As an early computing enthusiast, few machines intrigue me more than the Micral – one of the very first microcomputers. Created in 1973 with innovative hacker spirit, the Micral paved the way for the entire personal computing revolution.
In this comprehensive guide, we‘ll cover everything you need to know about this little-known pioneer:
- The maverick team who created it
- Breakthrough features for the era
- Details on the various models
- Business performance and applications
- Landmark impact on the computing world
So let‘s dive in and relive computing history!
Originating a Revolution in a Shed
Our story begins in 1972 just south of Paris, where a researcher named François Gernelle founded a tech company called R2E. According to old press accounts, Gernelle got the entrepreneurial spark after chatting with a tomato factory worker who was frustrated by only having access to hulking mainframe computers [1].
In that dingy factory basement, Gernelle hatched the idea of creating smaller and more affordable machines for businesses like these. He assembled a scrappy team to design the first model, called the Micral N:
- Michel Benchetrit – Handled critical software programming
- Alain Lacombe – An electrical engineer to develop the circuits
- Jean-Claude Beckmann – Made the mechanical components
R2E co-founder André Truong was instrumental in securing the first client for this vision. As ComputerWeekly reported, Truong sold the French National Institute for Agronomic Research (INRA) on the idea of an inexpensive computer they could use for monitoring crop moisture in greenhouses [2].
INRA gave the team a tight December 1972 deadline to deliver a working prototype. The crew feverishly converted a tin shed near Paris into a workshop. Surviving mostly on coffee and sandwiches, they pushed 18 hour days to birth the Micral by January 1973.
Breakthrough Architecture for Its Time
Fueling their little creation was one of the first microprocessors – the Intel 8008 containing 3,300 tiny transistors [3]. This 8-bit workhorse cranked away at 500 kHz, giving the relatively compact Micral some serious computing muscle.
For some perspective, the 1966-era PDP-8 from DEC relied on individual integrated circuits for its processing logic instead [4]. This made it vastly bigger and more expensive than the Micral. So Gernelle‘s machine was revolutionary in packing the following innovations into a tiny desktop form:
| Feature | Details | Legacy Impact |
|---|---|---|
| Desktop packaging | 35 kg system with integrated CRT display and keyboard | Established model for personal computers |
| Portability | Compact size enabled it to be moved between locations | Opened door to mobile computing |
| Intel 8008 CPU | One of first microprocessor central processors | Sparked “micro” revolution |
| Affordability | Unit cost around $1,750 USD | Brought computing to small offices |
| Process control focus | Geared to real-time measurement and automation | Inspired modern IoT applications |
As you can see, this little French creation pioneered concepts that seem commonplace in modern systems – but were totally radical in 1973!
The term "microcomputer" was even coined based on the media coverage of this new device. The Micral ushered in an era where microprocessor brains enabled compact computers at far lower costs than the mainframes of old.
Models and Market Performance
R2E initially hoped to sell about 200 Micral N units given its niche capabilities and price point. The system was generally not marketed to end consumers. As reported in several French computer magazines from the 1970s, the target buyers were smaller businesses, factories, and research sites in vertical markets [5].
However the plucky Micral ultimately did find a home primarily in French speaking countries, with little commercial success overseas.
With each new model iteration that was released in subsequent years, updated capabilities and pricing extends the appeal somewhat. Here is a breakdown of the key Micral versions and specs:
| Model | Year | Microprocessor | Clock Speed | RAM | Key Features |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Micral N | 1973 | Intel 8008 | 500 kHz | First model prototype | |
| Micral G | 1974 | Intel 8080 | 1 MHz | 16 KB | Enhanced processor |
| Micral S | 1974 | Intel 8080 | Variant of G | ||
| Micral M | 1976 | Intel 8080 | 8 MHz | 24 KB | Multiprocessor architecture |
| Micral C | 1977 | Intel 8080 | 32 KB | Added floppy disk storage | |
| Micral V | 1978 | Intel 8080 | 32 KB | Portable version |
As you see, later Micrals moved to the more powerful Intel 8080 chip, with huge speed improvements from 500 kHz to 8 MHz. RAM capacity grew steadily as 16 KB to 24 KB became standard. Bulk storage and portability also entered the lineup – radical advancements for the era!
Owners found Micrals valuable for gathering sensor data, controlling instruments, and automating factory equipment. For example, according to a French computing newsreel from 1978, auto manufacturer Citröen used a Micral S-based system to test engine designs across 300 parameters [6].
Another source cites Micrals being deployed in agricultural settings to safeguard crops. The custom software and flexible nature was a major benefit in these industrial applications [7].
All told, around 90,000 Micral units were sold across all models during the system‘s lifespan into the 1980s. So while not an explosive consumer sensation, Gernelle still birthed a commercial success story given the technical limitations of the time.
Pioneering the Future
While the Micral sales figures may seem trivial versus today’s smartphone juggernauts, its influence is impossible to overstate. This scrappy French creation set the stage for everything that followed.
Inspiring the Masses
Seeing affordable computers within reach energized the masses and new companies to drive PC innovation. The Micral revealed everyday people did not need a million dollars or a giant basement to own cutting-edge computing power. Within months, startups scrambled to clone and advance Gernelle’s concept across America and Europe.
Establishing a Beachhead
Like the first person to ever fly, Gernelle proved a microcomputer business model was viable and profitable. In a realm dominated by government and big business, selling computers directly to smaller offices seemed crazy. But the Micral served as the beachhead to unleash personal computing from the grasp of elite institutions.
Ushering in Microprocessors
Without a tiny yet amazingly powerful microprocessor brain like the Intel 8008, devices like the Micral would not be feasible. Gernelle‘s full embrace of this new component class spearheaded the microchip revolution we still benefit from today.
Influencing Future Giants
The Micral hit the market just before another seminal machine – the Altair 8800 of 1975. This hugely popular American kit computer cloned core concepts like the self-contained desktop form. But Bill Gates and Paul Allen were likely already dreaming of software for ‘Micro’ computers when news of the Micral first hit. And Apple founders Steve Jobs and Steve Wozniak grew up immersed in tales of how this tiny French package embodied the future.
So while you may have never heard of it until today, I hope you now appreciate why the pioneering 1973 Micral computer is the true granddaddy of personal computing. Everything that followed owes it a gigantic debt. I encourage you to pay homage to François Gernelle’s marvelous creation that paved our way to the convenience of modern technology!
