Timeline: 1986-1989

 

1986-1989 Steady Progress

Amiga 500/2000, Macintosh II, PS/2, VGA, OS/2, lawsuits, MCA/EISA, 80386/486, Sun, CD-ROM


1986

January
•Microsoft releases MS-DOS 3.25.  •Apple Computer introduces the Macintosh Plus. It features a 8-MHz 68000 processor, 1 MB RAM, SCSI connector for hard drive support, a new keyboard with cursor keys and numeric keypad, and an 800 KB 3.5-inch floppy drive. Price is US$2600.  •Apple Computer introduces the LaserWriter Plus printer.  •John Sculley becomes chairman of Apple Computer.  •Compaq Computer reports third year revenues of US$503.9 million, a U.S. business record.   •Eric Graham shows his "Juggler" demo animation on the Amiga, showing the Amiga's capabilities of ray-traced animation merged with digitized sound.   •IBM announces the IBM RT Personal Computer, using RISC-based technology from IBM's "801" project of the mid-70s. It is one of the first commercially-available 32-bit RISC-based computers. The base configuration has 1MB RAM, a 1.2MB floppy, and 40 MB hard drive, for US$11,700. With performance of only 2 MIPS, it is doomed from the beginning.  •Microsoft releases MS-DOS 3.2. It adds support for 3.5-inch 720 KB floppy disk drives.  (December 1995) (March)

February
•The first issue of Amazing Computing for users of the Commodore Amiga is published.   •Compaq Computer introduces the Compaq Portable II.  •Quarterdeck Office Systems ships DESQview 1.1. •Quarterdeck Office Systems ships DESQview 1.2.   •Microsoft moves from Bellevue to Redmond, Washington.  (March) •Microsoft releases a French version of Windows 1.02. 

March
•Apple Computer acquires rights to publish a French database program, 4th Dimension, in the US.  •The First International Conference on CD-ROM is held in Seattle, Washington, hosted by Microsoft.  •IBM begins shipping the IBM RT PC.   •Microsoft first sells shares to the public, for US$21 per share. The initial public offering raises US$61 million. Bill Gates quickly becomes the world's youngest billionaire.  •Silicon Graphics decides to switch from the Motorola 68000 line to MIPS Technologies' line of RISC processors.

April
•Burrell Smith and Michael Boich start Radius, Inc., to produce Apple Macintosh enhancement products. •IBM announces the IBM PC Convertible, 80C88-based, 256K RAM, and two 720K floppy disks, for US$2000.  •IBM discontinues the IBM Portable PC.   •Satellite Software International ships Student WordPerfect for US$75.   •IBM boosts the speed of the IBM PC AT by replacing the CPU with a 8-MHz Intel 80286.  •Jim Manzi is named chief executive officer of Lotus Development Corp.   •Microsoft releases Microsoft Word 3.0 for DOS.  •Compaq Computer joins the Fortune 500 list faster than any company in history.  •Compaq Computer ships its 500,000th personal computer.  •Apple Computer discontinues the original Macintosh.  •Apple Computer discontinues the Macintosh 512K.    •Apple Computer introduces the Macintosh 512K Enhanced, for US$2000. It features an 8-MHz 68000 processor, 512 KB RAM, and 800 KB 3.5-inch floppy drive.   •Satellite Software International changes its name to WordPerfect Corporation.

May
•IBM ships TopView 1.1.

June
•Systems incorporating MIPS Technologies' R2000 processor begin shipping. 

July
•Apple Computer discontinues the Macintosh XL.  •Jim Manzi is appointed chairman of Lotus Development.  •Byte by Byte releases Sculpt 3-D for the Amiga, the first 3-D modelling program to ship for the Amiga.  •Mitch Kapor, founder of Lotus Development, resigns.
August
•Intel ships the 80386.  •Microsoft announces Works for the Macintosh.  

September
•Little-known company Advanced Logic Research announces the first 386-based PC, the Access 386.  •Compaq Computer introduces the first 16-MHz Intel 80386-based PC, the Compaq Deskpro 386.  •Apple Computer introduces the Apple IIGS, with the Apple 3.5 drive, for US$1000. It uses the Western Digital Center W65C816 (65816) microprocessor, operating at 1-MHz or 2.8-MHz.  •Apple Computer releases AppleWorks 2.0.  •Apple Computer introduces the Apple 3.5 drive for the Mac and the Apple IIGS. . •IBM announces the IBM PC-XT Model 286, with 640KB RAM, 1.2MB floppy drive, 20MB hard drive, serial/parallel ports, and keyboard for US$4000.   •Leon Williams is made president of MicroPro.  •Quarterdeck Office Systems ships DESQview 1.3.  •Steve Jobs decides to use the ill-fated erasable optical disk drives for the first NeXT machine.

