Programmed Data Processor

What Does Programmed Data Processor Mean?

The Programmed Data Processor (PDP) was one of the first iterations of a personal computing device. It was released as a series, with the PDP-1 being regarded by computer historians as the first microcomputer. The final release was the PDP-15.

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Techopedia Explains Programmed Data Processor

The PDP was initially released in 1960 by Digital Equipment Corporation (DEC, which was purchased by Compaq in 1998). The PDP-1 featured solid-state logic circuits, fully parallel processing, a computation rate of 100,000 additions per second, multiple step deferred addressing and expandable RAM.

The initial release of the PDP was groundbreaking in its portability (it was considerably powerful and dynamic for its size), ease of installation and accessibility. It ran on an ordinary 110-volt current, came with an alphanumeric typewriter and had an array of simplified controls and standardized connection ports.

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Margaret Rouse

Margaret Rouse is an award-winning technical writer and teacher known for her ability to explain complex technical subjects to a non-technical, business audience. Over the past twenty years her explanations have appeared on TechTarget websites and she's been cited as an authority in articles by the New York Times, Time Magazine, USA Today, ZDNet, PC Magazine and Discovery Magazine.Margaret's idea of a fun day is helping IT and business professionals learn to speak each other’s highly specialized languages. If you have a suggestion for a new definition or how to improve a technical explanation, please email Margaret or contact her…