How much RAM did the average computer have in the early 1990's?

Question

How much RAM did the average computer have in the early 1990's?

Answer 1

IBM's 1990 PS/2 computers, which used the brand new 486 processor, 4 MB RAM, XGA graphics, and an 80-320 MB hard drive, cost between $10,000 and $15,000.

typical DOS PC cost around $2000. It offered a 386/16 MHz processor with 2 MB RAM, 256 color VGA graphics, and an optional mouse for use with the brand new Windows 3.0. Microsoft sold Windows 3.0, and the required DOS, for $200, or around 10% of the cost of the hardware.

Pretty makes you laugh now.

Answer 2

We bought a system in late '93 or early '94, and people thought we were insane because we upgraded it from 64 MB of RAM to 128 MB of RAM, and from a 2 GB hard drive to a 3 GB hard drive. The only other people we knew with that much RAM were doing special stuff with their computers.

**EDIT**

By the way, it was a 486, and we paid almost $3000 for it. Peripherals, like the printer, were extra. We paid $300 for a printer which I wouldn't use as a paperweight now. The one which sits on my desk cost me $69 and is lightyears ahead of that old one.

Answer 3

Computer Changes in the 1990's

Although it could not have been done with the technology and the strategies of the 1970s and 1980s, the computer advancements made in the 1990s was come of the most exciting in the history of computers. It was during the early 1990s that the world wide web made the world a much smaller place and more people had access to businesses and other people all over the world. It was also the decade in which Bill Gates Windows empire completely revolutionized how people used their personal computer. With all of these advancements, we can now see that it was only the beginning.

Some of the prices paid for computers in the 1990's

Nintendo Super Mario 3 $49.99 Ohio 1990

PC 286 with printer $1,699.00 Ohio 1990

PC 486/33 250 mb hard drive 3 1/2 inch floppy drive 1 mg memory $1,260.00 Annapolis 1993

Super Nintendo $159.00 New Jersey 1996

At the very beginning of the decade – 1990 – the Microsoft Company released its Microsoft Windows 3 software program. This piece of computer software built upon its predecessor - the 1985 version of Microsoft Windows. The Windows 3 program afforded consumers a more attractive appearance than previous operating systems and it also had 640 Kb of RAM. Its faster performance allowed users to have multiple programs running at the same time so users could multitask and save time. Windows 3 also introduced the Microsoft Word program for word processing and the Microsoft Excel program that is used for creating and editing spreadsheets. The popularity of Windows 3 caused millions of copies to be sold to personal computer owners and businesses within the first year alone. This began the domination that the Microsoft Company would have over the computer software industry throughout the upcoming decade and beyond.

Possibly the most technological and widely-used advancement of computers in the 1990s was the internet. The world wide web (known as the “www” that we type prior to a web address) made the internet popular and simple to use for any personal computer owner. When it first came out, many companies charged for online access by the minute. Now, however, almost everybody pays a low monthly price ($10.95 and up) for unlimited monthly access. Its cool graphics and “point-and-click” capabilities created millions of “web surfers” all over the world. With the internet, sales of modems skyrocketed because this was the main piece of equipment needed to connect to the web. Not long after its creation, everybody who owned a computer wanted to own a modem so they could get connected to the world. In addition to this, a number of “internet cafes” began popping up where people could use the computers provided there to connect to the internet.

In 1995, the Microsoft Windows technology also took off with the introduction of Windows 95. In August of that year, the anticipation of this revolutionary software created the biggest global hype in history for any single product. When you look at the list of advancements and technologies that Windows 95 offered to the average computer user, you will see why computer users were so anxious to purchase it. It gave computer users the capability to have longer filenames for the important data. Previous to Windows 95, users were relegated to keeping their filenames only 8 characters long. Windows 95 was also not based on DOS (Disk Operating System) that other brands used. The Windows 95 software also made it possible for the average computer user with a modem to connect to the internet with a few simple clicks of their mouse. In addition to all of these great qualities, this software also had a faster performance and a stylish appearance that attracted even the most discerning personal computer user.

If somebody was to define the 1990s decade of computer technology with two words, those two words could very well be “internet” and “Microsoft.” These are the two terms that dominated every computer user’s world during the 90s and they still continue to be powerful forces in today’s society. With constant improvements being made everyday, we have not seen the end of what engineers can do in regards to computer technology in the future. As they build on the successes and technologies that have been successfully created and marketed, they continue to find more things that we can do with personal computers. As it seems right now, computers have been around for a few decades and they will likely be around for many more in some capacity or another. For personal computer owners, the future holds unlimited possibilities that we cannot even begin to imagine.

During the 90's the Personal Computer took off and over just 10 years became integral in our lives, Possibly the major change was the refinement of the GUI G raphical U ser I nterface. Windows started in the mid 80's but became more stable in the early 90's , and as more games appeared people spent more time using their personal computer for entertainment, word processing, surfing the Internet, and much much more

The first versions of Windows were full of bugs and slow by todays standards but did allow those who were not computer literate to use personal computers over the 90's Windows improved , computers became faster, applications were more user friendly and the Internet allowed people access to e-mail and information on anything and everything available as quick as a flash, the personal computer became indispensable to many and part of our everyday lives.

Below are some of the dates new versions of windows were introduced in the 90's

Windows 3.1 1992

Linux GNU General Public License Free 1992

Windows NT 3.1 1993

Windows 95 1995

NT 4.0 1996

Windows 98 1998

Which do you remember and who can forget the Blue Screen we all came to know when the PC Crashed

Answer 4

In 1990 I had an IBM PC 8088 it had a 20 meg HDD, well it came originally with a 5 meg HDD and I upgraded. It came standard with 64Kb ram which was updated to 640Kb. 1 x 5 1/4" single sided 180 Kb floppy drive.

you know I ran my whole business from this machine.

I put a Hercules graphics card which allowed me to draw squares and rectangles.

I was great for the day. It cost me $3000.00

Then in 1994 I upgraded to a 486 with 8 Mb Ram and a 420 Mb HDD 2x Cd burner and 4 Mb graphics card.

It cost me $1500.00

How do you like them apples.

These were a big jump from the very first computer I had in 1984.

It was an Osbourne-1, it had no HDD, 64k ram, 4" green screen 2 x 180k single sided floppy drives, 1 for the program and 1 to write to. All this in a portable Suite case size package.

It worked of CPM language but first I had to learn how to program in COBOL and basic. Those were the days...