The first commercial non-kit
computer based on a
microprocessor, the Micral was introduced in 1973 by French company
R2E and was powered by the
8008 chip from
Intel. For years the
hardware's development was attributed to R2E president Thi Truong, but after
litigation ending in 1998, François Gernelle was confirmed to have been the machine's true designer. The software was programmed by Philippe Kahn, founder of
Borland, and the machine - which ran at 108
kHz - sold for $1,750. It was in an article on the Micral that the term
microcomputer first appeared in print.
Sources
http://www.old-computers.com/museum/computer.asp?c=352
http://www.liberation.com/multi/cahier/articles/sem99.15/cah990409c.html
http://www.lightsurf.com/pk_tech/ts_21401.html