Here now is part 3 of 3 of my exclusive, rare and full interview with Ed Roberts.
I was 30 years younger... and it was a little awkward; my two little children make some noise here and there throughout, plus, I might have asked Dr. Roberts if he could have turned that "beeping" devise off! I didn't record it to be heard though, just for me to write-up the interview. In any case, it was fascinating relistening to the whole thing again, and hearing our conversation. I asked a lot of great questions, and Dr. Roberts opened up to me and seemed to really enjoy speaking with me... for well over an hour and a half!
There's a lot here, if you're interested. This is a fascinating and historically significant piece of audio.
Ed Roberts didn't invent the personal computer, but he kickstarted the industry with the first mass-produced, commercially successful personal computer. It is not a stretch to compare him to Henry Ford, yet so many people have not heard of him. His company MITS also created:
- An "open" bus computer (the first defacto standard, S-100)
- First computer magazine for users
- Personal computer retail stores
- Personal computer conventions
- An infrastructure of independent suppliers to develop and sell add-on cards, peripherals and etc.
- The first software company, Microsoft, later operating as a separate business.
- MITS also innovated many other models of computers and a large variety of upgrades, add-ons, and etc. themselves.
