1993-1995 Serious Power


Apple Power Macintosh, Intel Pentium, Windows NT, DEC Alpha, Power PC


1993

January
•Apple Computer debuts the StyleWriter II printer. •Apple Computer shows off test versions of its Newton Personal Digital Assistants at the Winter Consumer Electronics Show. •IBM reports a year-end loss, of US$4.96 billion, on revenues of US$64.5 billion. This is the highest single-year loss for any US company in history.   (February) •Novell ships UnixWare. •Cyrix announces the 486S processor. •Stac Electronics files a lawsuit against Microsoft over inclusion in MS-DOS 6.0 of file compression, which it claims infringes on Stac's patents. 

February
•Pinnacle Micro introduces the RCD-202 recordable CD-ROM drive for the Macintosh.   •Apple Computer makes its largest product announcement in its history, and makes it in Japan: the Macintosh Color Classic, Macintosh LC III, Macintosh Centris 610 and 650, Macintosh Quadra 800, and PowerBook 165c. •Apple Computer introduces the Macintosh Color Classic, replacing the Macintosh Classic II. It features a Sony Trinitron 10-inch built-in color display (512x384 pixels), 4 MB RAM, 80 MB hard drive, 16-MHz 68030, 256 KB video RAM, for US$1389.  •Apple Computer introduces the Macintosh LC III. It features a 25-MHz 68030, 80 MB hard drive, 4 MB RAM, 512 KB video RAM, and 14-inch monitor, for US$1349.  •Apple Computer introduces the Macintosh Centris 610. It features a 20-MHz 68LC040, 80 MB hard drive (optional 230 MB), 4 MB RAM (optional 8 MB), 512 KB video RAM (optional 1 MB), for US$1859. •Apple Computer introduces the Macintosh Centris 650. It features a 25-MHz 68LC040 (optional 68040 with math coprocessor), 80 MB hard drive (optional 230 MB or 500 MB), 4 MB RAM (optional 8 MB or 24 MB), 512 KB video RAM (optional 1 MB), for US$2699.  •Apple Computer introduces the Macintosh Quadra 800. It features a 33-MHz 68040, 230 MB hard drive (optional 500 MB or 1 GB), 8 MB RAM (optional 24 MB), 512 KB video RAM (optional 1 MB), for US$4676.   •Apple Computer introduces the Macintosh PowerBook 165c. It features a 33-MHz 68030, 68882 math coprocessor, 80 MB hard drive (optional 160 MB), 8.9-inch disgonal color passive-matrix LCD screen, 4 MB RAM (optional 14 MB), 512 KB video RAM, for US$3399. It weighs 7 pounds.  •Apple Computer discontinues the Macintosh IIci and the Quadra 700. •Apple Computer ships the 10 millionth Macintosh computer.  •IBM announces nine new systems in its RS/6000 line, priced between US$4000 and US$25000.   •NeXT announces that it will drop its hardware line, to focus on becoming a larger player in the object-oriented software industry. Approximately 50,000 NeXT machines were built in total. •The US Federal Trade Commission votes on whether to charge Microsoft with unfair trade practices. The vote is a tie. Another vote will be taken in following months.•Digital Equipment announces the 200-MHz Alpha 21064 processor.•Sun Microsystems ships the 50-MHz Sun SuperSPARC processor.

March
•Texas Instruments and Dell settle their lawsuit, with Dell paying cash royalties to Texas Instruments. •Amstrad begins shipping the Amstrad Pen Pad PDA600 Personal Digital Assistant (PDA) in England. It is the first PDA to be shipped. The Pen Pad weighs under a pound, is 1 inch thick, and features a 240x320 resolution 3x4 inch screen. It uses a 20-MHz Zilog Z8S180 microprocessor, and can run for 40 hours on three AA batteries. It includes 128KB RAM, with a PCMCIA expansion slot for memory expansion to 2MB.   •Lou Gerstner replaces John Akers as chairman of IBM.  •Intel introduces the Pentium processor. It uses 32-bit registers, with a 64-bit data bus, giving it an address space of 4 GB. It incorporates 3.1 million transistors, using 0.8-micron BiCMOS technology. Speeds are 60-MHz (100 MIPS) and 66-MHz (112 MIPS). Prices are US$878 (60-MHz) and US$964 (66-MHz).  •The Software Publishers Association reports that MS-Windows applications are outselling MS-DOS programs for the first time.   •Apple Computer cancels project Tesseract, which was working on a RISC-based Macintosh. Project Cognac continues, which was working on an alternative RISC design.   •Microsoft introduces the MS-DOS 6.0 Upgrade, including DoubleSpace disk compression. 1 million copies of the new and upgrade versions are sold through retail channels within the first 40 days.  •Microsoft ships Microsoft Encarta, the first multimedia encyclopedia for a computer. 

