On this day in 1981, IBM launched the "Personal Computer." Revealed at a press conference at the Waldorf Astoria in New York City, the 21-pound PC cost $1,565, boasted 16K of memory, and had the ability to connect to a TV set, play games and word process.
While IBM wasn't the first or only company with a personal computer on the market (the Apple II was launched in 1977), it kick-started the home computing revolution. A year later, the personal computer was selected as Time Magazine's "Man (or rather, Machine) of the Year."
Fast-forward 30 years and the IBM Personal Computer is a relic from another era, almost unrecognizable in comparison to the slick devices on which we compute today. From those earliest machine beasts to today's tablets, we've taken a look at some historical highlights of the personal computer. Take a look through the gallery, and share your PC memories in the comments below.