October
•WordPerfect ships WordPerfect 4.2 for US$500.  •Microsoft announces Microsoft Word 3.0 for the Macintosh. •The first AmiEXPO is held, in New York City.   •Impulse releases Silver 1.0 for the Amiga.  •Ashton-Tate ships the one millionth copy of dBase.
November
•Lotus Development releases a French version of Lotus 1-2-3 v2.0 in France.

December
•Aldus PageMaker is released for the PC.  •WordPerfect ships WordPerfect for the Apple IIgs for US$180.

(month unknown)
•(spring) AT&T creates the first silicon fabrication of its CRISP architecture CPU, incorporating 172,163 transistors, and operating at 16-MHz.

(month unknown)
•Amstrad takes over the Sinclair computer operation, in England. 

(month unknown)
•Microsoft purchases Dymanical Systems, Inc., makers of a TopView clone called Mondrian.

(month unknown)
•Inmos releases the T800 Transputer, a RISC processor with integrated floating-point capabilities. 

(month unknown)
•Motorola begins work on the 88000 processor.
(month unknown)
•Digital Research introduces its GEM operating environment for MS-DOS.

(month unknown)
•MIPS Technologies unveils the 8-MHz R2000 32-bit CPU. With 110,000 transistors, it achieves a speed rating of 5 MIPS.  (1985)

(month unknown)
•MIPS Technologies begins volume shipments of the R2000 processor. 

(month unknown)
•NexGen begins work on the design of a fifth generation x86 processor, called the F86.

(month unknown)
•Adobe introduces Adobe Illustrator, a PostScript drawing tool, for the Macintosh.  

(month unknown)
•Motorola announces the 68030 microprocessor. It uses about 300,000 transistors.  

(month unknown)
•Commodore releases Transformer software for the Amiga, which, along with the Commodore 1020 5 1/4-inch disk drive, provides limited MS-DOS compatibility.

(month unknown)
•NEC Home Electronics introduces its NEC JC-1401P3A Multisync monitor, the first multisyncing monitor.  (1985)

(month unknown)
•Software Publishing Corporation introduces Harvard Presentation Graphics for the PC.

(month unknown)
•Ashton-Tate buys Decision Resources.

(month unknown)
•IBM begins work on what would become the IBM RS/6000 series.

(month unknown)
•Gateway 2000 ships its first PC.

(month unknown)
•NexGen is founded. 

(month unknown)
•Work begins on SCSI-2.

(month unknown)
•The Small Computer System Interface (SCSI-1) standard is finalized as ANSI X3.131-1986. 

(month unknown)
•AT&T produces a 32-bit CISC processor, the WE32100. 



1987


January
•Microsoft France releases a French version of Multiplan 3.0 for the IBM PC.   •Lotus Development files a lawsuit against Paperback Software (maker of VP-Planner) and Mosaic Software (maker of The Twin), claiming infringement of copyrights over the look and feel of 1-2-3.  •Microsoft begins shipping Microsoft Word 3.0 for the Macintosh. •Byte by Byte releases Animate 3-D for the Amiga.   •Apple Computer introduces the Apple Platinum IIe.

February
•Cauzin abandons the Cauzin SoftStrips product.  •Intel introduces the 20-MHz 80386DX microprocessor.  •Commodore announces the Amiga 500. It features a 68000 processor, 512KB RAM, floppy disk drive, and custom chips for animation, video, and audio. •Commodore announces the Amiga 2000.  •Apple Computer's John Sculley tells Ashton-Tate's Ed Esber that Apple Computer will not compete with Ashton-Tate by publishing the 4th Dimension database program. 

March
•Apple Computer introduces 800KB floppy drives for the Macintosh.  •Apple Computer introduces the open architecture Macintosh II. It uses a 16-MHz 68020 processor. The basic system sells for US$3900. A system with 1MB RAM, one 800K floppy drive, and a 40MB hard drive is priced at US$5500. The system features a plug-and-play architecture for expansion cards. •Apple Computer makes its 1 millionth Macintosh personal computer.   •Apple Computer introduces the expandable Macintosh SE. It uses a 8-MHz 68000 processor, and comes with 1 MB of RAM. A dual floppy system sells for US$2900. With a 20 MB hard drive, price is about US$3800. •Apple Computer discontinues the Macintosh 512K Enhanced.  •Apple Computer introduces NuBus as the Mac's standard bus.   •U.S. Robotics unveils its 9600 bps Courier HST modem, for US$995. BBS sysops can purchase the modem for US$495.  •3M introduces the 2-MB high density 3 1/2-inch diskette. •Aegis Development releases VideoScape 3D for the Amiga.

