Micral N
A French microcomputer built around the Intel 8008 and sold from February 1973 for 8,500 francs, one of the first commercial non-kit microprocessor computers.
R2E founder André Truong Trong Thi asked François Gernelle to build the Micral N for the French agricultural research institute INRA. Work began in June 1972. R2E delivered the machine to INRA in January 1973 and began selling it in February 1973.
It used an Intel 8008 microprocessor clocked at 500 kilohertz. The price was 8,500 francs, about $1,750, which made it a cheaper replacement for a minicomputer.
Why it matters
In 1986 three judges at The Computer Museum in Boston, including Steve Wozniak, awarded the Micral the title of first personal computer using a microprocessor. The Computer History Museum now calls it one of the earliest commercial, non-kit personal computers. The Kenbak-1 came earlier but used no single-chip processor.
Key facts
- Development began June 1972; delivered to INRA in January 1973.
- Sold from February 1973 for 8,500 francs, about $1,750.
- Intel 8008 processor at 500 kilohertz.
- Named earliest microprocessor personal computer by three judges in 1986.
- Later models used the Intel 8080.
Sources
- Wikipedia, "Micral", en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Micral, accessed October 14, 2026.
- Wikipedia, "Kenbak-1", en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kenbak-1, accessed October 14, 2026.