The University established the MDC in 1990 when the local retailer, Clancy-Paul, left its University Store location. The MDC incorporated the Princeton Microcomputer Purchase Plan (PUMPP), which the University established in 1988 to provide favorable financing for undergraduate computer purchases.
| year | know about, used |
Male | Female | AB | BSE |
| 1989 | n.a. | n.a. | n.a. | n.a. | n.a. |
| 1990 | 70% , 27% | 71% , 27% | 68% , 27% | 67% , 29% | 83% , 21% |
| 1991 | 28% , 15% | 33% , 16% | 21% , 14% | 25% , 14% | 38% , 20% |
| 1992 | 34% , 22% | 42% , 24% | 21% , 18% | 31% , 22% | 43% , 24% |
| 1993 | 38% , 27% | 47% , 30% | 25% , 21% | 34% , 24% | 53% , 35% |
| 1994 | 41% , 25% | 49% , 28% | 31% , 20% | 39% , 25% | 51% , 25% |
| 1995 | 45% , 31% | 53% , 35% | 33% , 25% | 43% , 31% | 52% , 29% |