logo

Video encyclopedia

Programmed Data Processor

1:49

PDP-1 - Programmed Data Processor-1

3:05

Booting and running a DEC PDP-11/70

1:47

DEC PDP/8E Console Programming

1:02

Dec professional 350 computer in the "Firestarter" movie

0:45

Running a BASIC program on a DEC PDP-8/e

Programmed Data Processor (PDP), referred to by some customers, media and authors as "Programmable Data Processor, is a term used by the Digital Equipment Corporation from 1957 to 1990 for several lines of minicomputers. The name "PDP" intentionally avoids the use of the term "computer" because, at the time of the first PDPs, computers had a reputation of being large, complicated, and expensive machines, and the venture capitalists behind Digital would not support Digital's attempting to build a "computer"; the word "minicomputer" had not yet been coined. So instead, Digital used their existing line of logic modules to build a Programmed Data Processor and aimed it at a market that could not afford the larger computers.