April
•Lotus Development announces it will create new versions of Lotus 1-2-3 for DOS, OS/2 Presentation Manager, the Macintosh, and mainframe computers.  •IBM introduces the IBM Personal System/2 (PS/2) line, with IBM's first 386 PC, and 3.5-inch floppy drives as standard. The PS/2 Model 30 uses a 8-MHz 8086, the Model 50 and 60 use the 10-MHz 80286, and the Model 80 uses a 20-MHz 80386. •Guy Kawasaki resigns from Apple Computer. •ACIUS is formed, with the primary purpose of producing the 4th Dimension database in the U.S. market.  •IBM unveils its Video Graphics Array (VGA) in its Model 50 and higher of the PS/2 line. VGA offers 256 simultaneous colors at a resolution of 320x200, and 16 colors at 640x480. The colors displayed have six bits of depth for each primary color, giving a palette of 262,144 different colors to select from.   •IBM unveils its Multicolor Graphics Array (MCGA) on its PS/2 Model 30. The MCGA is limited to 64K of memory, limiting 640x480 resolution to just 2 colors, but still allowing 320x200 in 256 colors.  •IBM introduces its Micro Channel Architecture (MCA) on its Model 50 and higher of the PS/2 line.  •IBM and Microsoft announce Operating System/2 (OS/2).  •IBM announces the 8514/A Display Adapter, a high-resolution graphics card for the MCA PS/2 line. The 8514/A adds 1024x768 in 16 colors to the standard VGA, at a cost of US$1290. With the addition of a US$270 Memory Expansion Kit, 640x480 and 1024x768 resolutions can be had in 256 colors.  (June) •IBM announces the 8514 16-inch monitor, for US$1550. •IBM announces DOS 3.3 for PCs, for US$120. It adds support for 1.44 MB floppy disks, and multiple 32 MB hard drive partitions. •Microsoft announces Microsoft Windows 2.0.  •Wang begins shipping 386-based PCs. •IBM ships TopView 1.12. •Advanced Micro Devices files suit against Intel, claiming Intel had breached contractual obligations in a 1982 technology sharing agreement between the two companies.

May
•PC MOS 1.0 ships.  •Quarterdeck Office Systems ships DESQview 2.0.   •Microsoft releases Excel 1.04 for the Macintosh II.

June
•Casady & Greene release QuickDex for the Macintosh, for US$35. •IBM withdraws TopView from the market. (1986) •Atari introduces the Atari XE Game System, with 64KB RAM, supporting 256KB game cartridges.  •Microsoft and IBM release the OS/2 developers' kit. •Microsoft sells its 500,000th mouse.

July
•WordPerfect creates an Amiga/Atari division within the company.   •Microsoft acquires Forethought, maker of the PowerPoint presentation graphics program for the Macintosh.(buys PowerPoint from Forethought for US$14 million) •WordPerfect ships WordPerfect for the Amiga for US$400.  •Zilog introduces its Z-280 16-bit version of the Z-80 CPU.  •Sun Microsystems introduces its first SPARC-based system, the Sun-4/260, with 10 MIPS performance. •Sun Microsystems offers licenses for its SPARC microprocessor architecture. (October) •Apple Computer creates the company Claris, to handle some of Apple Computer's software for the Apple II and Macintosh. Apple Computer owns 82% of the company's stock.   •IBM ships the first PS/2 Model 80 systems.

August
•Raymond Lau releases Stuffit file archive utility for the Macintosh, for US$15. •IBM introduces the PS/2 Model 25, with an 8-MHz Intel 8086, combined system unit with monitor, no hard drive, and reduced-size keyboard, starting at US$1350.   •Microsoft ships MS-DOS 3.3. •Apple Computer introduces HyperCard, MultiFinder 5.0, and AppleFax Modem for the Macintosh, at the Macworld Expo. •Tandy introduces the Tandy 1000 TX, 1000 HX, 1400 LT, and 4000.  •The Association of Shareware Professionals (ASP) is formed.

September
•Ashton-Tate ships dBase for the Macintosh.  (1988) •Microsoft ships Microsoft Bookshelf, its first CD-ROM application.•Lotus Development announces Lotus 1-2-3 for the Macintosh.