April
•Motorola Corp. ships the first PowerPC 601 chips. The processors use 2.8 million transistors, with 3 execution units. •Compaq Computer, Intel, Microsoft, and Phoenix Technologies define the Plug and Play specification for PCs.  •Microsoft releases the OLE 2.0 specification for Windows development.•Apple Computer demonstrates a prototype Macintosh running on an 80-MHz PowerPC 601 processor. •Microsoft reports that there are 25 million licensed users of Microsoft Windows. •Gateway 2000 ships its 1 millionth PC. •Novell ships NetWare 4.0.   •Advanced Micro Devices ships its first Am486 processors, the 40-MHz Am486DX, and the 25/50-MHz Am486DX2.

May
•Lotus Development ships Lotus Notes 3.0.  •IBM releases OS/2 2.1, now including Windows 3.1 support.  •Microsoft formally launches Windows NT 3.1.   (July) (July 1992) •Apple Computer holds a developers conference, inviting software companies to test their applications on the PowerPC-based Macintosh. None of the applications tested broke the 680x0 emulator.  •IBM introduces the RS/6000 POWERstation and POWERserver 230, 23S, 23T, and 23W computers, with a 45.5 MHz CPU. •The PCI Special Interest Group completes the version 2.0 specification of the PCI local-bus standard for microcomputers. •NeXT ships NextStep v3.1 for Intel-based PCs. •MIPS Technologies announces availability of the 150-MHz 64-bit R4400 RISC microprocessor. (June) •Sega and Accolade settle their lawsuit out of court. 

June
•The United States Environmental Protection Agency officially launches the Energy Star program. Together with 50 major PC manufacturers, the Energy Star guidelines are designed to reduce idle power use of computer system components.  •Apple Computer expands its PowerBook line with the PowerBook 180c and 145B.  •U.S. District Court judge Vaughn Walker rules against Apple Computer in its 63-month legal suit against Microsoft and Hewlett-Packard. The judge rules that 90% of the elements in Windows are covered by Microsoft's 1985 license from Apple Computer. Apple Computer files an appeal. •Total sales of Apple Macintosh PowerBook Duo systems reaches 100,000. •Digital Equipment ships the 200-MHz Alpha 21064 processor. •John Sculley steps down as CEO of Apple Computer, remaining as chairman.  •Michael Spindler is appointed as CEO of Apple Computer. 

July
•Apple Computer announces layoffs of 2500, nearly 15% of its worldwide staff.   •A fire destroys a Sumitomo Chemical Company plant in Japan. The plant had supplied 60% of the world's supply of cresol, used in memory chip casings. •The US Federal Trade Commission votes a second time on whether to charge Microsoft with unfair trade practices. Again, the vote is a tie. •Apple Computer introduces the "AV" Macintosh systems, which integrate telecommunications, video and speed technologies on the desktop for the first time. (January) •Apple Computer introduces the Macintosh Quadra 840AV. It features a 40-MHz 68040, AT&T 3210 DSP, 1 MB video RAM, System 7.1 operating system, QuickTime, 8 MB RAM, NuBus 90 expansion slots, 230 MB hard drive, for US$4069. Codename during development was Cyclone.  (January) •IBM introduces the RS/6000 POWERstation and POWERserver 34H computers. They feature 41.6 MHz CPU, 16 MB RAM, 400 MB hard drive, and 32KB cache. •IBM releases AIX v3.2.4 for the RS/6000. •Apple Computer introduces the Macintosh Centris 660AV. It features a 33-MHz 68040, AT&T 3210 DSP, 1 MB video RAM, 8 MBN RAM, and 230 MB hard drive. Codename during development was Tempest.  (January) •Microsoft begins shipping Windows NT Workstation 3.1, and Windows NT Advanced Server 3.1.  (August) •The US Federal Trade Commission decides to take no action against Intel, after three years of investigating complaints of forcing exclusive dealing practices. •IBM introduces its clock-tripled 25/75MHz Blue Lightning 486-based processor.  •Digital Equipment creates the Digital Personal Computer Business unit, to focus on PC sales. 

