Timeline: 1990-1992

1990-1992 Maturity

Agreements, mergers, Windows 3.1, Mac PowerBook, System 7, ThinkPad, RS/6000, Video Toaster



1990


January
•Motorola announces the availability of its 32-bit 25-MHz microprocessor, the 68040. The 68040 incorporates 1.2 million transistors, integrates the FPU, and includes instruction and data caches.•Apple Computer discontinues the Macintosh II.    •Sun Microsystems signs an agreement to transfer the SPARC trademark to SPARC International.•Hayes Microcomputer Products wins a US$1.4 million lawsuit against Everex, Ven-Tel, and Omnitel, regarding the validity of Hayes' patent on the +++ escape sequence.  •Commodore gives a sneak preview of a proposed "interactive graphics player", based on a variant of the Amiga 500, with 1MB of RAM. The machine includes an integrated CD-ROM drive, but no keyboard.  •Intel releases the 80387SX math coprocessor.  •Intel releases the 10-MHz 287XL and 287XTL (designed for laptop computers) math coprocessors. These coprocessors operate faster than previously released versions.

March
•Jean-Louis Gassee resigns as president of Apple Products. •Lotus Development ships Lotus 1-2-3/G. •Commodore offers Amiga 1000 owners US$1000 to trade in their Amiga on a new Amiga 2000. •Cyrix introduces the FasMath 83S87 math coprocessor, pin-compatible with Intel's 387SX. •Apple Computer introduces the Macintosh IIfx. It features a 40-MHz 68030 processor, 68882 math coprocessor, 4 MB RAM, 80 MB hard drive, 1.4 MB SuperDrive, 32 KB cache, 44.1 KHz stereo audio, and choice of 8-bit to 24-bit graphics. Price is US$98000.  •Adobe publishes the specifications for its Type 1 fonts.   •Jasmine Technologies files for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection.   •IBM introduces the PS/2 Model 65, with a 16-MHz 80386SX, 2 MB RAM, and 60 MB SCSI hard drive. •In a patent-infringement suit between Motorola and Hitachi, the judge imposes a temporary sales ban on Motorola's 68030 processor.

April
•Crate Technologies, a maker of Apple hard drives and tape backup systems, files for Chapter 7 bankruptcy.  •Microsoft introduces Russian MS-DOS 4.01 for the Soviet market.  •Outbound releases the Outbound Mac-compatible portable. 

May
•Intel introduces the 33-MHz 486 microprocessor. Speed is 27 MIPS. •The lawsuit of Xerox against Apple Computer regarding use of Xerox's graphical user interface is thrown out of court.  •The ComputerFest trade show (formerly called AppleFest) debuts in New York city •Microsoft introduces and ships Microsoft Windows 3.0. Microsoft spends US$3 million for opening-day marketing, as part of a US$10 million promotional campaign.  •Toshiba unveils the first SPARC laptop, the SPARC LT.   •Digital Research releases DR DOS 5.0. •The PCMCIA card specification v1.0 is released.  (September)

June
•Neon Software releases the NetMinder Ethernet network-analysis program for AppleTalk networks.  •Salient Software is incorporated.  •Duo Computers announces the Duo FC, incorporating a PC-AT compatible and a Nintendo game system in one case. •Apple Computer announces that Claris shares would not be offered to the public, but that the company would become a wholly-owned subsidiary of Apple Computer. •A US District Court judge rules that Paperback Software's duplicating the menu interface of Lotus 1-2-3 was a violation of copyright (the "look and feel" lawsuit was filed in 1987). •Jon Shirley resigns as President of Microsoft. He is replaced by former Boeing executive Michael Hallman. •Commodore ships the Amiga A3000 computer.  •Nolan Bushnell unveils Commodore's CDTV at the Summer Consumer Electronics Show. Code name during the product's development was "Baby".   •The US Federal Trade Commission begins an investigation of Microsoft Corp., for alleged monopolistic practices in the PC software market. (1991)

July
•Microsoft's sales revenues hit US$1 billion for the past year, the first personal computer software company to do so. •Lotus Development files lawsuits against Borland International (maker of Quattro) and Santa Cruz Operations (maker of SCO Professional) claiming copyright infringement of the Lotus 1-2-3 spreadsheet software. Borland International files a lawsuit against Lotus Development first, hoping to have the trial in California rather than Boston.  •Macintosh hard drive manufacturer Jasmine Technologies emerges from Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection. •Acer Incorporated buys Altos Computer Systems for US$94 million.

