Computers usually come in two type of flavors. Server or workstation, there have been attempts to create computers for personal use as early as in early seventies. Although computer parts were so costly and so big in size at that time, that it was not possible to buy or own them for home purpose. Initial they came in as kits and the buyer had to assemble these kits to be able to use these computers. In this line of progress "Altair 8800" can possibly be called first personal computer.

Commodore PET is considered as first personal computer to be introduced in the mass market. Initially these type of computers were mostly used for simple applications or playing games. These were usually called micro-computers instead of personal computers. During seventies steady progress was made in the development of these type of computers.

For a long time, servers, minis or mainframe computers were used in business and personal computers were popular in homes for hobbies or pleasure. But with the success of IBM PC and its compatibles also provided rapid adaptation of personal/micro-computers at workplace. In this reincarnation IBM PC had a display monitor, key board, enough memory and floppy drive as storage. In order to manage mother board, processor, memory, input/output, cooling fan and power supply as a single unit all of these parts were arranged in small metal cabinet, which can be placed on top of desk. This led to one more name "desktop computer" for the these personal/micro-computers, which remains popular to this day.