August
•Quark ships QuarkXPress 3.2 for Windows.  •Sun Microsystems ships the 60-MHz Sun SuperSPARC processor. •Apple Computer introduces the Newton MessagePad 100 personal digital assistant at Macworld Expo, in Boston's Symphony Hall. It features 640KB RAM, 3MB of ROM storing applications and the operating system (Newton Intelligence), a low-voltage 20-MHz 32-bit ARM 610 microprocessor, 240x336 resolution (85 dpi) 2.8 x 4-inch LCD screen, one PCMCIA Type II expansion socket, data transfer of 9600bps, and runs on four AAA batteries. 50,000 units sell in the first 10 weeks, but only 80,000 are sold during the product's life.  (4MB of ROM) (July) •IBM creates the Ambra Computer Corporation, a subsidiary of the IBM PC Company, to sell a new low-cost line of PCs. (January) •The US Federal Trade Commission decides to cease investigating Microsoft for unfair trade practices. The US Department of Justice begins its own antitrust investigation of Microsoft.  •Microsoft reports first US$1 billion sales quarter. •Conner Peripherals sues IBM for infringing on five of its patents. IBM countersues Conner Peripherals for infringement on nine of its patents. •IBM demos its first PowerPC RS/6000 workstation, using a 95-MHz PowerPC 601 processor. •A U.S. Federal Court judge rules in favor of Lotus Development in its copyright infringement lawsuit against Borland International. Borland International stock falls to US$7 per share, from a one time high of US$82.  •Apple Computer loses its appeal of the ruling in favor of Microsoft in June, ending its legal battle against Microsoft Windows. •Apple Computer ships the Apple PowerCD, a portable CD-ROM drive that supports audio CDs and Kodak Photo CDs as well.  •Compton's New Media Incorporated receives a patent on multimedia search and retrieval technology, from the U.S. Patent and Trade Office. Compton's New Media then issues a statement claiming that anyone wishing to sell information in a multimedia format must pay them a license fee.

September
•The 1992 Joint Development contract between IBM and Microsoft, in which each company had access to the other's source code for OS/2 and Windows, expires. •Symantec acquires Fifth Generation Systems, maker of backup and security utilities for various operating systems. •Berkeley Systems sues Delrina over Delrina's "Death Toasters" in the Opus N' Bill Screen Saver program. •Gateway 2000 introduces the industry's first VESA VL-bus system. •Cyrix begins shipping the Cx486DX microprocessor. •Motorola begins volume shipments of the PowerPC 601 chip. •IBM debuts and ships its first PowerPC-based RS/6000 systems, the RS/6000 POWERserver 25S, POWERserver/station 250, POWERstation 25T and 25W, all using the 66-MHz PowerPC 601 chip. •IBM announces the POWER2 processor.  •IBM announces the POWERserver 990, with a 71.5 MHz POWER2 processor. •IBM announces the POWERserver/station 590, with a 66.6 MHz POWER2 processor. •IBM announces the POWERserver/station 58H, with a 55.5 MHz POWER2 processor.