August
•The first CD-ROM magazine is published: Nautilus.  •Gilbert Hyatt is granted a patent for a "single-chip integrated-circuit computer architecture", 20 years after his first application for the patent.  (July)

September
•IBM and Metaphor Computer Systems create the Patriot Partners company, to create an operating environment allowing a single program to run on a variety of platforms. •The IEEE approves the 10BASE-T Ethernet specification. •Texas Instruments sues Dell for patent infringement. Dell countersues, accusing Texas Instruments of fraud and unfair competition. •NewTek ships the Video Toaster, a hardware/software video effects tool for the the Commodore Amiga 2000, for US$1600.  •IBM and Microsoft end cooperative work on operating systems, dividing up work-to-date between them, in a series of cross-licensing agreements.  (November) •NeXT announces the Nextstation. (October) •The PCMCIA card specification v2.0 is announced.

October
•Group Technologies releases Aspects 1.0 for the Macintosh.  •Intel introduces the 20-MHz 80386SL microprocessor, designed for use in portable and laptop computers. It uses 855,000 transistors (1-micron), a 32-bit internal data path, and a 16-bit external data path. Price is US$150 each, in quantities of 1000. Speed is 4.21 MIPS. •Apple Computer discontinues the Macintosh Plus.  •Apple Computer discontinues the Macintosh SE. •Apple Computer discontinues the Macintosh SE/30. •Apple Computer discontinues the Macintosh IIx. •Apple Computer unveils and ships the Macintosh Classic. It uses an 8-MHz Motorola 68000 microprocessor, an integrated 9-inch B/W monitor, and a 1.4 MB floppy drive. Base price for a 1 MB system is US$1000. The Macintosh Classic replaces the Macintosh Plus and the Macintosh SE.  •Apple Computer unveils the Macintosh LC. It uses a 16-MHz Motorola 68020 microprocessor, and comes with 2 MB RAM, 40 MB hard drive, and 1.4 MB SuperDrive. Weight is 8.5 pounds. Base price with 2 MB RAM and a floppy drive is US$2400. (US$2400 includes 40 MB hard drive) •Apple Computer unveils the Macintosh IIsi. It uses a 20-MHz Motorola 68030 microprocessor, and comes with 2 MB RAM, 40 MB hard drive, video port, and 1.4 MB SuperDrive, for US$3769. Or with 5 MB RAM and 80 MB hard drive for US$4569.   •Microsoft Bill Gates quote: "Even for the next ten years, [DOS] will have a significant role to play." •IBM introduces the XGA MCA graphics card, as a replacement for VGA. Resolutions of 640x480 and 1024x768 are supported, with up to 65,536 colors in the 640x480 mode. At the same time, IBM joins the VESA group, making the XGA specification publicly available. •Advanced Micro Devices officially acknowledges that it is working on cloning Intel's 386 CPUs. •Lotus Development introduces the Lotus MarketPlace: Business database application for the Macintosh. The Business edition is on one CD-ROM for US$695. Information on 7.5 million businesses is included.   (August) •Lotus Development introduces Lotus MarketPlace: Households, for the Macintosh. The Households version is a nine CD-ROM set, for US$695 for the first CD-ROM. Information on 80 million households and 120 million consumers is included. •An arbitrator between Intel and Advanced Micro Devices rules that Intel breached its agreement with Advanced Micro Devices by refusing to share designs of the 386 CPU.   •Intel releases new versions of the 16-, 20-, and 25-MHz 80387 math coprocessor chips. These versions use the new, faster technology employed on the 33-MHz chip. 

November
•Apple Computer discontinues the Apple IIc Plus.  (September) •PC/GEOS, with GeoWorks Ensemble, ships.•Michael Spindler becomes president of Apple Computer.•AT&T makes a US$6 billion hostile takeover bid for NCR. (US$7.5 billion) •LSI Logic announces the availability of SparcKIT, a SPARC chipset at speeds of 20-MHz and 25-MHz. •Sun Microsystems unveils its SPARCstation 2 series, starting at roughly US$20,000. •Fall '90 Comdex is held in Las Vegas, Nevada.   •Motorola ships the 25-MHz 68040 processor. •The DPMI Committee releases the DPMI version 1.0 specification.•The Multimedia PC Marketing Council sets the minimum configuration required of a PC to run MPC-class software: 10-MHz 286 processor, 2MB RAM, 30MB hard drive, 16-color VGA, mouse, 8-bit audio card, 150KBps CD-ROM drive.

December
•Microsoft begins shipping the first version of the Object Linking and Embedding (OLE) library for Windows 3.0.  •Ashton-Tate's lawsuit regarding the copyright on the dBase language is dismissed in court. US District Court judge Terry Hatler rules that the dBase language is not copyrightable, because it originated from a public domain program: JPLDIS from the Jet Propulsion Laboratory.

(month unknown)
•(early) Wells American computer company closes.

