![cover image](https://wikiwandv2-19431.kxcdn.com/_next/image?url=https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/c/c3/PDP-1.jpg/640px-PDP-1.jpg&w=640&q=50)
Programmed Data Processor
Name used for several lines of minicomputers / From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Programmed Data Processor (PDP), referred to by some customers, media and authors as "Programmable Data Processor,"[1][2][3] is a term used by the Digital Equipment Corporation from 1957 to 1990 for several lines of minicomputers.[4]
![Thumb image](http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/c/c3/PDP-1.jpg/640px-PDP-1.jpg)
![Thumb image](http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/3/31/Dec_pdp-6.lg.jpg/320px-Dec_pdp-6.lg.jpg)
![Thumb image](http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/5/52/Pdp7-oslo-2005.jpeg/640px-Pdp7-oslo-2005.jpeg)
![Thumb image](http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/3/34/DEC_PDP_8e.jpg/640px-DEC_PDP_8e.jpg)
![Thumb image](http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/e/ee/Pdp-11-40.jpg/640px-Pdp-11-40.jpg)
![Thumb image](http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/8/82/PDP-12-Update-Uppsala.jpeg/640px-PDP-12-Update-Uppsala.jpeg)
![Thumb image](http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/8/84/PDP-15_at_Varesezaal.jpg/320px-PDP-15_at_Varesezaal.jpg)
![Thumb image](http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/2/2a/PDP-15_graphics_terminal.agr.jpg/640px-PDP-15_graphics_terminal.agr.jpg)
The name 'PDP' intentionally avoids the use of the term 'computer'. At the time of the first PDPs, computers had a reputation of being large, complicated, and expensive machines. The venture capitalists behind Digital (especially Georges Doriot) would not support Digital's attempting to build a 'computer' and the term 'minicomputer' had not yet been coined.[5][6] So instead, Digital used their existing line of logic modules to build a Programmed Data Processor and aimed it at a market that could not afford the larger computers.
The various PDP machines can generally be grouped into families based on word length.