October
•John Sculley announces his resignation from Apple Computer. •Motorola produces the first copies of the PowerPC 603, the second chip in the PowerPC family. •Apple Computer announces Macintosh TV, which includes Apple CD 300i CD drive for audio CDs and data CD-ROMs, 640x240 resolution 14-inch TV, internal cable-TV tuner, 60 MB hard drive, 5 MB RAM, 1.4 MB SuperDrive, speakers, video ports, 32-MHz 68030 CPU, for US$2079. •NEC Technologies unveils the first triple-speed (450KBps) CD-ROM drive. •IBM and Motorola introduce the 80-MHz version of the PowerPC 601 processor. •IBM and Motorola introduce the 66- and 80-MHz version of the PowerPC 603 processor. •Sun Microsystems ships the 85-MHz and 110-MHz MicroSPARC II processors. •Atari sues Sega for patent infringement. •Apple Computer renames the Macintosh Centris 610 as the Macintosh Quadra 610. It features a 25-MHz 68040, Ethernet port, 8 MB RAM, 160 MB hard drive, and 512 KB video RAM. •Apple Computer introduces the Macintosh LC 475. It features a 25-MHz 68LC040, 80 MB hard drive, 4 MB RAM, 512 KB video RAM, 14-inch monitor, for US$1299. •Apple Computer introduces the Macintosh Performa 475. It features a 25-MHz 68LC040, 160 MB hard drive, 4 MB RAM, 512 KB video RAM, and 14-inch monitor. •Apple Computer introduces the Macintosh Performa 476. It features a 25-MHz 68LC040, 230 MB hard drive, 4 MB RAM, 512 KB video RAM, and 14-inch monitor. •Apple Computer introduces the Macintosh Performa 460. It features a 33-MHz 68030, 80 MB hard drive, 4 MB RAM, 512 KB video RAM, and 14-inch Performa Display monitor, for US$1300. •Apple Computer introduces the Macintosh Performa 466. It features a 33-MHz 68030, 160 MB hard drive, 4 MB RAM, 512 KB video RAM, and 14-inch monitor. •Apple Computer introduces the Macintosh Performa 467. It features a 33-MHz 68030, 160 MB hard drive, 4 MB RAM, 512 KB video RAM, and 14-inch monitor. •Apple Computer introduces the Macintosh Performa 550. It features a 33-MHz 68030, 160 MB hard drive, 5 MB RAM, 768 KB video RAM, and 14-inch monitor. •Apple Computer introduces the Macintosh LC 520. It features a 25-MHz 68030, 80 MB hard drive, 5 MB RAM, 768 KB video RAM, 300 KBps internal CD-ROM, and 14-inch monitor. •Apple Computer renames the Centris 650 as the Quadra 650, with a 33-MHz 68040, 8 MB RAM, 230 MB hard drive, and 512 KB video RAM. •Apple Computer introduces the Quadra 605. It features a 25-MHz 68LC040, 80 MB or 160 MB hard drive 4 MB RAM, and 512 KB video RAM. •Apple Computer introduces the PowerBook Duo 250. It features a 33-MHz 68030, 4 MB RAM, 200 MB hard drive, 9-inch 640x400 85 dpi grayscale active matrix LCD screen. •Apple Computer introduces the PowerBook Duo 270c. It features a 33-MHz 68030, math coporcessor, 4 MB RAM, 240 MB hard drive, 8.4-inch 94 dpi 640x400 16-bit color active matrix LCD screen. Weight is 4.8 pounds. •Apple releases System 7 Pro, which includes System 7.11, AppleScript 1.0, QuickTime 1.6.1, and PowerTalk 1.0. •Advanced Micro Devices introduces the 66-MHz Am486DX2. •WordPerfect ships WordPerfect 3.0 for the Macintosh. •Microsoft ships Windows for Workgroups 3.11.

November
•IBM releases OS/2 2.1 for Windows. •Apple Computer demonstrates a Macintosh Quadra 610 with an Apple-designed 486SX board, running MS-DOS, at Comdex. •Apple Computer quietly discontinues the Apple II product line. In its 17 year history, 5 million units were shipped. •Sales of Apple Computer's PowerBook series hits the 1 million mark. •Microsoft releases MS-DOS 6.2. •Benny S. Lee, of Everex Systems, Inc. is sentenced to one year in prison for manufacturing and selling counterfeit MS-DOS software. This is the first time a prison sentence is handed down for software counterfeiting in the U.S.

December
•Borland International files an appeal of the August 1993 court ruling in its legal battle with Lotus Development over Quattro Pro compatibility with Lotus 1-2-3. •Samsung Electronics Canada introduces its SyncMaster GL series of 14-, 15-, and 17-inch high-performance "green" monitors. •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. •SunSoft (a subsidiary of Sun Microsystems) ships the first version of WABI, providing Microsoft Windows application compatibility on Solaris, Intel, and Sparc versions of UNIX. •IBM posts a year-end loss of US$8.1 billion, on total sales of US$62.7 billion.

(month unknown)
•(mid) Wang Laboratories sues Microsoft, claiming that Microsoft's OLE technology infringed on Wang Laboratories technology.

(month unknown)
•(summer) The Multimedia PC Marketing Council sets the MPC Level 2 standard, dictating the minumum configuration required of a PC to run MPC-2 class software. The requirements are: a 486 processor, 160MB hard drive, double speed XA-ready multisession-capable CD-ROM drive, 16-bit sound card, and a 16-bit SuperVGA video card capable of 65,000 colors in 640x480 resolution.

(month unknown)
•Novell buys Unix System V.

(month unknown)
•A Sixth District Court of Appeals overturns Advanced Micro Devices' 1992 win against Intel, claiming that the arbitrator had exceeded his jurisdiction.

(month unknown)
•Commodore Business Machines stops producing Intel-based personal computers.

(month unknown)
•Spectrum HoloByte acquires MicroProse Software.

