Today (September 14), the first museum devoted to microcomputing opens its doors in Quebec.
It is located at 1691 Pie-IX Boulevard in the PEC building (Pavillon d’éducation communitaire) in the Hochelaga-Maisonneuve neighbourhood in Montreal. The iMusée contains a hundred objects that document the rapid evolution that microcomputing has experienced in Quebec.
Several rooms will highlight the chronological progression of computers which began to pop up in homes in the 1980s. During this time, buying a computer cost thousands of dollars. These clunkers were thrown out with few regrets as newer models became available.
On display is the Apple Lisa (1983), the computer that preceded the arrival of the Macintosh. It was the first to come with a funny little gizmo called a mouse. It was also the first to offer a complete graphical user interface (GUI).
Some museum visitors may get a bit nostalgic when they see the IBM5100, a portable computer that was the size of a small suitcase.
Click here to find information on the new iMusée in Montreal. Please note the website is in French only.