(month unknown)
•(spring) Sharp Electronics introduces the PC-6220 notebook computer. It weighs less than four pounds, and features a 12-MHz 80C286 processor, 2.5-inch 20 MB hard drive, B/W backlit triple supertwist 8x6-inch LCD VGA 640x480 resolution screen, 1MB RAM (expandable to 3 MB), and a socket for a 80C287 math coprocessor.

(month unknown)
•(spring) Ed Esber is forced to resign as president of Ashton-Tate.

(month unknown)
•(fall) Apple Computer, VLSI Technology, and Acorn Computer create the Advanced RISC Machines Ltd. company, to work on processor designs.

(month unknown)
•Fairfield Software releases the ClearAccess v1.21 data-management software tool for the Macintosh.

(month unknown)
•Ashton-Tate releases the Full Impact 2.0 spreadsheet program for the Macintosh.

(month unknown)
•Claris releases the FileMaker Pro 1.0 database program for the Macintosh.

(month unknown)
•3G Graphics releases the Accents & Borders collection of images.

(month unknown)
•Reality Technologies releases the WealthBuilder by Money Magazine v1.0 financial management package for the Macintosh.

(month unknown)
•Softsync/BLOC releases the Accountant, Inc. 2.0 accounting package for the Macintosh.

(month unknown)
•Teleware releases the Mind Your Own Business 2.0 accounting system for the Macintosh.

(month unknown)
•Global Village Communication releases the TelePort A300 2400bps modem for the Macintosh.

(month unknown)
•Prometeus Products releases the ProModem 9600M Plus 9600bps v.32 modem and fax modem for the Macintosh. 

(month unknown)
•Timeworks releases the Publish It! Easy 2.0 page-design program for the Macintosh.

(month unknown)
•Apple Computer's AppleLink - Personal Edition is expanded and renamed America Online.

(month unknown)
•IBM unveils its new RISC-based workstation line, the RS/6000. Development work had been done under code name "America" for the RISC chip research, and "RIOS" for systems using the America technology. The architecture of the systems is given the name POWER, standing for Performance Optimization With Enhanced RISC. 

(month unknown)
•Commodore Business Machines releases the C286-LT microcomputer, featuring 20 MB hard drive, 1 MB RAM, 12.5-MHz 286 CPU, 640x480 LCD screen, and MS-DOS 4.01, for CDN$4495. Weight is 7 pounds.

(month unknown)
•U.S. Robotics introduces the Courier v.32bis modem.

(month unknown)
•John Dvorak quote: "I think Windows 3.0 will get a lot of attention; people will check it out, and before long they'll all drift back to raw DOS. Once in a while they'll boot Windows for some specific purpose, but many will put it in the closet with the Commodore 64.".

(month unknown)
•Motorola announces a new line of single-chip RISC processors, the first of which is be the 88110.

(month unknown)
•Hewlett-Packard's introduction of the LaserJet IIP breaks the US$1000 street price barrier.

(month unknown)
•The INMOS T-9000 processor, designed for parallel computing in the Transputer architecture, appears.

(month unknown)
•IBM introduces the 10-MHz 80286-based IBM PS/1 systems, with built-in VGA and monitor. Prices range from US$1000 to US$2000. 

(month unknown)
•INTV Corp. discontinues production of the Intellivision. 

(month unknown)
•Walt Disney Computer Software releases The Animation Studio for the Amiga, for US$179.

(month unknown)
•Commodore announces the Amiga 3000, at the Palladium in New York City. The system features a Motorola 16- or 25-MHz 68030, 68881 or 68882 math coprocessor, new Enhanced Chip Set, Zorro III bus, 2MB RAM, 40- or 100-MB hard drive, AmigaDOS v2.0, and AmigaVision authoring system. Prices start at US$4100 with a monitor. 

(month unknown)
•A judge rules that competitors to Intel can use the x86 designation for their processors. Intel decides to find another name for its new processors.

(month unknown)
•US District Court Judge Vaughn Walker throws out 5 of 6 claims in Xerox' suit against Apple Computer of the Star's system.

(month unknown)
•Kaypro Corporation files for Chapter 11 bankruptcy.

(month unknown)
•Hard drive maker Miniscribe files for Chapter 11 bankruptcy. 



1991



January
•GO Corp. announces its PenPoint operating system for mobile pen-based computers. •Apple Computer discontinues the Macintosh Portable.  •RDI announces the availability of Macintosh emulation software for SPARC systems.  •A judge rules that Mosaic Software infringed on Lotus Development's copyrights on Lotus 1-2-3.   •Macronix sues Nintendo, claiming Nintendo purposely changed its game machine architecture so that other vendors' cartridges would not work.  •WordPerfect ships WordPerfect 2.0 for the Macintosh.  •Sun Microsystems begins shipping the SPARCstation 2. •Neon Software releases the NetMinder LocalTalk network-analysis program for the Macintosh's built-in networking capability, for US$395.  •Lotus Development abandons plans for Lotus MarketPlace: Households for the Macintosh, and withdraws Lotus MarketPlace: Business. •Compaq Computer reports its first billion dollar quarter. •Commodore releases the CDTV (Commodore Dynamic Total Vision) package. It features a CD-ROM player integrated with a 7.16-MHz 68000-based Amiga 500. List price is US$1000.  (April) •Microsoft releases Microsoft Excel for Windows 3.0. •After a year of delays due to technical difficulties, Motorola's 68040 microprocessor becomes available. 

