39 Vintage Computer Ads That Show Just How Far We’ve Come

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John Summers • Contributor
Jun 24, 2025 9:00 PM EDT

"Two bytes are better than one." That was a real slogan, from a real ad, in a very real year: 1978. And while that ad mostly served as an excuse to feature two women literally biting a computer nerd (yes, really), it also bragged about a 16-bit processor like it was the second coming. And honestly? It kind of was.

If you've ever complained about your phone running out of Gigabytes, just remember there was a time when people happily paid $12,000 for an 80MB hard drive the size of a carry-on suitcase. Back then, you didn't just buy a computer - you committed to it, emotionally and financially.

Looking at these vintage ads from the 70s and 80s feels like peering into a parallel universe where tech was chunky, fonts were funky, and everything was "revolutionary" if it could run BASIC. But beneath all the beige boxes and pixelated logos, there's something weirdly inspiring about how quickly we've gone from computers that filled rooms to ones that fit on keychains.

So grab your floppy disks and buckle in - these 39 ads are a glorious reminder of how far (and how weird) tech has come in just a few decades.

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  • 01
    XCOMP introduces a complete micro-size disk subsystem with more.... MORE STORAGE MORE SPEED MORE VALUE MORE SUPPORT $100 users. The XCOMP subsystem is now available with 10 megabytes of storage: 5 megabytes also available at $2,898.00. Compare the price and features of any other 5%-inch-or even 8-inch system, and you'll agree that XCOMP's value is unbeatable. OUTPERFORMS OTHER HARD DISKS Floppy disk and larger, more expensive hard disks are no match for this powerful little system. More data is
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  • 02
    Now you can get our disk systems within 30 days ARO at the industry's lowest prices: .80 Mbytes for under $12K* 300 Mbytes for under $20K* Field-proven reliability, total software support and 30-day delivery. You've come to expect them all from us. And that's why we've become the world's largest independent supplier of minicomputer disk storage systems. Now add low price. Lower than the minicompu- ter manufacturer, lower than any other indepen- dent-the lowest in the industry. Why? Because we bu
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  • 03
    Seagate's 80MB ST4096 The capacity is high. The price is not. If you have a voracious appetite for computer storage, Seagate's ST4096 is the drive for you. This full-height 5.25" drive features a full 80 megabytes of formatted storage capacity, com- pared to other drives that format down to 72MB. With capacity this high, the ST4096 is ideal for heavy database or spreadsheet applications. If it's a multiuser system you have in mind, the ST4096 offers a speedy 28ms access time for quick system res
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  • 04
    ГИЗТА 10 Megabyte Hard Disk $3,495 * 5440-12 Top Load Drive Factory rebuilt 10MB cartridge disk drive only A new Cameo Data Systems controller is available for $1,495 $4,495 for a brand new Ampex 10MB drive only We are the CP/M and MP/M specialist of South- ern California. We can supply you with the latest CP/M ($150) or MP/M ($300) and with Standard BIOS ($150) or Custom BIOS ($300). Immediate delivery worldwide. Domestic and foreign inquiries invited...dealers too. CP/M and MP/M are Trademarks
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  • 05
    First compare quality. Then compare cost. Morrow Designs' 10 megabyte hard disk system: $3,695. MORE MEMORY. LESS MONEY. Compare Morrow Designs' DISCUS M26 hard disk systems to any system available for S-100 or Cromemco machines. First, compare features. Then, com- pare cost per mega- byte. The M26 works out to under $200 a megabyte. And the M10 is about half the cost of com- peting systems. COMPLETE SUBSYSTEMS. Both the M10 (8"), and the M26 (14"), are delivered complete with disk controller, c
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  • 06
    Z-2H Computer System CCromemco Low-cost hard disk computers are here 11 megabytes of hard disk and 64 kilobytes of fast RAM in a Z80A computer for under $10K. Two floppy drives, too. Naturally, it's from Cromemco. It's a reality. In Cromemco's new Model Z-2H you get all of the above and even more. With Cromemco you get it all. In this new Model Z-2H you get not only a large-storage Winchester hard disk drive but also two floppy disk drives. In the hard disk drive you get unprecedented storage ca
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  • 07
    You always find something in the last place you look. Unfortunately, the average hard disk has about 20,000 places. Of course, you might get lucky. And find the file you want in the 19,992nd place. Or, you can find it almost immediately with new Lotus Magellan® 2.0. keystroke launches the applica- up to 50%, with the built-in tion and loads the file. Magellan sim- plifies all of the other utility func- tions you use most, too. Copy, Delete, Move, Sort, Back-up or Rename files, groups of files, o
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  • 08
    Be Headstrong Microcompu FOLHA "For reliable data storage, I recommend systems with Shugart disk drives?" merces, California "The last thing you need when you put your personal computer or small business system to work is a disk drive that you can't rely on. If the drive quits, your system is out of business." That's why more and more manu- facturers and dealers depend on Shugart disk drives for reliable data storage. These professionals don't want disk drive prob- lems any more than you do. Shu
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  • 09
    Can your word processor pass this screen test? WHAT YOU SEE IS WHAT YOU GET WordStar™ software does'! And does it better than any other word processing system. Not only do you get all the sophisticated features you'd expect from the high-priced WP system, with WordStar you have a true screen image of what your printout will look like before you print it! With WordStar, you'll erase. insert, delete and move entire blocks of copy. Page breaks are displayed and automatically revised on the screen.