October
•Lotus Development ships Lotus 1-2-3 2.01 for MS-DOS.  •Microsoft unveils the Microsoft Excel spreadsheet for Windows. (November) •Microsoft ships Microsoft Works for DOS. (1988 March) •Microsoft releases Microsoft Windows/386, priced at US$195.  (November) •Microsoft ships Windows 2.0.  (v2.03 ) (November) •Compaq Computer introduces the Compaq Deskpro 386/20, featuring a 20-MHz Intel 80386 and a cache controller.  •Compaq Computer introduces the 20-MHz Compaq Portable 386.  •WordPerfect ships WordPerfect for the Atari ST for US$400. •Ven-Tel unveils its EC18K-34 modem, which it claims can operate at up to 18,000 bps, with data compression achieving a throughput of 19,200 bps on normal voice phone lines. The cost of the modem is US$1400.  •Ad Lib Incorporated unveils its Ad Lib Personal Computer Music System for US$245. The card provides FM synthesis with 11 simultaneous voices.   •Microsoft releases Microsoft Word 4.0 for the PC. (September) •Microsoft releases Microsoft Word 3.0 for the Macintosh. 

November
•Borland International ships the Quattro spreadsheet program, including emulation of Lotus 1-2-3 commands. This emulation will result in a nine-year legal battle over "look and feel" with Lotus Development. •Compaq Computer makes its 1 millionth personal computer.  •IBM reports that it has shipped 1 million PS/2 systems. •Impulse releases Silver 2.0 for the Amiga. 

December
•Microsoft ships the one millionth copy of Windows.  •Microsoft releases OS/2 1.0. •IBM ships first copies of OS/2 Standard Edition 1.0.  (November)

(month unknown)
•(spring) AT&T creates a modified silicon fabrication of its CRISP architecture CPU, operating at 20-MHz.

(month unknown)
•(summer) ComputerLand is sold for about US$150 million. Only two years earlier it was worth about US$1.4 billion. 

(month unknown)
•Mouse Systems changes its name to MSC Technologies. 

(month unknown)
•Commodore launches its first IBM PC-compatible machines, the PC10-1 and PC10-2. Both use a 4.77 MHz Siemens 8088.

(month unknown)
•Lotus Development announces its intention to announce Lotus 1-2-3 for the Macintosh.

(month unknown)
•Keith Sorenson founds RasterOps.

(month unknown)
•Phar Lap Software and Quarterdeck Office Systems develop the Virtual Control Program Interface (VCPI), to allow 80386 protected-mode DOS extended applications to coexist with 80386-specific memory managers

(month unknown)
•Intel introduces the 80387 math coprocessor. 

(month unknown)
•Letraset releases ImageStudio, the first commercial, gray-scale image-editing program for the Macintosh.

(month unknown)
•Ashton-Tate releases the Rapidfile database file manager for MS-DOS.

(month unknown)
•Ashton-Tate releases the Byline desktop publishing program for MS-DOS.

(month unknown)
•Motorola unveils the 68030 microprocessor. 

(month unknown)
•U.S. Robotics introduces the Courier HST 9600 modem.

(month unknown)
•IBM discontinues the IBM PC line. 

(month unknown)
•Linus introduces the WriteTop microcomputer, the first pen-based computer. It runs MS-DOS, uses an 8088 processor, and weighs 9 pounds. 

(month unknown)
•Hewlett-Packard releases the HP PaintJet color inkjet printer. 


1988

January
•Apple Computer releases its first Ethernet networking product, the EtherTalk NB Card for NuBus equipped Macintosh computers.  •Impulse releases Turbo Silver 3.0 for the Amiga.  •Spectrum Holobyte introduces Tetris for the PC, the first entertainment software imported from the Soviet Union.

February
•Apple Computer ships A/UX for the Macintosh II, Apple Computer's combination of the Mac interface with UNIX.  •Compaq Computer reports sales for the year reach US$1.2 billion, setting the record as the fastest company to reach that mark. 

March
•Apple Computer sues Microsoft and Hewlett-Packard for copyright infringement regarding Microsoft's Windows 2.03, Hewlett-Packard's NewWave, and the Macintosh OS. •The Open Software Foundation is founded.

April
•Tandy announces the Tandy 5000MC, using IBM's MCA bus. ] •Dell announces its first PC using IBM's MCA bus. •Olivetti announces its first PC using IBM's MCA bus.   •Intel introduces the 25-MHz 80386DX microprocessor. Speed is 8.5 MIPS.   •Motorola unveils the 88000 processor.  •Weitek introduces the Weitek 3167 math coprocessor chip as an enhancement to Intel's 386 CPU. The 3167 is a single chip equivalent to Weitek's earlier 1167 circuit board coprocessor.

