The home computer war

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Atari and Texas Instruments introduced hybrid computers combining features of personal computers and video game consoles in 1979.
The Atari 400 and TI-99/4 were expensive, limiting their market appeal.
Texas Instruments released the TI-99/4A in 1981 with a lower price but faced stiff competition.
The 'home computer' category emerged, targeting affordability for middle-class households.
Radio Shack's TRS-80 Color Computer (CoCo) launched in 1980, following the hybrid model.
Commodore's VIC-20, released in 1981, was priced aggressively at $299 and marketed heavily.
A brutal price war in 1982-1983 led to drastic price cuts, with some computers selling below $100.
Texas Instruments exited the market in 1983 after massive losses.
Commodore's Commodore 64, released in 1982, became a dominant force with advanced features.
Home computers were primarily used for gaming, despite marketing emphasizing educational value.
Atari and Tandy survived but with significant financial and strategic setbacks.
Commodore faced internal turmoil, losing key personnel, including founder Jack Tramiel in 1984.

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