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  • 10
    Operation in Real-Time ... In the field of missile development, there's only one commercially avail- able digital computer capable of real-time performance-the famous Univac Scientific. It's the ideal sys- tem for flight simulation and for on-line data reduction. It solves complex problems from purely sensed data at speeds that are compatible with real-time control. Because of its ability to reduce large volumes of data at tremendous speeds, the Univac Scientific System easily handles even the m
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  • 11
    VERSATILE DEPENDABLE COMPATIBLE (MAYBE EVEN SEXY) CALL IT WHAT YOU WANT... We call it a PENRIL MODEM! Penril's modems are all performers - with a family ranging from teletype (Bell 101C) modems and single card LSI 1200 BPS (Bell 202C) modems up to our adaptively equalized 4800 BPS models. Penril Data Communications, Inc. 5520 RANDOLPH ROAD, ROCKVILLE, MARYLAND 20852 301-881-8151 We'll be on display at Booth 2028 at FICC in Las Vegas.
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  • 12
    A BALANCE OF FEATURES The APPLE-1 SYSTEM if a fully assembled, tested & burned-in microprocessor board using the 6502 microprocessor. The board contains processor & support hard- ware; complete video electronics for a 40 character/line, 24 line video display: on-board RAM capacity of 8K BYTES; software system moni- tor in PROM: and fully regulated power supplies. The Apple attaches directly to an ASCII encoded key- board and a video monitor, allow- ing the efficient entry and examin- ation of pr
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  • 13
    Apples make great carrots. WELCOME TO CHICAGO FIND YOUR 28.08329 AND OF M RITE NUMBERS FOR YOU none apple When's the last time you came across a business machine that gets people more excited than a trip to Acapulco or a color TV? Personal computers are the hottest prod- ucts of the year, and Apples are the hottest personal computers. Because there are more ready-to-use programs for Apples than any other personal computer you can buy, Apples can do just about anything for just about anybody. Fro
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  • 14
    Two Bytes Are Better Than One TMS 9900 16BIT MICROCOMPUTER COLOR VIDEO SUPER STARTER SS-16 SERIES FLOPPY DISK TECHNICO نانانانا BOARD 4800 BAUD DIGITAL DRIVES CASSETTE THE FULL POWER OF THE 16-BIT TMS 9900 MICROPROCESSOR IS NOW AVAILABLE WITH THE UNIQUE COMBINA- TION OF RELIABLE HARDWARD AND FAST, EASY TO USE SOFTWARE IN THE TECHNICO SS-16. WITH MINICOMPUTER PERFORMANCE THE TECHNICO 16-BIT MICROCOMPUTERS ARE AVAILABLE FROM THE SINGLE BOARD SUPER STARTER SYSTEM AT UNDER $400 TO THE FULL SS-16 WIT
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  • 15
    cramenco The new 16K RAM card that turns your computer into a working giant Available now- store/factory Here's the industry's leading 16K RAM card. It has two outstanding features that make it important to you: (1) It's fast: It operates up to 4 MHz with no wait states. That's im- portant because it lets you run pro- grams on your Cromemco Z-1 and Z-2 computers in about half the time. required by other systems. Even if your present computer is not 4 MHz. fast, this new Model 16KZ RAM equips you
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  • 16
    2$ a byte! MM16K/$349 = 2.1¢ N MM24K/$499 20 ow you can afford to sink your teeth into some big, feature-packed static memories. Because George Morrow's ultra-efficient designs have brought S-100 memory down to 2¢ a byte. Introducing Morrow's new "MemoryMaster" Bank Select Logic memories, the top of the SuperRam line. The SuperRam MemoryMaster 16K Static may be the most sophisticated S-100 memory at any price. The MM16K is switch-programmable to write-protect any of the four 4K blocks...or to op
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  • 17
    extensys corporation 64K for $1495 The most cost effective products for your microcomputer. RM64 64Kbytes THE EXTENSYS RM64 MEMORY BOARD provides the most cost effective system memory found in the industry. The RM64 provides this because of our low cost per byte when compared to our competition plus the increased reliability of a single board over multiple boards containing less memory. The board is S-100 bus compatible making it usable in over a dozen different microcomputer systems including A
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  • 18
    For people who want power. 123 System Disk Lotus And something more. 123 System Disk COMPA Lotus If you are seeking power in software we believe we have created the program you seek. And our opinion is shared by a great many computer analysts who consider 1-2-3M from Lotus the most productive program in the marketplace. Like many great ideas the essence of its success is its simplicity. With 1-2-3, you have spreadsheet, information management and graphic functions-all in one program. You can swi