February
•Michael Ehman founds Sterling Solutions, to sell hard drives for the Macintosh.   •MIPS Technologies unveils the R4000 RISC processor architecture. •The InfoCOMM trade show is held in Orlando, Florida.

March
•Sierra On-Line and Broderbund announce their intention to merge companies. •Apple Computer discontinues the Macintosh IIcx.  (October 1990) •IBM spins off its entire printer and typewriter division to a New York investment firm. The company Lexmark is born. •Apple Computer ships first TrueType fonts for the Macintosh. •NeXT announces availability of its Nextstation color computers for US$8000.   •Advanced Micro Designs releases its first clone chips of Intel's i386DX, the Am386DX, at speeds of 20- to 40-MHz.  •Advanced Micro Designs ships the 1-millionth Am386 microprocessor. •Microsoft announces the Microsoft BallPoint Mouse, incorporating mouse and trackball technology in a pointing device for laptop computers.

April
•Intel introduces the 20-MHz i486SX microprocessor. The i486SX is like the 486DX, but without the math coprocessor. Price is US$258. Speed is 16.5 MIPS. •US District Court judge Terry Hatler reinstates Ashton-Tate's dBase copyrights, reversing his December 1990 decision. •21 companies create the Advanced Computing Environment (ACE) Initiative.   •NeXT ships the Nextstation and the NextStep v2.0 operating system. •Apple Computer demonstrates to IBM an IBM PS/2 Model 70 running Apple's Pink operating system, appearing to be Apple's System 7.0 operating system. 

May
•One year after the release of Microsoft Windows 3.0, more than 3 million copies have been sold.  •Apple Computer ships its System 7.0 Macintosh operating system, two years after its announcement, for US$100. (1990) •AT&T and NCR sign a merger agreement. •Lotus Development announces Lotus 1-2-3 for the Macintosh.   •Apple Computer releases the Apple Stylewriter, a modified Canon BubbleJet inkjet printer, using new TrueType font technology. (March) •Apple Computer announces QuickTime software, for integration of dynamic media for Macintosh computers.  (June) •Microsoft announces Microsoft Visual BASIC for Windows. •Businessland posts a loss of US$43 million, and files for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection.

June
•Microsoft releases MS-DOS 5.0. It adds a full-screen editor, undelete and unformat utilities, and task swapping. GW-BASIC is replaced with Qbasic, based on Microsoft's QuickBASIC. •Intel introduces the 50-MHz 486 microprocessor. Speed is 41 MIPS. This new 486 employs 0.8-micron technology.  •Lotus Development wins its spreadsheet copyright lawsuit against Santa Cruz Operations, who is ordered to remove SCO Professional from the market within two months.  •Tandy introduces its low-cost CDR-1000 CD-ROM drive for PCs. At US$400, including drive and controller card, it is about half the price of other CD-ROM drives. (March)

July
•Sega of America ships the Time Traveler holographic video game to arcade centers. •Apple Computer and IBM sign a technology sharing agreement, to integrate the Mac into IBM's enterprise systems, to allow future RISC-based Macs to use IBM's Power PC chip, to work together on common multimedia standards, and to cooperatively produce a new object-oriented operating system.  •Symantec ships Norton Desktop for Windows. •Borland International buys database competitor Ashton-Tate for US$440 million.   (November) •Microsoft vice president Brad Silverberg quote: DOS will be "with us forever. We've learned how passionate people are about DOS." •Sun Microsystems introduces the SPARCstation ELC, and the SPARCstation IPX.   •Microsoft changes the name of OS/2 v3.0 to Windows NT. •Advanced Micro Devices introduces the 25-MHz Am386SX.

August
•Symantec acquires Zortech Inc., maker of C++ compilers for DOS, Windows, OS/2, Macintosh, and UNIX. •The ban on business is lifted on the Internet. 

