institutions such as Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Stanford University, and Carnegie Mellon University.

Influence and Legacy

The Altair catalyzed ecosystems that influenced Apple Inc., Microsoft Corporation, Intel Corporation, and Zilog. It fostered communities like the Homebrew Computer Club and inspired the modularity seen in later architectures including the IBM Personal Computer and the Commodore 64. Educational programs at MIT, Stanford University, and University of California, Berkeley incorporated microcomputing labs influenced by the Altair era, while companies founded by hobbyists and engineers—such as Steve Jobs and Steve Wozniak's ventures—drew technical and cultural momentum from the Altair phenomenon. Museums and archives, including collections at the Computer History Museum, preserve Altair artifacts and documentation.

Commercial Reception and Sales

After the Popular Electronics feature, MITS fielded thousands of orders, selling kits and assembled units through mail-order and nascent retail channels like RadioShack franchises and specialty dealers. The Altair's initial sales success prompted investor interest from firms and individuals connected to Silicon Valley venture networks and led to competition from IMSAI and others that eroded MITS' market share. Legal and business disputes involving licensing, manufacturing capacity, and rapid obsolescence mirrored industry patterns observed later with Apple Computer and Tandy Corporation product cycles.

Technical Specifications

- CPU: Intel 8080 at 2 MHz (typical) - Memory: 256 bytes onboard, expandable to 64 KB via S-100 style boards by vendors such as Processor Technology and Vector Graphic - I/O: Front-panel switches and LEDs, serial interface for Teletype and VT52/VT100 terminals, parallel I/O boards - Storage: Cassette interface and third-party floppy disk controllers compatible with Shugart Associates drives - Expansion: Bus architecture adopted and standardized by third-party manufacturers including IMSAI and Processor Technology - Power: Linear power supply typical of mid-1970s designs sourced from suppliers like Astec and components by Vishay - Software: Altair BASIC (licensed to Microsoft), later support for CP/M via third-party controllers and disk subsystems

Category:Microcomputers Category:1975 introductions