(month unknown)
•Apple Computer licenses its PowerPC Macintosh operating system ROMs to DayStar Digital.

(month unknown)
•IPC Corporation of Singapore acquires Austin Computer Systems.

(month unknown)
•Apple Computer renames the Macintosh Centris 660AV as the Macintosh Quadra 660AV.

(month unknown)
•Apple Computer introduces the Macintosh TV, which combines a 32-MHz 68030-based Macintosh with a 14-inch color TV. The system includes 5MB RAM, 160MB hard drive, AppleCD 300i CD-ROM drive, and 512KB RAM.

(month unknown)
•WordStar International buys ZSoft.

(month unknown)
•The VESA group begins working on version 2.0 of its VL-Bus design.

(month unknown)
•Cyrix ships the Cx486DRx2 processor in 16/32-, 20/40-, and 25/50-MHz versions. The chips replace the Intel 386DX processors. Prices are US$300-400.

(month unknown)
•Microsoft releases FoxPro 2.5 for Windows.

(month unknown)
•Work begins on SCSI-3.

(month unknown)
•Apple Computer discontinues the Macintosh IIvx.

(month unknown)
•Apple Computer discontinues the Macintosh Performa 600.

(month unknown)
•Apple Computer discontinues the Macintosh Quadra 800.

(month unknown)
•Apple Computer discontinues the Macintosh Performa 400.

(month unknown)
•Apple Computer discontinues the Macintosh Performa 405.

(month unknown)
•Apple Computer discontinues the Macintosh Performa 430.

(month unknown)
•Apple Computer discontinues the Macintosh Performa 450.

(month unknown)
•Apple Computer discontinues the Macintosh Performa 200.

(month unknown)
•Nintendo rereleases the Nintendo Entertainment System with an improved cartridge slot.

(month unknown)
•Apple Computer runs its "1984" TV ad in Russia.





1994





January
•Apple Computer shows its first PowerPC product, an upgrade board with a 66-MHz PowerPC 601 microprocessor, for many of Apple's Centris and Quadra Macintosh computers. •AST Research sues Texas Instruments for patent infringement. Texas Instruments countersues. •Shipments of Apple Computer Macintosh computers hits 1 million for the previous four month period, for the first time. •Newer Technology introduces the Quadra Overdrive at Macworld Expo. The clock-doubled accelerator boards fit in the 68040 socket of the Macintosh Quadra or Centris. Processor speeds of 40-MHz and 50-MHz are available, for US$1700. •Apple Computer announces eWorld, an online service for Apple tech support and a virtual shopping mall. It is to replace AppleLink. •NEC Technologies ships its quad-speed CD-ROM, priced at US$1000. •Apple Computer announces that it will license its System 7.x operating system to other hardware companies.

February
•Microsoft releases Microsoft Windows 3.11. •Silicon Graphics founder and chairman James Clark resigns. •Apple Computer introduces the Macintosh LC 575 and LC 550. •Apple Computer introduces QuickTime 2.0, with interactive television, music and full-screen video support. •IBM announces the shutdown its Ambra Europe company by the end of the quarter. •A US District Court rules that Microsoft violated patents held by Stac Electronics, in data compression used in Microsoft's DoubleSpace in DOS 6. Microsoft is ordered to remove or replace the technology. •Electronic Arts and Broderbund Software announce a proposed merger, in a stock swap valued at about US$408 million. •Microsoft releases MS-DOS 6.21, removing DoubleSpace disk compression.