September
•Intel introduces the 16-MHz i486SX microprocessor. Speed is 13 MIPS.   •MIPS Technologies begins shipping samples of the R4000 processor.   •Intel introduces the 25-MHz i486SX microprocessor. Speed is 20 MIPS.   •Intel introduces the 25-MHz 80386SL microprocessor. Speed is 5.3 MIPS. •Digital Research Inc. releases DR DOS 6.0, for US$100. DR DOS 6.0 is the first PC operating system to include disk compression software. •The PCMCIA card specification v2.x is released.  •Chips & Technologies introduces the F8680 PC/Chip microprocessor. It is designed for use in notebook and handheld computers. The CPU is compatible with the Intel 8086 and Intel 80186. The chip also includes a universal asynchronous receiver/transmitter, CGA-compatible display controller, and PCMCIA support, making it the most integrated chip ever produced to date. Price is US$45.

October
•Intel files a copyright infringement claim against Advanced Micro Devices, claiming the programmed logic array in the 386 is a program, thus protected by copyright.   •Apple Computer, Motorola, and IBM officially sign an accord on technology sharing. Apple and IBM will jointly develop the PowerOpen Specification, based on IBM's AIX operating system.  (September) •Apple Computer and IBM create Kaleida, to create a hardware-independent multimedia scripting language.  •Apple Computer introduces the Macintosh Classic II (replacing the Macintosh Classic). It features a 16-MHz 68030, System 7.0.1, 2MB RAM, 40MB hard drive, B/W monitor, floppy drive, for US$1900. •Apple Computer unveils the Macintosh PowerBook 100. It features a 16-MHz 68000 CPU, System 7.0.1, 20 MB hard drive, 9-inch passive matrix B/W supertwist LCD screen, 2 MB RAM, weighs 5.1 pounds, and costs US$2500.  (cost US$1600) •Apple Computer unveils the Macintosh PowerBook 140. It features a 16-MHz 68030 CPU, System 7.0.1, 20MB hard drive, supertwist B/W LCD screen, 2MB RAM, SuperDrive floppy drive, weighs 6.8 pounds, and costs US$2900.  •Apple Computer unveils the Macintosh PowerBook 170. It features a 25-MHz 68030 CPU, System 7.0.1, 40MB hard drive, active matrix B/W LCD screen, 4MB RAM, SuperDrive floppy drive, fax/modem, 68882 math coprocessor, weighs 6.8 pounds, and costs US$4600. •Apple Computer unveils the Macintosh Quadra 700. It features a 25-MHz 68040, 8-bit color video, System 7.0.1, HyperCard, 4MB RAM, 512KB video RAM, SuperDrive floppy drive, and various hard driveoptions, for US$5700-7700.  •Apple Computer unveils the Macintosh Quadra 900. It features a 25-MHz 68040, 8-bit color video, System 7.0.1, HyperCard, 4MB RAM, 1MB video RAM, SuperDrive floppy drive, and various hard driveoptions, for US$7200-9200.   •Apple Computer introduces the OneScanner gray-scale page scanner, for US$1400.  •MIPS Technologies officially introduces the 100-MHz R4000, its 64-bit RISC processor. •Quote from IBM's Lee Reiswig: "We will be enhancing OS/2 until the late 1990s."  •Insite Technology begins shipping its 21 MB 3.5-inch floppy disk drive to system vendors. The drive uses "floptical" disks, using optical technology to store data.  •Sun Microsystems begins licensing the new chipset used in the SPARCstation 2. 

November
•Intel decides against licensing Digital Equipment's technology in the Alpha architecture. •IBM and Intel sign a 10-year joint development agreement to create a series of integrated processors. •Microsoft announces the Multimedia Edition of Microsoft Works 2.0 for Windows, on CD-ROM. •Sega sues Accolade, claiming that Accolade should pay royalties to Sega for creating Sega titles, and that Accolade's games mislead people into thinking they were produced for or licensed by Sega. 

December
•Apple Computer ships QuickTime 1.0. •IBM introduces the 20-MHz 386SLC microprocessor. It is an enhanced Intel 386SX, including an 8KB cache, and extra instructions. It is the first chip produced under an agreement between Intel and IBM, for IBM to use in their own systems. •Lotus Development ships Lotus 1-2-3 for the Macintosh.

(month unknown)
•(early) NuTek Computers announces a chip set and software that could be used to make true Macintosh clones. 

(month unknown)
•(early) NexGen makes the first fabrication of its F86 multi-chip 386 compatible processor.

(month unknown)
•(spring) Novell releases the NetWare 2.2 network operating system. 

(month unknown)
•(spring) Novell releases the NetWare 3.11 network operating system.

(month unknown)
•(mid-year) EO Computer is founded. 

(month unknown)
•(summer) Ad Lib announces the Ad Lib Gold series of PC sound cards at the Consumer Electronics Show in Chicago, Illinois.

(month unknown)
•Quote by Aaron Goldberg, of International Data Corp.: "I don't know if anyone has tried to run Windows on a 286 machine, but frankly I'd rather have knitting needles in my eyes.".