May
•WordPerfect ships WordPerfect 5.0 for US$500.  •Microsoft releases Microsoft Excel 1.5 for the Macintosh.  •Lotus Development ships the four millionth copy of Lotus 1-2-3.  •Apple Computer contracts with Quantum Computer Services to create the AppleLink - Personal Edition (later renamed America Online).

June
•Lotus Development ceases production of Lotus Jazz.  •An article in the American Journal of Industrial Medicine reports that pregnant women who worked with computer screens for more than 20 hours per week were 80% more likely to suffer miscarriage than women who did not use VDTs.  •IBM announces the PS/2 Model 70, as 16-, 20-, and 25-MHz 80386 systems.  •Microsoft ships Windows 2.1 as Windows/286 and Windows/386.  •Microsoft releases MS-DOS 4.0, including a graphical/mouse interface.  •Intel introduces the 16-MHz 80386SX microprocessor, like the 80386 but with a 16-bit data bus. Price is US$219 each, in quantities of 100. Speed is 2.5 MIPS.

July
•Lotus Development ships Agenda •IBM ships OS/2 Extended Edition 1.0.   •IBM ships DOS 4.0. It adds a shell menu interface and support for hard disk partitions over 32 MB.

September
•Apple Computer introduces the Apple IIc Plus for US$1100. (April (US$675   •IBM introduces the IBM PS/2 Model 30 286, using the AT-bus. It features a 10-MHz 286, 512KB RAM, VGA, and 20MB hard drive.  •Claris releases AppleWorks 2.1. •61 companies support the formation of the Extended Industry Standard Architecture (EISA). Companies include Compaq Computer, AST, Epson, Hewlett-Packard, NEC Technologies, Olivetti, Tandy, Wyse, Zenith, Microsoft.  •Apple Computer introduces the Macintosh IIx computer, using Motorola's 16-MHz 68030 and 68882 processors. Base price is US$7770 with a 1.4 MB SuperDrive floppy drive, and 4 MB RAM, or US$9200 including an 80 MB hard drive.  •Apple Computer releases GS/OS, a 16-bit operating system for the Apple IIGS. •SPEC is formed, with the aim of producing a benchmark based on a standard set of real-life applications programs.  •Tandy ships the first MCA-bus-based clone PC, the Tandy 5000 MC.  •Compaq Computer introduces its first laptop PC with VGA graphics, the Compaq SLT/286. It has a 12-MHz 286, 640KB RAM, 20-40MB hard drive, 3.5-inch disk drive, and built-in 10-inch grayscale LCD VGA screen. Price is up to US$5800. 

October
•Ashton-Tate releases dBase IV for MS-DOS.  •Microsoft releases QuickBASIC 4.5. •Symantec ships Q&A for OS/2.  •Apple Computer and Quantum Computer Services launch the AppleLink Personal Edition computer network.   •Microsoft and IBM ship OS/2 1.1 Standard Edition with Presentation Manager.   •Microsoft releases OS/2 LAN Manager for networked PCs.  •Steve Jobs of NeXT Inc. unveils the first NeXT computer, at the Davis Symphony Hall in San Francisco. For US$6500, it features: 25-MHz Motorola 68030 processor and 68882 math coprocessor, 8MB RAM, 17-inch monochrome monitor, 256MB read/write magneto-optical drive, and true object-oriented NextStep operating system.  (August)

November
•ReadySoft demonstrates its AMAX Macintosh emulator for the Amiga at the World of Commodore show.  •Ashton-Tate sues Fox Software and Santa Cruz Operations for infringing copyrights on the dBase language.  •The Ami word processor for Windows is released.  •Microsoft releases MS-DOS 4.01.  •Byte by Byte releases Sculpt Animate 4-D for the Amiga.

December
•Commodore announces the A2286D Bridgeboard for the Amiga 2000. The A2286D contains an 8-MHz Intel 80286 and a 1.2 MB 5 1/4-inch disk drive.

(month unknown)
•(early) Apple Computer pays AT&T Microelectronics to develop a low-power, second-generation version of AT&T's C-machine Reduced Instruction Set Processor (CRISP), for use in Apple Computer's pen-based system.

(month unknown)
•(early) Aldus has a prototype of Flintstone running, a word processing package for Windows.

