During a house clearance in London, two of the first desktop computers ever discovered were discovered, providing insight into an intriguing period in the history of computing. The accidental finding of two of the three remaining Q1 computers worldwide represented a turning point in the development of personal computing.
The Q1, which was introduced almost fifty years ago, set the foundation for modern computers. Head of Just Clear, the garbage company that found the objects, Brendan O’Shea, expressed shock, saying, “Never did I imagine that we’d find something so important to the field of technology and the history of computing.”
The computers were concealed under a pile of boxes that were initially thought to be commonplace artifacts from the era of computing in the 1970s. The actual significance of the discovery was not evident until after speaking with specialists in computers. Rather than being recycled, these extremely uncommon relics will now be on show in an exhibition at Kingston University’s computer science department.
Even though it is now mostly forgotten, the Q1 was innovative when it was introduced in 1972. It was the first completely integrated personal computer, containing all processing gear in one single unit, and was powered by Intel’s 8008 processor. Compared to the mainframe computers of the day, this was a major change.
The exhibition’s co-curator, Paul Neve, highlighted the significance of the Q1 by saying, “Without the Q1 Corporation, there would be no PCs, no Macs, no Apple, or Android phones.” The IBM Model 5100 and the first Apple computers were examples of portable computers that were inspired by the Q1.
The display of these antique computers provides a window into the early years of personal computing, emphasizing the creativity and inventiveness that established the groundwork for the contemporary gadgets we use on a daily basis.