March
•Digital Equipment ships the 66-MHz Alpha 21068 processor. •Digital Equipment ships the 166-MHz Alpha 21066 processor. •Apple Computer unveils and ships its first computers based on the PowerPC 601 processor, the Power Macintosh 6100/60, 7100/66, and 8100/80. Prices range from US$2000-4000 for complete systems. 145,000 systems ship in the first two weeks. •Apple Computer releases System 7.1, the OS for the Mac. •Cyrix begins new shipments of the Cx486DX microprocessor, after fixing a flaw in the 32-bit floating-point code. •Apple Computer introduces QuickTake 100, the first 24-bit color digital camera for under US$1000. •Apple Computer announces the Newton MessagePad 110 and 100. The 110 comes with 1MB RAM, transfers data remotely at 38.5Kbps, and runs on four AA batteries. •Apple Computer ships the Macintosh Quadra 610 DOS Compatible. It features a 40-MHz Motorola 68LC040 chip and a 25-MHz Intel 486SX chips, for US$1580. •Hewlett-Packard ships the HP DeskWriter 560C color inkjet printer. It features 600x300dpi, at a list price of US$720. •Hewlett-Packard ships the HP DeskWriter 520 inkjet printer. List price is US$365. •Intel ships its 25/75-MHz IntelDX4 319 processor. Speed is 53 MIPS. It uses 1.6 million transistors, employing 0.6-micron technology. The chip has 16KB onboard caches, and operates on 3.3 volts. Price is US$475. •Claris announces the Safety Suite utility for the Macintosh. •Intel ships its 33/100-MHz IntelDX4 435 processor. Speed is 70.7 MIPS. It uses 1.6 million transistors, employing 0.6-micron technology. The chip has 16KB onboard caches, and operates on 3.3 volts. Price is US$580. •Intel ships its 25/50-MHz IntelSX2 486 processor. •Novell ships Novell DOS 7.0. •Intel ships the 60/90-MHz Pentium 735 processor. Speed is 149.8 MIPS. The chip uses Intel's new 0.6 micron BiCMOS technology. Pricing is US$849 each in quantities of 1000. Code name during development was P54C. •Intel ships the 66/100-MHz Pentium 815 processor. Speed is 166.3 MIPS. The chip uses Intel's new 0.6 micron BiCMOS technology. Pricing is US$995 each in quantities of 1000. •Novell buys WordPerfect Corporation for US$850 million. estimated $885 million in stock •MIPS Technologies ships the 100-MHz R4600 RISC microprocessor. •Aldus and Adobe Systems announce plans to merge the two companies. •IBM and Motorola announce the 100-MHz PowerPC 601 processor. •NexGen announces the Nx586 microprocessor, at speeds of 60- and 66-MHz.

April
•Symantec and Central Point Software Incorporated agree to merge companies in a stock swap valued at about US$60 million. •Broderbund Software calls off the proposed merger with Electronic Arts, due to a significant drop in the stock value of Electronic Arts. •Motorola releases small quantities of its 68060 microprocessor, operating at 50- and 66-MHz. •IBM and Motorola announce the 100-MHz PowerPC 604 processor. The 604 has one floating-point unit, and three integer units. Two of the integer units perform single clock cycle instruction, while the other is used for integer multiplication and division. The processor uses 3.6 million transistors. six execution units •IBM releases PC-DOS 6.3. •Commodore International and Commodore Electronics (two of the many international components of Commodore Business Machines) file for voluntary liquidation. •Mosaic Communications releases Netscape Navigator 1.0, a world-wide web browser.  •The U.S. Patent and Trademark Office, after re-examining the patent application it granted to Compton's New Media in August 1993, decides to reject all 41 of the application's claims.

May
•Apple Computer introduces the 500 series of PowerBook computers All use clock-doubled Motorola 68LC040 microprocessors, at speeds of 50/25-MHz or 66/33-MHz. Prices range from US$2270 to US$3760. •Apple Computer introduces the PowerBook Duo 280 and 280c. The 280c features a 33-MHz 68LC040, and 8.4-inch LCD display. •Motorola ships sample copies of the PowerPC 603 processor. •Microsoft sends out the first official beta test version of what will be Windows 95. •MIPS Technologies announces availability of samples of the 200-MHz 64-bit R4400 RISC microprocessor.

June
•Apple Computer discontinues the DOS Compatible Card after only 2.5 months of offering it. •IBM files a motion in court to have the provisions of the 1956 consent decree terminated. •Apple Computer launches eWorld, its new online community, in the US. •Apple Computer unveils System 7.5 operating system. •Apple Computer introduces new Macintosh 630 computers, and the PowerBook 150. •Rock group Jefferson Airplane sues Berkeley Systems for copyright infringement of the flying toasters image in the After Dark screen saver program. •MIPS Technologies ships the 75-MHz R8000 RISC microprocessor. •MIPS Technologies ships the 133-MHz R4600 RISC microprocessor. •MIPS Technologies ships the 200-MHz 64-bit R4400 RISC microprocessor. •Microsoft and Stac Electronics settle their legal differences over data compression patents. Microsoft agrees to buy US$40 million of Stac stock, and to pay Stac a further US$43 million in royalties. •Microsoft releases MS-DOS 6.22, bringing back disk compression under the name DriveSpace. •Microsoft is granted a trademark to the name "Windows" for software products. •Borland International sells its Quattro Pro spreadsheet to Novell for about US$140 million. (March) (US$110 million) (sold to WordPerfect) •Dr. Thomas R. Nicely of Lynchburg College notes that the Pentium processor sometimes produces flawed floating-point results, yielding only 4-8 decimals of precision.