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  • 19
    Concerto in A Flat Mini. Victor Borge demands the world's finest piano for his concert work. And when he performs at the computer keyboard, he naturally expects the best. The quality mini recording media. That's why he specifies Verbatim. At Verbatim Corporation the whole message is quality. Our Verbatim brand diskettes, cartridges and cassettes capture your data and play it back bit for bit, byte for byte, verbatim. Quality mini media is all we make. When you want to be sure your data will play
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  • 20
    The inventors of the 3.5"drive recommend only one floppy disk. Theirs. If your computer has 3.5" drives, it has a little bit of Sony Because Sony invented the 3.5" drive technology that has taken floppy disk memory all the way to two megabytes So nobody knows better than Sony how important high standards are for producing 3.5" floppy disks. But then, Sony invented those, too, as well as the most demanding methods for making 3.5" disks Such as the Sony Vivax magnetic medium, with the high coerciv
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  • 21
    10 ** ** ** ** my " MAC M- M+ The LOGITECH HIREZ Mouse- the only mouse expressly designed for high-resolution screens. With a resolution of 320 dots-per- inch (as compared with 200 dpi or less for ordinary mice), it covers the same area on your high-res screen, but needs less of your desk to do it. More than 50% less. Saving you valuable desk space, and effort: mouse maneuvers that used to require a sweep of the hand are now reduced to a flick of the wrist. LOGITECH HIREZ Introducing the most ag
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  • 22
    THE NEW STANDARD. THE MICROSOFT MOUSE. MICROSOFT Microsoft, the people who set the standard for software, have done it again with the Microsoft Mouse. Our expertise in both hardware and software has gone into the develop- ment of the Microsoft Mouse. Now you can plug in the most exciting computer product of the year and put it to work. The Mouse lets you move the cursor freely and natu- rally, then execute com- mands at the push of a button. application developers, the Mouse includes a pro- gram
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  • 23
    The first personal computer for under $200. The Sinclair ZX80. A complete computer- only $199.95 plus $5.00 shipping. Now, for just $199.95, you can get a complete, powerful, full-function computer, matching or surpassing other personal computers costing several times more. It's the Sinclair ZX80, the computer that independent tests prove is faster than all previous personal computers. The compu- ter that "Personal Computer World" gave 5 stars for 'excellent value." The ZX80 cuts away computer j
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  • 24
    Apple announces a technological breakthrough of incredible proportions. 12"x11"x24" 0-0
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  • 25
    We're looking for the most original use of an Apple since Adam. What in the name of Adam do people do with Apple Computers? You tell us. In a thousand words or less. If your story is original and intriguing enough, you could win a one-week all-expense paid trip for two to Hawaii. Which is the closest we could. come to paradise, Win fabulous prizes for creative writing. To enter, drop by your nearest Apple dealer and pick up an entry blank. Fill it out. Then write an article, in 1000 words or les
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  • 26
    The Imagination Machine The Imagination Machine offers more at its price than any other personal computer on the market today. Consider these features: 9K RAM, with 14K BASIC in ROM,53-key typewriter keyboard. A fine resolu tion picture, generated on your television set or monitor in 8 colors! The only computer with color, sound, user programmability and expandability at $599. A built-in, dual-track cassette tape deck with 1500 baud rate, for APF's digitally recorded, "saturated" tape programs.
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  • 27
    Jefferson had one of the best minds of 1776, but today you can make better decisions with an Apple. Jefferson and decision makers of every century have faced the same challenge: how to explore every option before you implement the final plan. Today you have a solution. The Apple personal computer. A tool to test contingencies. How would higher interest rates affect your forecasts? What if vendors raised prices 2% ? What if you could determine capital equipment depreciation at the touch of a key?
