Which event in 1981 led to the broader acceptance of personal computers in households and stores?

The debut of the IBM PC in 1981 played a crucial role in the broader acceptance of personal computers in households and stores because it marked a significant shift in the computing landscape. The IBM PC was well-engineered, reliable, and backed by the credibility of IBM, a leading technology company at the time. This encouraged both consumers and businesses to consider personal computers as viable tools for everyday tasks.

The IBM PC offered standard hardware components that made it easier for users to upgrade or customize their systems. Its introduction established a benchmark for compatibility and performance that other manufacturers would follow, fostering competition and innovation in the personal computer market. Consequently, this helped to normalize the presence of computers in homes and workplaces, paving the way for the computing revolution of the 1980s and 1990s.

Other options do have their significance in the history of personal computing, but none had the immediate impact on market acceptance and infrastructure like the IBM PC did. The launch of the Macintosh, for instance, did contribute to personal computing by emphasizing user-friendly interfaces, but it did not reach the same level of market penetration initially. Similarly, the release of Windows 1.0 and the introduction of Pong had their own influences on technology and gaming but did not directly create the