| a microcomputer designed for individual use, as by a person in an office or at home or school, for such applications as word processing, data management, financial analysis, or computer games. Abbreviation: PC |
| personal computer n. Abbr. PC A computer built around a microprocessor for use by an individual, as in an office or at home or school. |
A computer typically used in the home, office, or school. Also a generic term for a PC Microsoft® operating system.
personal computer  (pûr'sə-nəl) Pronunciation Key
A computer built around a microprocessor for use by an individual. Personal computers have their own operating systems, software, and peripherals, and can generally be linked to networks. Compare mainframe. |
personal computer computer
(PC) A general-purpose single-user microcomputer designed to be operated by one person at a time.
This term and the concept has been successfully hijacked by IBM due to the huge market share of the IBM PC, despite its many obvious weaknesses when compared to other equally valid claimants to the term, e.g. the Acorn Archimedes, Amiga, Atari, Macintosh.
(1994-11-02)
