In 1975, a primitive machine called the Altair, was launched in the USA.

primitive ^{adj. 含义1：of or at an early stage of social development 原始的，上古的}

• primitive culture / customs / tribes ^原始的…

primitive ^{adj. simple and not modern 简单的，简陋的}

• The local hospital care is primitive and unreliable.

launch ^{v. to make a new product, book etc available for sale for the first time 推出新产品，新书等}

• The company hopes to launch the new drug by next October. 
• The new model will be launched in July.
• He is going to launch his latest novel.

It can properly be described as the first 'home computer' and it pointed the way to the future.

describe … as … ^{把…描述成 …}

• He described it as 'a very agreeable situation located within two small hills in the midst of which flowed a great river.'
• The old lady thought he was a fussy creature, but since the porter agreed with him, she rang up her daughter and asked for her help in what she described as a little spot of bother.

point the way (to …) ^{v. to show how something could change or develop successfully 指明了（… 的）方向}

• A funny thing happened to us on the way to the future. ^{在我们走向未来的路上发生了有意思的事情。}
• Recent medical discoveries are already pointing the way to more efficient vaccines.
• On the way to the future, everyone is a lone traveler. ^{在通往未来的路上，每个人都是孤独的旅行者。}

This was followed, at the end of the 1970s, by a machine called an Apple.

In the early 1980s, the computer giant, IBM produced the world's first Personal Computer.

giant ^{n. a very large and powerful organization 特大机构，大公司，巨头}

• the multinational oil giants 
• Japanese electronics giant Sony

This ran on an 'operating system' called DOS, produced by a then small company named Microsoft.

DOS (Disk Operating System) ^{the basic software in a computer that makes it work and allows you to use a program. It is usually used only in older computers. 磁盘操作系统}

• Where do I find the instructions to load DOS programs from Windows 98? ^{我在哪里可以找到在视窗98系统下加载磁盘操作系统的说明？}
• Apple DOS 3.1 disks used 13 sectors of data per disk track.^{苹果 DOS 3.1 每个磁盘条使用13个扇区的数据。}
• This lesson will teach the disk operating system-DOS.^{本期为第二讲，讲授磁盘操作系统——DOS。}

The IBM Personal Computer was widely copied.

copy = imitate ^{v. to behave or do sth. in the same way as sb. else 模仿}

• She copies everything her sister does.
• Are you imitating/copying me?
• Their tactics have been copied by other terrorists.

From those humble beginnings, we have seen the development of the user-friendly home computers and multimedia machines which are in common use today.

humble ^{adj. 含义1. 谦虚的（不浮夸、不吹牛的）}

• He was a genuinely humble man. 
• He gave a great performance, but he was very humble. ^{他的表演很精彩，但他却很谦逊。}

humble ^{adj. 含义2. men of humble birth 地位卑微的}

• a humble occupation
• Spyros Latsis started his career as a humble fisherman in the Aegean. ^{斯派罗斯·拉齐斯最初的职业是爱琴海的一名地位低微的渔夫。}

humble ^{adj. 含义3. simple and with only basic equipment or features 简单的，简陋的（用于替换上文中的“primitive”）}

• They lived in a humble two-roomed apartment.
• There are restaurants, both humble and expensive, that specialize in noodles. ^{既有普通的也有昂贵的专营面条的餐馆。}

be in use ^{a machine, place etc. that is in use is being used（机器，场所等）在使用，得到使用}

• Electric vehicles built in 1920 were still in use in the 1950s.
• I'll be glad to see the building in use again.