(month unknown)
•(mid) Researchers at Apple Computer begin investigating using Acorn Computer's Acorn RISC Machine microprocessor in future Apple Computer products. 

(month unknown)
•(fall) Microsoft's Bill Gates shows Aldus' Paul Brainerd a prototype of Word for Windows. Brainerd decides to cancel Aldus' Flintstone word processor project.

(month unknown)
•(fall) ventura Publisher 2.0 for DOS is released. Price: US$895.

(month unknown)
•Solbourne Computer Incorporated is the first vendor to produce a Sun-compatible SPARC-based computer.

(month unknown)
•Compaq Computer and other companies form the "Gang of Nine", to improve on the AT-bus, rather than take IBM's approach of abandoning it.

(month unknown)
•Digital Research transforms CP/M into DR DOS. 

(month unknown)
•Toshiba introduces the T1600 16-MHz 286 portable.

(month unknown)
•Digital Equipment and Apple Computer agree to integrate Macintosh and Vax computers.

(month unknown)
•Intel ships the i960KB, a quasi-RISC processor.

(month unknown)
•Digital Equipment begins development of a 64-bit microprocessor. The chip will debut as the 150-MHz Alpha 21064 in 1992. (begins in mid-1989)

(month unknown)
•Ashton-Tate releases the Full Impact spreadsheet program for the Macintosh.

(month unknown)
•ComputerLand co-founder John Martin files for Chapter 11 bankruptcy, claiming US$1.6 bilion in debts.

(month unknown)
•Quote from Intel General Manager Richard Bader: "The market is confusing, although it provides us with some sort of job security."

(month unknown)
•Quote from WordPerfect CEO and President Alan Ashton: "If we continue to be solid, careful, and flexible, and give good service, it'll be pretty hard for someone to uproot us, unless we become too proud".

(month unknown)
•Quote from IBM Chairman John Akers: "We're trying to change the habits of an awful lot of people. That won't happen overnight, but it will bloody well happen."  

(month unknown)
•AutoDesk buys Xanadu Operating Company.

(month unknown)
•Quote from Compaq Computer President and CEO Rod Canion: "If people are going to buy Micro Channel, they're going to buy it from IBM." 

(month unknown)
•The bus standard used on IBM AT compatibles is given the name Industry Standard Architecture (ISA).

(month unknown)
•W.H. Sim founds Creative Labs, Inc., in California, USA, a subsidiary of Creative Technology.

(month unknown)
•Atari sues Nintendo, accusing it of engaging in monopolistic practices.

(month unknown)
•U.S. Robotics introduces the Courier Dual Standard modem, supporting both v.32 and HST protocols, and the Courier v.32 modem. Prices are US$1600 and US$1500, respectively.

(month unknown)
•Tandy announces Thor CD, an erasable compact disk system for music, video, or data.  

(month unknown)
•Hewlett-Packard introduces the HP DeskJet inkjet printer. Price: US$1000. 

(month unknown)
•Tandy acquires GRiD Systems.

(month unknown)
•Adobe ships Adobe Illustrator 88 for the Macintosh.

(month unknown)
•Aldus ships Aldus FreeHand for the Macintosh. 

(month unknown)
•Novell ships NetWare for the Macintosh.

(month unknown)
•NEC Technologies introduces the 4.2-pound NEC UltraLite laptop PC, the first "subnotebook". It features a stylus for input, and handwriting recognition.   (1989)

(month unknown)
•Ashton-Tate releases Framework III.

(month unknown)
•Syquest introduces its SyQuest storage cartridge system to the Macintosh market.

(month unknown)
•Microsoft's Bill Gates gives a special sneak preview of Microsoft Word 3.0 to several hundred Apple Macintosh computer users, in an auditorium in Ann Arbor, Michigan.



1989


January
•Intel introduces the 20-MHz 80386SX microprocessor. Speed is 2.5 MIPS. •Commodore announces that 1 million Amiga computers have been sold.  •Apple Computer introduces the Macintosh SE/30, with MS-DOS and OS/2 disk compatibility. It uses a 16-MHz 68030 processor, and comes with 4-MB RAM and 1.4 MB SuperDrive floppy drive, for US$4370. Price with an 80 MB hard drive is US$6500.  •Digital Equipment introduces its first RISC-based workstation, the DECstation 3100, using the 16.7-MHz R2000 MIPS Technologies processor. •Microsoft releases Quick Pascal, designed to compete with Borland International's Turbo Pascal.