(month unknown)
•Novell buys Digital Research. 

(month unknown)
•S3 introduces the 911 graphics chip, incorporating GUI acceleration with VGA compatibility.

(month unknown)
•Radius acquires exclusive rights to Apple Computer's Touchstone digital video technology. 

(month unknown)
•Intel recalls the 50-MHz version of the 486DX microprocessor, due to problems with overheating.

(month unknown)
•Sierra Online and Broderbund cancel their proposed merger, 3 weeks after the announcement of the merger. 

(month unknown)
•Quote from Alex. Brown & Sons analyst, Mark Stahlman: "(Commodore) is likely to be one of the big success stories of the early 1990s." 

(month unknown)
•NCR ships the NCR 3125 microcomputer, running MS-DOS, Windows, PenWindows, and PenPoint. It features an Intel 386SL processor, 2MB DRAM, 2MB Flash EPROM, 640x480 16 shade gray screen, optional docking station, and weighs 3.6 pounds.

(month unknown)
•The Pearl Agency in Germany develops the first software vending machine. The machines allow the buyer to view a demo or product description before purchasing the software on a diskette. 

(month unknown)
•Commodore unveils the Amiga 3000UX, with a Motorola MC68030 25-MHz processor, 68882 math coprocessor, UNIX System V Release 4, Open Look, and Ethernet support. Cost is US$5000, without a monitor. 

(month unknown)
•Creative Labs introduces the Sound Blaster Pro Deluxe, the first stereo PC sound card.

(month unknown)
•Hewlett-Packard introduces its first color image scanner, the HP Scanjet IIc. The 400 dpi 24-bit flatbed scanner is priced at about US$2000. 

(month unknown)
•Quote from Sun CEO Scott McNealy, on the Apple Computer / IBM alliance: "The only strategic relationship that works is a purchase order."

(month unknown)
•BlueMaq International introduces the Heat Seeker II, a souped-up Macintosh SE with 14-inch monochrome monitor, 85MB hard drive, 800KB floppy drive, 25-MHz 68030 plus 68882 math coprocessor, for US$7000.

(month unknown)
•Adobe begins shipping Level 2 PostScript. 

(month unknown)
•Hayes Microcomputer Products announces LANstep, a network operating system for small offices.

(month unknown)
•Intel begins the design process of its sixth-generation processor, to follow the Pentium processor. 

(month unknown)
•Adobe ships Adobe Illustrator 3.0 for the Macintosh. 

(month unknown)
•RasterOps and Truevision announce plans to merge companies. 

(month unknown)
•RasterOps and Truevision call off their plans to merge companies.


1992

(month unknown)
•Apple Computer petitions the FCC to allocate a 40-MHz wide band of frequencies for use with its personal digital assistants.

January
•Apple Computer chairman John Sculley coins the term Personal Digital Assistant, referring to hand-held computers that typiclly operate via a stylus on a LCD display. •IBM reports a year-end loss, for the first time, of US$564 million, on revenues of US$64.8 billion. •NeXT announces that a version of the NextStep OS will be made for Intel PCs.

February
•Five years of arbitration with Intel ends, with Advanced Micro Devices being awarded full rights to produce and sell its Am386 line of processors.  •The PowerOpen Association is formed, with the goal of producing specifications for an open software/hardware platform that can run all UNIX, DOS/Windows (via emulation), and Macintosh applications.

March
•MIPS Technologies ships the 100-MHz R4000 processor.  •Apple Computer introduces the CD150 CD drive, replacing the AppleCD SC Plus.  •Bridgette is incorporated, created by Michael Ehman as a successor to Ehman, Inc., to sell Macintosh peripherals. •Apple Computer announces the Macintosh LC II, replacing the Macintosh LC in the US. The LC II uses a 16-MHz Motorola 68030, and comes with 4MB RAM, 256KB video RAM, and a 40MB hard drive, for US$1700. With 512KB video RAM, and an 80MB hard drive, the price is US$2050.  •Microsoft launches its first TV advertising campaign, for Windows. •Microsoft buys Fox Software for 1.36 million shares of Microsoft's common stock.  •Apple Computer and IBM found Taligent, to work on a platform-independent operating system.  (1991 October) •IBM ships OS/2 2.0. •Quarterdeck Office Systems ships DESQview X.  •Intel and Microsoft announce the Advanced Power Management (APM) specification for laptop computers, which allows the system to shut down power to system resources not currently in use.   •Intel introduces the i486DX2 microprocessor, with clock speeds of 25/50-MHz (external/internal). For the most part, the DX2 is just a 25-MHz 486 that internally runs twice as fast. Price is US$550. Speed is 41 MIPS.