July
•Gary Kildall dies in a bar brawl. •IBM makes available sample quantities of the PowerPC 603 processor. High quantity pricing is US$165 for the 66-MHz chip, and US$195 for the 80-MHz version. June •IBM ships AIX 4.1 for the RS/6000, and AIX for the Power Macintosh. •IBM reports that it has shipped 1 million PowerPC 601 processors in the first 10 months of production. •Digital Equipment ships its AXP 21064A 64-bit 275-MHz Alpha RISC processor in volume quantities, at US$1083 per chip pricing. The processor features dual 16KB internal caches. •Digital Equipment ships the 225-MHz Alpha 21064A processor. •IBM announces that it will shut down the US operations of its Ambra subsidiary in October. •Microsoft reaches a settlement with the US Department of Justice regarding alleged monopolistic licensing practices. Microsoft agrees to change some of its practices of how it sells its operating systems to vendors. •U.S. Robotics ships the Courier v.34 28.8Kbps modems. List price: US$329 internal, US$349 external.

August
•Symantec ships Norton Utilities 3.0 for Macintosh. •Quark ships QuarkXPress 3.3 for Power Macintosh, for US$995, or an upgrade for US$195.  •Borland International ships dBase for Windows.  •DayStar announces entry-level PowerPC 601 upgrade boards for Macintosh computers.  •IBM shuts down its Ambra PC division.

September
•Microsoft ships Microsoft Excel for Power Macintosh.  •Microsoft ships Microsoft FoxPro for Power Macintosh.  •Microsoft ships Microsoft Word for Power Macintosh.•Microsoft ships Microsoft PowerPoint for Power Macintosh. •The International Telecommunications Union ratifies the 28.8Kbps V.34 modem standard.   •Advanced Micro Devices ships its Am486DX2-80 40/80-MHz processor.   •Microsoft ships its first keyboard, the Microsoft Natural Keyboard.   •U.S. Robotics ships the Sportster v.34 28.8Kbps modems. List price: US$329 internal, US$349 external. •An appeals court agrees with the June 1993 ruling against Apple Computer in its March 1988 suit against Microsoft and Hewlett-Packard. •NexGen introduces its Nx586 microprocessor, at speeds of 70-, 75-, 84-, and 93-MHz.   •Alaris introduces the first PC with a NexGen Nx586 processor.   •Atari and Sega settle their lawsuit, with Sega paying Atari US$90 million, in return for 7.4% of Atari, and rights to 70 Atari patents.  •Sun Microsystems unveils the 64-bit UltraSPARC RISC processor. •Microsoft announces the name of its upcoming Windows upgrade: Windows 95.  •Microsoft ships Microsoft Word 6.0 for the Macintosh.  •Radius ships VideoVision Studio 2.0 for the Macintosh.   •Digital Equipment Corporation formally introduces its next-generation Alpha AXP processors, including a 300-MHz version that can execute 1 billion instructions per second.  •IBM introduces the Aptiva line, to replace the PS/1 line, aimed at the home PC market.

October
•Caldera is founded. •Apple Computer expands its Macintosh Performa 6100 line with five new computers based on the PowerPC. •Advanced Micro Designs unveils the chip architecture of the K5 processor.  •Microsoft announces and ships Windows NT Workstation 3.5 and Windows NT Server 3.5.  (September) •Dr. Nicely reports his discovery of the Pentium floating point bug to Intel, and his report is made public on CompuServe.  •Microsoft makes a bid to buy Intuit (maker of Quicken) for US$1.5 billion stock swap. •Seagate Technologies announces the first disc drive and interface achieving a transfer rate of 100 MB per second. •IBM formally launches OS/2 Warp version 3.  •IBM and Motorola announce and introduce the prototype of the PowerPC 620 processor, operating at 133-MHz.  •Motorola announces availability of the PowerPC 603 processor, at US$175 for the 66-MHz chip, and US$199 for the 80-MHz version.  •Motorola announces availability of the PowerPC 601 processor, at US$189 for the 66-MHz chip, and US$299 for the 80-MHz version.  •IBM introduces the 100-MHz PowerPC 601 processor.  •IBM introduces the 100-MHz PowerPC 604 processor.  •IBM introduces the the 66-MHz and 80-MHz PowerPC 603 processors.   •IBM drops the PS/2, PS/1, Ambra, and ValuePoint lines, and XGA graphics, in favor of industry standards for its new PC line, the Series 300 and Series 700.   •MIPS Technologies announces the R10000 RISC microprocessor. •Intel introduces the 75-MHz Pentium processor. Speed is 126.5 MIPS. It uses 3.2 million transistors, employing 0.6-micron BiCMOS technology.  •Gateway 2000 Incorporated sells the first PC powered by Intel's 75-MHz Pentium.  •Apple Computer ships System 7.5 for the Macintosh. 

