个人电脑(personal computer (PC))
为供个人使用而设计的微电脑。一台典型的个人电脑配备包括中央处理器，由RAM和ROM组成的内部记忆体，资料储存装置（包括硬碟、软碟或唯读光碟），各种输入／输出装置（包括显示器、键盘、滑鼠和印表机）。个人电脑生产开始於1977年，当时由苹果电脑生产了「苹果二号」电脑。无线电室（Radio Shack）和科莫多尔商业机器公司（Commodore Business Machines）也在同年推出了个人电脑。IBM公司在1981年进入了个人电脑市场。IBM电脑在记忆体能力上不断提升，并在其大规模销售的组织支持下迅速树立工业标准。苹果电脑公司推出的麦金塔电脑（1984）对桌上排版尤其有用。微软公司在1985年推出了MS Windows作业系统，一种图形使用者界面，提供许多麦金塔所具有的功能，最初它是覆盖MS-DOS上的系统。视窗系统逐渐取代MS-DOS成为个人电脑的主要作业环境。当这种机器功能越来越强大和应用软体随之倍增时，使用个人电脑的人也成倍成长。如今，个人电脑已经具有文书处理、上网和其他处理日常事务的功能。
English version：
personal computer (PC)
Microcomputer designed for use by one person at a time. A typical PC assemblage comprises a CPU; internal memory consisting of RAM and ROM; data storage devices (including a hard disk, a floppy disk, or CD-ROM); and input/output devices (including a display screen, keyboard, mouse, and printer). The PC industry began in 1977 when Apple Computer introduced the Apple II. Radio Shack and Commodore Business Machines also introduced PCs that year. IBM entered the PC market in 1981. The IBM PC, with increased memory capacity and backed by IBM's large sales organization, quickly became the industry standard. Apple's Macintosh (1984) was particularly useful for desktop publishing. Microsoft Corp. introduced MS Windows (1985), a graphical user interface that gave PCs many of the capabilities of the Macintosh, initially as an overlay of MS-DOS. Windows went on to replace MS-DOS as the dominant operating environment for personal computers. Uses of PCs multiplied as the machines became more powerful and application software proliferated. Today, PCs are used for word processing, Internet access, and many other daily tasks.