April
•Cyrix introduces the 25-MHz Cx486SLC microprocessor. It features an internal 32-bit data path, but with a 16-bit external data path. It includes a 1KB cache, but no coprocessor. Price is US$119. •Ehman, Inc., a Macintosh peripherals company, closes, with US$4 million in debts.  •Microsoft ships Windows 3.1. 1 million copies of the new and upgrade versions are sold through retail channels within the first 50 days.   (May)

May
•AutoDesk ships AutoCAD Release 11 for the Macintosh.  •Apple Computer introduces the 33-MHz 68040-based Macintosh Quadra 950 (replacing the Quadra 900). It includes 8MB of RAM, 230/400MB hard drive options, and 24-bit video supporting 19-inch color monitors. Prices range from US$7200-9200.  •Sun Microcomputers' Sunsoft division introduces the Solaris 2.0 operating system for Intel-based PCs.

June
•Cyrix introduces the Cx486DLC microprocessor. It is comparable to Intel's i486, but with only a 1KB cache, and using only 600,000 transistors.  •Intel introduces the Peripheral Component Interconnect (PCI) local-bus standard for PC systems. (June) •Mass Microsystems begins shipping its FloptiPak 21 21MB Floptical drive for the Macintosh. Price is US$700. •IBM and Microsoft sign a "divorce" document, allowing source code sharing for current versions operating systems up to September 1993. •Microsoft Chairman Bill Gates receives a National Medal of Technology for Technical Achievement from US President George Bush.

July
•Apple Computer discontinues the PowerBook 100.  •Advanced Micro Devices begins work on a fifth-generation x86 processor (in the class of Intel's Pentium chip).   •Lotus Development wins a preliminary judgement over Borland International in its spreadsheet copyright suit. Borland International removes its Lotus 1-2-3 compatibility macros from Quattro Pro and releases it.

August
•The first version of the VESA VL-Bus standard for PCs is ratified.  •Apple Computer introduces the PowerBook 145, replacing the PowerBook 140. It features a backlit supertwist LCD display, 25-MHz 68030 processor, System 7 operating system, 4MB RAM, 40 MB hard drive, and weighs 6.8 pounds. Price is US$2149. •The number of users of Apple Computer's System 7 reaches 4 million. •Compaq Computer introduces its first printer, the Compaq Pagemqrq. •Intel introduces the 33/66-MHz i486DX2 microprocessor. Speed is 54 MIPS.

September
•Intel introduces the 33-MHz i486SX microprocessor. Speed is 27 MIPS.   •Borland International ships Quattro Pro for Windows. •Apple Computer launches the Performa Line, designed for mass merchandisers and superstores. The Performa 600 features a 32-MHz Motorola MC68030 processor, three NuBus slots, internal hard drive, SuperDrive 3.5-inch floppy drive, 4 MB RAM, and 512 KB video RAM.  •Apple Computer renames the Macintosh LC II the Performa 400. •Apple Computer renames the Macintosh Classic II the Performa 200. •IBM creates the IBM Personal Computer Company. •Apple Computer receives its first PowerPC 601 processor for testing. •IBM introduces the 20/40-MHz and 25/50-MHz 486SLC2 microprocessors. They feature a 16KB cache and optimized instruction set, but no internal math coprocessor, and only a 16-bit data path. •NeXT ships NextStep v3.0.

October
•Intel introduces the 33-MHz 80386SX microprocessor. Speed is 2.9 MIPS.   •Cyrix announces the Cx486SLC/E processor.  •IBM and Motorola announce the PowerPC 601 microprocessors, in 50-MHz and 66-MHz versions. PowerPC stands for "Power Performance Chip". •Cyrix introduces the clock-doubled Cx486DRu2 microprocessor. Price is US$399.  •Apple Computer begins direct mail order sales.  •Apple Computer's "Cognac" project team first successfully boots up a prototype Power Macintosh using a Power PC 601 processor. •Apple Computer introduces the PowerBook 160. It features a 10-inch 16-grayscale backlit supertwist LCD display, 25-MHz 68030 processor, System 7 operating system, 4MB RAM, 512 KB video RAM, external monitor port, 40 MB hard drive, and weighs 6.8 pounds. Price is US$2429. •Apple Computer introduces the PowerBook 180, replacing the PowerBook 170. It features a 33-MHz 68030 processor, 68882 math coprocessor, 4MB RAM, and 80 MB hard drive. Price is US$3869.  •Apple Computer introduces the Macintosh PowerBook Duo systems, consisting of a 4.2-pound portable computer, and a Macintosh Duo Dock desktop docking station. •Apple Computer introduces the Macintosh PowerBook Duo 210, featuring a 25-MHz Motorola MC68030 processor, 4 MB RAM, 80 MB hard drive, 640x480 grayscale 9.1-inch diagonal supertwist LCD screen, for US$2249. •Apple Computer introduces the Macintosh PowerBook Duo 230, featuring a 33-MHz Motorola MC68030 processor, 4 MB RAM, 80 MB hard drive, 640x480 grayscale 9.1-inch diagonal supertwist LCD screen, for US$2609. •Apple Computer introduces the Macintosh IIvx, which is a Macintosh Performa 600 with a 68882 math coprocessor and 32 KB of cache RAM.  •Apple Computer introduces the Macintosh IIvi. •IBM introduces its ThinkPad laptop computer, with a radical new pointer device.  •Sun Microsystems ships the 50-MHz Sun MicroSPARC processor. •One year after the introduction of Apple Computer's PowerBook, sales of US$1 billion make it the first personal computer to break that threshold. More than 400,000 PowerBooks have been shipped.  •SuperMac Technology begins beta-testing of its DigitalFilm product.  •Microsoft ships Microsoft Windows for Workgroups 3.1, which integrates networking and workgroup functionality. (November)

