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WedNov 20

Name Your PC Day – November 20, 2024

Name Your PC Day is celebrated every year on November 20. If you think about it, your PC spends the most time with you from your teenage years well into your adult years. Be it for school or work, the PC remains our loyal companion. We spend hours sitting in front of it trying to accomplish tasks, playing games, listening to music, or playing around. So it’s only fair that this digital friend deserves a name, right?  

History of Name Your PC Day

Whoever created this out-of-the-box holiday has got to be someone who spent a whole lot of time in front of their personal computer that they felt the need to give it a name and make a personal connection. Well, we don’t mind because it makes us realize how much time we spend in front of our computers for work, school, or watching television series and movies. Many of us cannot live without our personal computers now and often feel incomplete without them.

In the 1970s, a microcomputer revolution catalyzed the positioning of personal computers as mass-market consumer electronic devices. The development of the microprocessor allowed personal computers to be sold as affordable consumer goods. Early personal computers were also called microcomputers and sold in an electronic kit form and limited numbers. The target audience was generally hobbyists and technicians, specifically inclined towards the Exidy Sorcerer, the NorthStar Horizon, the Cromemco Z-2, and the Heathkit H8 computers. In 1977, three pre-assembled small computers hit the markets. The Apple II and the PET 2001 were advertised as personal computers, and they became a hit by 1978, taking the market by storm. In the same year, Dan Bricklin and Bob Frankston created VisiCalc, the first electronic spreadsheet. This helped people use the personal computer as a business tool rather than only a game machine or a typewriter replacement. 

Since then, there has been no turning back, and you can find a PC in many households worldwide. Several computer brands have invested in research and development to produce the best PCs possible. And on Name Your PC Day, we can celebrate this important creation by naming it and giving these machines a personal touch. 

Name Your PC Day timeline

1962
The Term ‘Personal Computer’ is Used

Early use of the term ‘personal computer’ is found in a “New York Times” article on November 3 reporting John W. Mauchly’s vision of future computing.

1968
Hewlett-Packard’s Computer

Hewlett-Packard advertises their “Powerful Computing Genie” as “The New Hewlett-Packard 9100A personal computer.”

1971
World’s First Personal Computer

The Kenbak-1 releases, which the Computer History Museum considers the world’s first personal computer.

1977
Microcomputers

Microcomputers are introduced, leading to the positioning of the personal computer as a mass-market consumer electronic device.

Name Your PC Day FAQs

What are examples of good computer names?

The sky (or your creativity level) is the limit here, but you could use synonyms for the word ‘computer’ like mac, notebook, or processor. Alternatively, come up with a funny or cute name for your PC. 

What is a modern PC?

A modern computer is thin and light, more powerful, faster, efficient, and secure than the older PCs. This has been made possible with the advent of technology and innovation over the years. 

What is a personal computer?

A personal computer is a general-purpose computer intended to be operated directly by an end-user. 

Name Your PC Day Activities

  1. Name your PC

    Get as creative as you can! No one is judging you, and your PC isn’t going to hate you for giving it the name you want. Pick out a name that best resonates with you and your PC’s personality. You can even name it after your favorite celebrity, food item, or car.

  2. Repair your PC

    A broken down or damaged PC can cause a lot of problems when we have work piling up. Instead of letting it sit in the corner collecting dust, get it repaired. Once it’s swanky and new, you can christen it.

  3. Buy a new PC

    If your PC is beyond repair and you’ve done everything you could to make it work, it’s time to say goodbye to it. Treat yourself to a brand new PC and give it a name.

5 Interesting Facts About Computers

  1. Heavy computers

    The first computer, ENIAC, weighed more than 27 tons.

  2. Mouse of wood

    The first computer mouse was made of wood.

  3. Woman computer programmer

    Ada Lovelace from England was the first known computer programmer.

  4. The garage connection

    Some of the world’s biggest computer brands were founded in a garage.

  5. Gigabyte drives

    The first gigabyte drive came at a price of a whopping $40,000.

Why We Love Name Your PC Day

  1. Allows you to be creative

    Naming anything or anyone is not easy; however, that’s the fun of this exercise. Naming your PC will unleash those creative juices, and you’ll end up creating a personal connection with your PC once you give it a name.

  2. Your PC has a personality

    Each PC has a unique personality, whether we believe it or not. It’s not obvious, but the minute we work on another person’s PC, we feel the difference and long to return to our own. Our trusted digital companions at least deserve recognition in the form of a name.

  3. PCs spend most of the day with you

    If you’re a working adult, you’re probably in front of your PC for a minimum of eight hours a day. The PC is where we create our magic and trust it to deliver the best work. That’s why giving it a name also works as a little gesture of appreciation for this everyday essential in our lives.

Name Your PC Day dates

Year Date Day
2024 November 20 Wednesday
2025 November 20 Thursday
2026 November 20 Friday
2027 November 20 Saturday
2028 November 20 Monday