PC World names 25 greatest computers

[j_factor]

To celebrate the 25th anniversary of the IBM PC, PC World made an article (http://www.pcworld.com/article/id,126692-page,1-c,systems/article.html#) detailing what they consider the top 25 computers of all time. Here's the list (http://www.pcworld.com/article/id,126692-page,14-c,systems/article.html) (in order):

* 1977 Apple II
* 1986 Compaq Deskpro 386
* 1981 Xerox 8010 Information System
* 1986 Apple Macintosh Plus
* 1992 IBM ThinkPad 700C
* 1981 IBM Personal Computer, Model 5150
* 1985 Commodore Amiga 1000
* 1983 Tandy TRS-80 Model 100
* 1982 Columbia Data Products MPC 1600-1
* 1991 Apple PowerBook 100
* 1998 Sony VAIO 505GX
* 1975 MITS Altair 8800
* 1984 IBM Personal Computer/AT Model 5170
* 1979 Atari 800
* 2001 Shuttle SV24 Barebone System
* 1977 Tandy TRS-80 Model I
* 1987 Toshiba T1000
* 1993 Hewlett-Packard OmniBook 300
* 2002 Apple iMac, second generation
* 1996 Gateway 2000 Destination
* 1998 Alienware Area-51
* 1993 Hewlett-Packard 100LX
* 1997 Apple eMate 300
* 2006 Toshiba Qosmio G35-AV650
* 1982 Non-Linear Systems Kaypro II


The list is very... unexpected. IMO it's pretty biased towards IBM-compatibles and Apple. Where the hell is Commodore 64? And Atari ST?

[Jibbajaba]

I definitely agree. Not putting the C64 on there is idiocy. Definitely some interesting choices there. I'll have to read the article later.

Chris

[Flack]

Any list of the top 25 computers of all time should have the Commodore 64 on it at least three times.

[cyberfluxor]

Lame. Top lists always lack in complete overviews of a topic being covered. I even read some of the articles they wrote about each system and they mentioned others like the Commodore's and yet not even covered on the list. What a shame.

[Dave Farquhar]

Being PC World, I half expected it to be the 25 greatest IBM PC compatibles of all time. I guess they decided against that, to keep the Mac zealots from torching their offices, so they ended up making a half-hearted attempt at personal computing in general.

The Amiga 1000 does NOT belong at #7. It was doing stuff in 1985 that PCs still didn't do effectively 10 years later (well, at least if they were running Windows). And the C-64 not being mentioned at all is an outrage. Sure, the hardware had its flaws--but so did the IBM PC 5150, which made it in--but it's historically a very important computer. For that matter, the VIC-20 gets no mention at all, and I can make a case for that machine. Let's see. First computer with color to retail for less than $300. First computer to sell 1 million units. And honorable mention for being Linus Torvalds' first computer. Not to mention that it sold a paltry 2.5 million units from 1980-1984. That's more than the entire Apple II line sold in its 15-year lifetime. But that's not important I guess.

I remember even back in the 1980s, the lead editorial in one of the magazines (probably RUN, which covered Commodores) complained that the press generally divided the computing world into two sectors, Apple and IBM. Even 20 years ago nothing that Atari or Commodore or any of the other innovators of the time ever did got any respect.

[ubikuberalles]

This article leaves a bad taste in my mouth but for reason different than already stated. About a month ago the editor in chief of PC World, Harry McCracken, posted in he Altair community board asking for input on the Altair 8800. He asked for pictures and wanted opinions on what made the Altair one of the greatest PCs of all time. The board members were very helpful and offered pictures and all sorts of opinions. Did Harry write back thanking everyone for their help? Nope. Not even a screw you and the horse you rode in on. He even quoted one of the Altair board members (Eric Klein) and didn't even tell Eric about it :hmm: (Although he did mention Eric's website).

[Phosphor Dot Fossils]

No C64 on that list is just crazy talk. I'd even argue strenously for the VIC 20, which brought the price point of personal computing down under the $500 mark and paved the way for the C64.

[icbrkr]

Apple II #1? Yes they were popular when they first came out but were superceeded by the likes of the C64 and Atari 800 series of computers. The C64 is the #1 selling computer of all time according to the Guiness Book of World Records. Hmmmm....

[gdement]

Atari and Commodore are perceived as game machines, so they don't get taken as seriously. Also, neither of them are around anymore buying ad space.

[CartCollector]

They have two TRaSh-80s on there, but (to share in the general sentiment of this forum) no C64 or VIC-20? Not even a Speccy or BBC Micro, two very important computers in Great Britian? Rare's first game, Jetpak, was for the Spectrum. And let's not forget Jet Set Willy.