November
•SuperMac Technology ships the DigitalFilm video production system for the Macintosh. Price is US$5999.  •Quark ships QuarkXPress 3.1 for Windows.  •Apple Computer announces QuickTime for Windows.  •Microsoft ships Microsoft Access Database for Windows.  •Digital Equipment unveils the 150-MHz Alpha 21064 64-bit microprocessor.  (February) (September) •Intel introduces the 486SL processor, designed for notebook computers. Speeds include 20-MHz (15.4 MIPS), 25-MHz (19 MIPS) and 33-MHz (25 MIPS). The processors can address 64 MB of physical memory, and 64 terabytes of virtual memory. They use 1.4 million transistors, employing 0.8-micron technology. (June 1993) •Hewlett-Packard announces an expansion of its HP 9000 series, with the midrange Model 735 workstation for US$37,400, deskside Model 755 for US$59,000, as well as low-end Model 715/33 for US$5,000 and Model 725/50 for US$17,900.  •Sun Microsystems announces the low-end SPARCclassic workstation for US$4300 and high-end SPARCcenter 2000 multi-processor server.

December
•Apple Computer discontinues the Apple IIgs.  •Novell buys AT&T's UNIX Systems Laboratories, gaining all rights to the UNIX source code, for US$150 million.   (1993 December)

(month unknown)
•(early) WordPerfect releases WordPerfect for Windows.

(month unknown)
•(fall) A US federal court rules that Advanced Micro Devices does not have the right to use Intel microcode in its microprocessors.

(month unknown)
•Outbound Systems ships the Outbound Notebook System 2030E. It features a 25-MHz 68030, 40-120MB hard drive, floppy drive, 4MB RAM, and weighs 6.25 pounds. Prices start at US$3300.

(month unknown)
•Outbound Systems ships the Outbound Notebook System 2030S. It features a 33-MHz 68030, 40-120MB hard drive, floppy drive, 4MB RAM, and weighs 6.25 pounds. Prices start at US$3900. 

(month unknown)
•Lotus Development ships Lotus 1-2-3 v1.1 for the Macintosh. 

(month unknown)
•Apple Computer introduces its first personal digital assistant at the Consumer Electronics Show in Chicago.

(month unknown)
•Novell purchases Digital Research Inc. for US$80 million.

(month unknown)
•Creative Labs introduces the Sound Blaster 16 with Advanced Signal Processor, a 16-bit stereo PC sound card.

(month unknown)
•Microsoft buys the Foxbase company. 

(month unknown)
•(fall) Apple Computer releases System 7.1 operating system, for the Macintosh.

(month unknown)
•Commodore introduces the Amiga 600: 4096 colors, stereo sound, full pre-emptive multitasking operating system (Workbench 2.05), PCMCIA slot, Motorola 68000 CPU, for a base price of $500.

(month unknown)
•Hewlett-Packard introduces the HP LaserJet 4 laser printer. 

(month unknown)
•The Multimedia PC Marketing Council ups the requirements for MPC compliance to a 16-MHz 386SX processor.

(month unknown)
•Apple Computer and Sharp announce an agreement to codevelop a personal digital assistant, based on Apple's software and Sharp's hardware. 

(month unknown)
•Hewlett-Packard unveils the HP PainJet XL300 color thermal ink-jet printer. It supports PCL 5C and PostScript Level 2, and includes a LocalTalk connector, Centronics parallel port, and RS-232 serial port. The PC-compatible version has a list priceof US$3500. For the Macintosh, an extra US$2000 is required for PostScript and an additional 4MB of RAM.

(month unknown)
•Quote from Robert X. Cringely: "If IBM is God in the PC universe then Bill Gates is the pope.".

(month unknown)
•Photonics discontinues the Photolink products.


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End of 1990-1992 - Maturity