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  • 28
    Sol. The small computer that won't fence you in. A lot of semantic nonsense is being tossed around by some of the makers of so-called "personal" computers. To hear them tell it, an investment of a few hundred dollars will give you a computer to run your small business, do financial planning, analyze data in the engineering or scientific lab and when day is done play games by the hour. Well, the game part is true. The rest of the claims should be taken with a grain of salt. Only a few personal co
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  • 29
    COMMODORE VIC-20° "THE WONDER COMPUTER OF THE 1980s. UNDER $300?" -WILLIAM SHATNER "The best computer value in the world today. The only computer you'll need for years to come." JOYSTROK PADDLE ONOFF SWITCH FLIGH POWER VIC-20 VS. OTHER HOME COMPUTERS VIC-20 Ново-сив MODULE TER OR MONITOR TRS- Product Features Price Maximam RAM Memory 16K Keyboard Style Commodore Atari 400- 9944 Computer VIC-30 $299.95 $458.95 $499.00 $399.00 32K 16K 32K Fu-Sa Half-Su Calculat Typewriter Plastic Typewriter Style
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  • 30
    The Wall Street The $1795. The Osborne is easy to Personal Business learn, fun to use, and quickly Computer that is changing the way people go to work. Henry Ford revolutionized personal transportation. Adam Osborne has done the same for personal business computing. Virtually everything becomes indispensable. One price, $1795, buys it all. The Osborne is available from a computer retailer near you. And you can buy it in any color you want. As long as it is blue. $1795. you need in a personal bus
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  • 31
    Introducing the extraordinary IBM 5110 Computing System Under $18,000 There was a time when $18,000 wouldn't even cover the monthly cost of a computer. But the new IBM 5110 Com puting System shown above sells for $18,000 (other configurations range from under $10,000 to about $30,000). And for any of these prices, you get a versatile IBM computer backed by IBM service and reliability. The 5110ean make a major contribution to your business. For example, it can be programmed to do your accounts re
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  • 32
    Two New Reasons to Choose Our TRS-80 Portable Computer: A Video Display and Disk Storage! f 000000000000 AS LOW AS 45 PER MONTH TRS-80 Model 100 Disk/Video Interface 799000 Shown with optonal second drive
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  • 33
    Putting color to work in computers. Computers that present a wealth of confusing information serve only to slow the information process. At ISC. we use color graphics as a highly-effective communications medium. Why color? Research has shown that color con- veys information more quickly and effectively than any other visual method. Thus, when compared to black and white, a color CRT display results in faster, more accurate user response. And that means faster decisions from the ultimate proc- es
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  • 34
    What kind of man owns his own Rather revolutionary, the whole idea of owning your own computer? Not if you're a diplomat, printer, scientist, inventor...or a kite designer, too. Today there's Apple Computer. It's designed to be a personal computer. To uncomplicate your life. And make you more effective. It's a wise man who owns an Apple. If your time means money, Apple can help you make more of it. In an age of specialists, the most successful specialists stay away from uncreative drudgery. That
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  • 35
    IF PERSONAL COMPUTERS ARE FOR EVERYBODY, HOW COME THEY'RE PRICED FOR NOBODY? A personal computer is supposed to be a computer for persons. Not just wealthy persons. Or whiz-kid persons. Or privileged persons. will be far more challenging than those you could ever play on a game machine alone. And as great as all this sounds, what's IBM PC 64K even greater sounding is the price. It's hundreds of dollars less than that of our nearest competitor. $1395* $999* $1355* But person persons. APPLE lle 64
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  • 36
    What the heck is Electronic Mail? L Electronic Mail is a term that's been bandied about date processing circles for years Simply put, it means high- speed information transportation One of the most advanced methods is terminals talking to one another Your mailbox is the terminal on your desk Punch a key and today's correspondence and messages are displayed instantly Need to notify people immediately of a fast-breaking development? Have your mes sages delivered to their terminal mailboxes electro
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  • 37
    T File Edit Sendies Tent Fapture WE Copy Paste NO Clear Invert Trace Leges poznal price Retete Confidential Z power pivot Subt Paste bottom Show Chipboard apata mabe Capotal the hottest selling all-port 143-page report at your bure bo the really you everything you seed to h power pivot Cut. Once you've completed your il- tration, you need to cut it out of the document you created it on, so that you can put it into the word processing program you seed to write your memo To do this, you simply use
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  • 38
    How to turn a sea of data into data you can These are no pos me places dength with Apples than with perna Which Purwed that can Comp more meaningful to you all Is called bunes graphics wald see. More ways to see what you're doing destes qui phical how Thark the hear of Apple The software pounds of one Business Cphics can make And thug you the for example to thoroughly understand relationships and market. Without having y produced can be rapidly, and colorfully produced.on vually any printer or p
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  • 39
    How to send mail at 670,000,000 mph. The places de Which ply diag dinexpensive way of sending ane and fier The Tun So then no ly hook-up All you need an Apple and a device, calidad sight on the screm So you Or make ming mail, and The edgy enabl Put your computer on the phone. a bank provide Apple un with at Appleto dep JV SAL dura 20 or Bo INFOON Tone add Oj 24-hour postal service. Depending the you pre then g recy of up-to-dee addes And keep murning Dialing for data. Your Apple cana eputers tha
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