Early personal computers generally called microcomputers were sold often in kit form and in limited volumes, and

nd were of interest mostly to hobbyists and technicians. Minimal programming was done with toggle switches to enter instructions, and output was provided by front panel lamps. Practical use required adding peripherals such as keyboards, computer displays, disk drives, and printers. Micral N was the earliest commercial, non kit microcomputer based on a microprocessor, the !ntel "##". !t was built starting in $%&' and about %#,### units were sold. !n $%&( )teve *obs and )teve +o,niak sold the -pple ! computer circuit board, which was fully prepared and contained about .# chips. /he first successfully mass marketed personal computer was the 0ommodore PE/ introduced in *anuary $%&&, but backordered and not available until later in the year. -t the same times was introduced the -pple !! 1usually referred to as the 2-pple23 1*une $%&&3, and the /4) "# from /andy 0orporation 5 /andy 4adio )hack at summer &&, delivered in )eptember in a small number, and the only one for this year, massively 1more than ten thousands... staff plans only two3 since November $%&&. Mass market ready assembled computers allowed a wider range of people to use computers, focusing more on software applications and less on development of the processor hardware.