Prior to the IBM PC, a personal computer was called a "personal computer", not a "PC". I assumed that IBM came up with the "PC" name, but after a few minutes of

Prior to the IBM PC, a personal computer was called a "personal computer", not a "PC". I assumed that IBM came up with the "PC" name, but after a few minutes of research, it seems that IBM called their system the "IBM Personal Computer" in the original ads and documentation, rather than the "PC". As far as I can tell, PC Magazine created the name "PC". At first, the magazine referred to the IBM "PC" (with quotation marks around PC), which suggests that this wasn't standard usage. I'm a bit surprised by the idea that the "PC" name was invented by the magazine, and I'm not 100% sure of this, but maybe someone can confirm or deny. It wouldn't be the first time a magazine has created the terminology; "electronics" apparently comes from the magazine, not vice versa.