Summary: This article tells the story of Ed Roberts, the man who created the personal computer industry and launched the careers of Bill Gates and Steve Wozniak. At a time when computers were seen as large and expensive machines for big businesses, Roberts had the vision to create an affordable personal computer. He took a risk by pivoting his struggling calculator company, MITS, and secured a loan to fund his venture. Despite skepticism, Roberts believed in the demand for personal computers and succeeded beyond expectations. This is the story of a tech disruptor who defied expectations and walked away from his success.
But Robert had conviction. “Here’s the thing that’s so hard for people to understand now,” he said. “Those of us who wanted computers lusted after computers. That’s the only way to describe it. The idea of possessing your own computer… I mean… wow. There were only one or two things more exciting about that. And I’m not even sure about them!” (View Highlight)
