Micro History Episode 2 - Bill Millard and IMSAI

Описание: In this episode, I look at the first personal computer clone, the IMSAI 8080, and Bill Millard, who founded not only the company that created it, but also the most successful computer retail store chain of the 1980s, ComputerLand.

The story behind both is the story of Bill Millard: smooth-talking, positive, energetic, and tied irrevocably to a personal code of ethics that will eventually destroy both him, his friends, and the companies he founded.

Special thanks:

Fire in the Valley - by Paul Freiberger and Michael Swaine, for great background information

Once Upon a Time in ComputerLand - by Jonathan Littman - for telling the full story of Bill Millard

Wikipedia, for being available and comprehensive

Everyone watching this video, for being interested in computer history

Video credits:

IBM Headquarters footage: ​​Digital Feriola (YouTube)
Wargames movie clip: Courtesy of MGM/UA Pictures
ComputerLand commercial (1981): Focus Delaware (YouTube)
ComputerLand customers (1983): Vampire Robot (YouTube)

Image credits:

Generation chart - Cmglee - Own work (Wikipedia)
Wang Computer ad - Scanned from the December 1974 Scientific American magazine (page 5) by Michael Holley Swtpc6800 in February 2010 (Wikipedia)
Werner Erhard - Nine Paths
Wang 2200 computer system - DigiBarn
IMSAI 8080 Popular Electronics ad - RetroCMP.de
Ed Roberts image: Efemerides de Technologia
IMSAI front panel: Don DeBold - Flickr: IMSAI 8080 Computer
IMSAI interior: Wolfgang Stief from Tittmoning, Germany - Imsai 8080
IMSAI exterior: oldcomputers.net
IMSAI parts: retrocmp.de
Woz and Steve Jobs picture - All About Circuits
Gary Kildall picture - digitec
IMSAI running CP/M - IMSAI Guy (YouTube)
IMSAI inside the case - oldcomputers.net
VDP-80 - DeRamp.com
VDP-44 - Rboeije
The Byte Shop - 9to5mac
IMSAI floppy drives - Photograph by Rama (Wikipedia)
Floppy disk size comparisons - George Chernilevsky (Wikipedia)
World Map - GIS Geography
Seymour Rubenstein photo - Landsnail
WordStar box - Computer History Museum
WordStar screenshot - http://www.warwickshire-ecosiht.org.u... (Wikipedia)