Los angeles personal computing history

From Driscollwiki

Contents 1 BBS 2 Clubs 2.1 Southern California Computer Society 3 Stores 3.1 Arrowhead Computer Company 3.2 CTI Data Systems 3.3 Grantham 3.4 Elsewhere in CA 3.5 Computer Kits 3.6 Byte Shop, Mountain View, California 3.7 IMS Associates Inc (IMSAI) 3.8 ON-LINE 3.8.1 Allied Computer 3.8.2 Computer Shack 3.9 Hardcore Electronics 3.10 SUPERTRONICS 4 Lit review 5 References

BBS

• http://bbslist.textfiles.com/213/
• http://bbslist.textfiles.com/323/
• http://bbslist.textfiles.com/310/
• http://bbslist.textfiles.com/562/
• http://bbslist.textfiles.com/310/
• http://bbslist.textfiles.com/626/
• http://bbslist.textfiles.com/818/
• http://bbslist.textfiles.com/661/
• http://bbslist.textfiles.com/805/
• http://bbslist.textfiles.com/760/
• http://bbslist.textfiles.com/619/
• http://bbslist.textfiles.com/760/
• http://bbslist.textfiles.com/858/
• http://bbslist.textfiles.com/909/
• http://bbslist.textfiles.com/661/

Clubs

Southern California Computer Society

Stores

Arrowhead Computer Company

11656 pico blvd. los angeles, ca, 90064

• 213 478 3168
• AKA "The Computer Store" (according to ad on pg 13 of Popular Electronics March 1976)
• http://maps.google.com/maps?oe=utf-8&client=firefox-a&q=11656+pico+blvd.+los+angeles,+ca&ie=UTF8&hq=&hnear=11656+W+Pico+Blvd,+Los+Angeles,+California+90064&gl=us&ei=waFfTOHXIoWesQOXidGqCw&ved=0CBMQ8gEwAA&ll=34.033617,-118.443303&spn=0.005352,0.013754&t=h&z=16

Dick Heiser opens Arrow Head Computer Company, subtitled "The Computer Store", in Los Angeles, selling assembled Altair computers, boards, peripherals, and magazines. This is the first independent retail computer store in the USA. [266.185] [684.41] [1299.85]

• http://computers.my-inter.net/timeline/comphis2.html
• http://www.islandnet.com/~kpolsson/comphist/comp1975.htm
• http://www.aaxnet.com/info/hist.html

What was the world's first computer store?

It looks like they actually had computers in 1975 because in July of that year in California. Dick Heiser opened the world's first computer store oddly named ' The Computer Store'.

With the belief that people would rather by computers face-to-face rather than by mail Dick Heiser, with the help of a flyer, a two-line classified ad, and a small storefront on Pico Boulevard in West Los Angeles, went into business.

The Computer Store sold computer kits, books and also the first edition of Byte magazine.

The store was sold to Brian Donner in 1982.

• http://thelongestlistofthelongeststuffatthelongestdomainnameatlonglast.com/first82.html

Dick Heiser homepage:

• http://sites.google.com/site/dickheiser/
• Article about running a computer store: http://www.mactech.com/articles/mactech/Vol.02/02.06/Jun86History/

More about the store (from 87):

• http://www.atariarchives.org/deli/entering_the_store_age.php
• Author: Stephanie Rick, We Search Research
• See also: http://www.atariarchives.org/deli/

CTI Data Systems

• 3450 East Spring St. Long Beach, CA 90806
• 213 426 7375
• In "off the shelf" ad

Grantham

"DEGREE IN ELECTRONICS through correspondence. Free catalog. Grantham, 2000 Stoner Avenue, Los Angeles, California 90025."

-- pg 118 March 1976 PE

Elsewhere in CA

Computer Kits

• 1044 University Ave. Berkeley, CA 94710
• 415 845 5300

Byte Shop, Mountain View, California

• Also claims first comp shop
• 1063 El Camino Real, Mountain View, CA 94043
• 415 969 5464
• Listed in Altair ad on pg 13 of Popular Electronics, March 1976

IMS Associates Inc (IMSAI)

• 1922 Republic Ave. San Leandro, CA 94577
• 415 483 2093
• See ads on pg 15 and 108 of March 76 issue of P.E.

ON-LINE

"COMPUTER HOBBYISTS! Bargain hunt and sell via ON-LINE. 18 issues/year - $3.75. Free sample issue from: ON-LINE, 24695 Santa Cruz Hwy., Los Gatos, CA 95030."

-- pg 108 of March 1976 PE

Allied Computer

• San Mateo, CA
• Michael Holley personal account of working there 1975-1977
  • http://www.swtpc.com/mholley/Apple/allied_computer.htm

Computer Shack

• San Leandro, CA
• Hayward, CA
• Scan of a full-page advert

Hardcore Electronics

"SANTA CLARA, CALIFORNIA. Open door distributor. All types semiconductors. (408) 296-0667. Hardcore Electronics, 3233 Stevens Creek, Santa Clara, CA 95050"

-- pg 110 March 1976 PE

SUPERTRONICS

"PLANS: Build minicomputer for $99. Including 1024 word memory and digital readouts! Parts readily available from many sources. Plans, diagrams, drawings, instructions $5. Information $1. Supertronics, 29790 Tolay Creek, Sonoma, Calif. 95476."

-- pg 110 March 1976 PE

Lit review

• 1980 history of digital computing in socal from IEEE: http://www.computer.org/portal/web/csdl/doi/10.1109/MAHC.1980.10031

References

• "Off the shelf" Altair Ad. (1976). Popular Electronics, March, pp. 13.