It was written by Gordon Laing, a former editor of Personal Computer World magazine[1] and covers the period from 1975 to 1988 (the era before widespread adoption of PC compatibility).

[1][3] Its contents cover home computers, along with some business models and video game consoles,[1] but hardware such as minicomputers and mainframes is excluded.

[2] In writing the book, the author's research included finding and interviewing some of those who worked on the featured hardware and founded the companies.

[1] A number of British computers "that most Americans have probably never encountered in person" are included, such as the Acorn Atom, Dragon 32 and Grundy NewBrain.

[2] Writing in The Register, Lance Davis commented on the importance of such books, stating "... history isn't just about dead people who wore crowns.