Manufactured by the Digital Equipment Corporation, the PDP-8 was the first successful mass-produced minicomputer. Its relatively low price ($18,000), desktop packaging, and simple programming model expanded the market for computers in universities, laboratories, and offices.

Isn't that a beautiful front-panel design? The makers of the IMSAI were reportedly inspired by DEC's yellow and red design to do their trademark blue and red design. And the IMSAI's paddle switches were so much more elegant than the toggle switches used on the Altair.



BTW, there were several different PDP/8 models. I believe the one above is the PDP/8e. It's easily the best-looking of all the DEC designs.