February
•Dolch Computer Systems ships their 25-MHz 386 portable system. It features 4MB RAM, 40MB hard drive, 64K cache, 640x400 electroluminescent flat-panel display, 1.2MB 5 1/4-inch drive, SCSI I/O port, for US$9495. •Santa Cruz Operations announces the Open Desktop user interface for 80386-based UNIX systems.

March
•The AmiExpo trade show for Amiga computers is held in New York City.    •At the AmiExpo trade show, Micro Momentum introduces The Journeyman, a portable Amiga computer.  •Apple Computer introduces its Macintosh IIcx. It features a 16-MHz 68030 processor, 1 MB RAM, 1.4 MB SuperDrive, and 40 MB hard drive, for US$5370. •Microsoft releases Microsoft Word 4.0 for the Macintosh.  •A judge rules that Microsoft Windows 2.03 is not covered in the Apple Computer / Microsoft 1985 agreement. This allows the issue to proceed to trial, in the suit of Apple Computer against Microsoft filed in March 1988.  •Commodore ships the one millionth Amiga computer. 

April
•VCPI becomes an accepted industry standard for 80386-specific software.   •The VESA graphics standard emerges, providing a uniform method of accessing SuperVGA chipsets.  •Microsoft ships SQL Server.  •Intel announces the 25-MHz 486 microprocessor at Spring Comdex in Chicago, Illinois. It integrates the 386, 387 math coprocessor, and adds an 8KB primary cache. It uses 1.2 million transistors, employing 1-micron technology. Initial price is US$900. Speed is 20 MIPS. (US$950) •Intel introduces the 33-MHz version of the 80386DX microprocessor and 80387 math co-processor. This version of the 387 incorporates new technology, making it inherantly faster than previous 387 chips.  •Motorola announces the 68040 microprocessor. It uses about 1.2 million transistors.  •Motorola announces the 50-MHz version of the 68030 microprocessor.

May
•Microsoft releases Microsoft Word 5.0 for DOS.  •Microsoft releases Microsoft Excel 2.2 for the Macintosh. It can handle spreadsheets up to 8 MB in size.   •Hewlett-Packard buys workstation maker Apollo Computer for US$476 million. •Solbourne Computers Incorporated is the first to announce a line of SPARC-based Sun-compatible computers. •Apple Computer announces details of the System 7.0 Macintosh operating system. 

June
•IBM introduces the Office Vision system. It took 4000 man-years of work costing US$1 billion to produce.  (May) •Apple Computer announces AppleTalk Phase 2. •Claris releases AppleWorks 3.0.  •Lotus Development releases Lotus 1-2-3 3.0 for MS-DOS, two years after its initial announcement.  •Apricot Computers announces the first 486-based PC, in London, England. The VX FT system uses the 25-MHz Intel 80486 chip, IBM's MCA bus, and is priced starting at US$18,000.  (August)

July
•Lotus Development ships Lotus 1-2-3 2.2 for MS-DOS. •AmiEXPO is held in Chicago, Illinois. •AT&T and Intel sign an agreement to produce 386-based PCs.

August
•Spectrum Digital Systems releases TrueForm for the Macintosh. •Outbound demonstrates the Wallaby, code-name for a Mac-compatible portable computer.

September
•Apple Computer introduces 1.4MB floppy drives for the Macintosh.  •Atari introduces the Atari TT, featuring a 16-MHz 68030 processor, 2MB RAM, a 3.5-inch floppy drive, and a built-in genlock device. •Apple Computer and Microsoft announces an alliance to develop a new font standard, TrueType, and page-description language TrueImage.  •Apple Computer announces the Macintosh Portable, featuring a 16-MHz Motorola 68000 CMOS processor, 1 MB RAM, 40 MB hard drive, and 1.4 MB SuperDrive, for US$6500. •Apple Computer announces the Macintosh IIci, featuring a 25-MHz 68030 processor, 4 MB RAM, 80 MB hard drive, and 1.4 MB SuperDrive, for about US$8700.   •IBM releases OS/2 1.2.  •Hewlett-Packard ships NewWave for Windows.   •Hewlett-Packard announces a US$3990 UNIX workstation based on the Motorola 68030.  •NeXT ships the first NeXT Computer systems.  •NeXT releases NextStep v1.0.

