Who would ever want a computer?? Misguided predictions from great people!

May 09, 2007 - “Computers in the future may weigh no more than 1.5 tons.” Popular Mechanics, forecasting the relentless march of science, 1949 “I think there is a world market for maybe five computers.” Thomas Watson, chairman of IBM, 1943 “I have traveled the length and breadth of this country and talked with the best people, and I can assure you that data processing is a fad that won’t last out the year.” The editor in charge of business books for Prentice Hall, 1957 “But what … is it good for?” Engineer at the Advanced Computing Systems Division of IBM, 1968, commenting on the microchip. “There is no reason anyone would want a computer in their home.” Ken Olson, president, chairman and founder of Digital Equipment Corp., 1977 “This ‘telephone’ has too many shortcomings to be seriously considered as a means of communication. The device is inherently of no value to us.” Western Union internal memo, 1876. - 7 Comments