Armand, Thanks for sharing this link. Micral is also well documented by Zbigniew Stackniak, of York U., who's published several papers about it and is writing a book: http://www.cse.yorku.ca/~zbigniew/
This constitutes the birth certificate of the PC.
That is a subjective claim. R2E was * one * of various circa-1972 microcomputers. Here's another: http://www.digibarn.com/stories/bill-pentz-story/index.html
The director of Popular Electronics picked up the advertising material outlining the technical specifications. He gave it to Ed Roberts
What is the source of this story? Did Ed or anyone affiliated with PE/MITS confirm it? Seems to me PE/MITS were simply responding to the Radio Electronics / Jon Titus Mark-8 kit. Also: I interviewed Gernelle (on a different topic) a few months ago, so I can help if anyone needs to reach him.