October
•France's Groupe Bull buys Zenith Data Systems for US$511 million.   •Microsoft releases Microsoft Excel for OS/2's Presentation Manager. It is the first major application available for PM.  •Cyrix introduces the FasMath 83D87 math coprocessor, pin-compatible with Intel's 387.  •The AmiExpo trade show for Amiga computers is held in Santa Clara, California.  •Compaq Computer introduces its first notebook PC, the Compaq LTE. It weighs under seven pounds.  •Byte by Byte releases Sculpt 4-D for the Macintosh, for US$1500. •SPEC releases version 1.0 of its SPEC Benchmark Suite.  •IBM signs a deal with NeXT to license the NextStep operating system, for US$10 million.  (1988)

November
•Weitek introduces the Weitek 4167 math coprocessor chip as an enhancement to Intel's 486 CPU.  •WordPerfect ships WordPerfect 5.1 for US$500.  •An exhibition of videographics and electronic paintings is held at the Cogburn Gallery on the University of Vermont's Burlington campus. The works were all generated on an Amiga 1000.   •At fall Comdex, IBM strongly endorses Windows for low end PCs, and Microsoft publicly endorses OS/2 as the future platform for higher-end PCs. IBM and Microsoft agree to jointly develop a consistent, full-range of systems software. •Borland International releases the Quattro Pro 2.0 spreadsheet program.  •Compaq Computer introduces its first server PC, the Compaq Systempro. This is also the first EISA PC.  •Commodore announces the Amiga 2500/30. It is essentially an Amiga 2000 with a 2630 Accelerator Board (25-MHz 68030 and 68882 math coprocessor).

December
•Lotus Development ships Lotus Notes.  •IBM demonstrates its new line of RISC System/6000 workstations.•Xerox files a lawsuit challenging the validity of Apple Computer's copyrights covering the Lisa and Macintosh computers' graphical user interface. Xerox claims Apple Computer copied the Xerox Star system interface.   •Microsoft ships Word for Windows 1.0.

(month unknown)
•(early) Apple Computer releases 32-bit QuickDraw for the Macintosh.

(month unknown)
•(spring) Harris Semiconductor introduces the a 25-MHz version of the 80286. Price is US$142 each in quantities of 1000.

(month unknown)
•The AmiExpo trade show for Amiga computers is held in Chicago, Illinois.

(month unknown)
•(mid) Intel unveils the i860 RISC processor. It is the first microrprocessor capable of executing two instructions per clock cycle.

(month unknown)
•(late) Intel releases the i960CA, a true superscalar microprocessor, capable of executing two instructions at once.

(month unknown)
•(late) Samna introduces Ami Pro for Windows.

(month unknown)
•(late) Intel begins production of the 80486 microprocessor.

(month unknown)
•MSC Technologies changes its name back to Mouse Systems Corporation.

(month unknown)
•Hitachi sues Motorola, claiming the 68030 infringes on patents on Hitachi's H-8.

(month unknown)
•Quote from a Lotus Development official, while demoing a new DOS version of Lotus 1-2-3: "We don't see Windows as a long-term graphical interface for the masses.".

(month unknown)
•Hewlett-Packard introduces the HP DeskJet Plus inkjet printer. Price: US$1000.

(month unknown)
•SPARC International is formed.

(month unknown)
•Informix releases the WingZ spreadsheet for the Macintosh.

(month unknown)
•Creative Labs introduces the Sound Blaster, an 8-bit mono PC sound card.

(month unknown)
•Sun Microsystems announces the 12.5 MIPS 20-MHz SPARCstation 1 for a base price of US$9000.

(month unknown)
•The Personal Computer Memory Card International Association (PCMCIA) is formed, to develop a memory card standard for PCs.

(month unknown)
•Data General unveils its Aviion workstation line, based on the Motorola 88000.  

(month unknown)
•Mission Cyrus introduces the Darius ProPortable, the first PS/2-compatible portable microcomputer.

(month unknown)
•Atari Computer introduces the Portfolio, a 1-pound DOS-based PC. It uses a 4.92-MHz 80C88 processor, 240x64 resolution screen, and runs on three AA batteries. Price: US$400.

(month unknown)
•Zenith Data Systems introduces the Zenith MinisPort, a 6-pound laptop computer.

(month unknown)
•MicroPro International changes its name to WordStar International.

(month unknown)
•Linus discontinues the WriteTop pen-based microcomputer.

(month unknown)
•Hayes Microcomputer Products buys modem competitor Practical Peripherals.

(month unknown)
•Texas Instruments wins official recognition in Japan of its patents on integrated circuits of almost 30 years ago.

(month unknown)
•Apple Corps files a lawsuit against Apple Computer, charging Apple Computer with violating its 1991 agreement not to market audio/video products.

(month unknown)
•Photonics ships Photolink for the Apple Macintosh.

End of 1986-1989 - Steady Progress