Famous Computer Predictions

Computers in the future may weigh no more than 1.5 tons.

Popular Mechanics magazine, 1949

There is no reason for any individual to have a computer in his home.

Ken Olson, president, chairman and founder of Digital Equipment Corporation, 1977

But what...is it good for?

Engineer at the Advanced Computing Systems Division of IBM commenting on the microchip, 1968

I think there is a world market for maybe five computers.

Attributed to Thomas J. Watson, Chairman of IBM, 1943, although it's not clear whether he actually said this.

I have traveled the length and breadth of the country, and have talked with the best people in business administration. I can assure you on the highest authority that data processing is a fad and won't last out the year.

Editor in charge of business books at Prentice-Hall, 1957

640K ought to be enough for anybody.

Attributed to Bill Gates, 1981, although when asked about this in 1996 he denied ever having said it.

It would appear that we have reached the limits of what it is possible to achieve with computer technology, although one should be careful with such statements, as they tend to sound pretty silly in 5 years.

John Von Neumann, 1949

Two years from now, spam will be solved.

Bill Gates, 2004


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Technology Predictions