November
•Reply Corporation begins shipping the DOS on Mac PC coprocesor card for the Macintosh. The technology is licensed from Apple Computer. •Digital Equipment launches the Starion line of home-targeted personal computer systems.  •Hayes Microcomputer Products files for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection. (October) (April 1996) •Apple Computer debuts the Power Macintosh 8100/100, as the industry's fastest, most powerful PC. (8100/110) •Apple Computer, Motorola, and IBM announce that they will create a computer platform to run all major operating systems, except the Intel-based Microsoft Windows 3.1 and successors.  •Apple Computer declares its intention to openly license the Mac operating system.  •IBM ships the 100-MHz PowerPC 601 processors.  •IBM ships the the 66-MHz and 80-MHz PowerPC 603 processors.   •Cyrix announces the M1 next-generation x86 processor.  •Sun Microsystems announces the Sparcstation 20 Model HS11, using a 100-MHz HyperSparc processor from Ross Technology. •Digital Equipment introduces its AlphaStation computers, with 166-MHz and 233-MHz Alpha AXP 21064 processors. This line incorporates the PCI bus, and sell for US$7000-$16000.  •Apple Computer delivers QuickTime 2.0 for Windows. •Apple Computer ships the Power Macintosh Upgrade Card for Entry-Level Macintosh for US$599.  •DayStar ships the PowerCard 601 for 68040-based Macintosh computers. Price if US$699. •Intel confirms that about 2 million Pentium chips have been shipped with a defective floating-point unit.

December
•The California Supreme Court upholds a 1992 decision that awarded Advanced Micro Devices technology rights in its suit against Intel.  •IBM ships the 100-MHz PowerPC 604 processors.  (June) •Apple Computer sues San Francisco Canyon Company claiming unauthorized use of Apple Computer's QuickTime code to speed up Microsoft's Video for Windows product.  •Apple Computer demonstrates a PCI-based Power Macintosh using a 120-MHz PowerPC 604 processor. (November) •Intel ships the 63-MHz P24T Pentium Overdrive chip.  (1995 February) •Intel President Andy Grove admits the company mishandled the Pentium processor division problem, and appologizes for the resulting situation.  •NexGen announces sample availability of its 133-MHz Nx586 microprocessor.  •Novell ships UnixWare 2.0.  •Novell ships PerfectOffice 3.0 for Windows. (1995 January)

(month unknown)
•(spring) IBM closes down the European division of the Ambra company.

(month unknown)
•(spring) Adobe releases Adobe Illustrator 5.5 for the Macintosh.

(month unknown)
•(before July) WordStar International, Spinnaker Software, and SoftKey Software Products merge companies, forming SoftKey International.

(month unknown)
•(June?) Radius and SuperMac announce their intention to merge companies.

(month unknown)
•(June?) Austin Computer Systems changes its name to IPC Technologies Incorporated.

(month unknown)
•IBM introduces the ValuePoint line of PC systems. 

(month unknown)
•IBM and Motorola show a 120-MHz PowerPC 601 processor running in a prototype Power Macintosh.

(month unknown)
•Aldus releases Aldus PageMaker 5.0a for Power Macintosh.

(month unknown)
•Apple Computer introduces the Macintosh PowerBook 540c. Code-name during development was Blackbird. It features a 9.5-inch diagonal active-matrix 640c480 LCD panel, 320 MB hard drive, 33-MHz 68LC040 processor.

(month unknown)
•Hayes Microcomputer Products abandons LANstep.

(month unknown)
•Apple Computer introduces the "Houdini" board, the DOS Compatibility Card for the Quadra 610, with a 25-MHz 486SX processor. The entire inventory of 25,000 boards sells out in a few months.

(month unknown)
•Cyrix ships the 33/66-MHz Cx486DRx2 processor. 

(month unknown)
•Number Nine Computer Corp. ships the first PC video board using a 128-bit accelerator chip.

(month unknown)
•Microsoft releases FoxPro 2.6 for Unix. 

(month unknown)
•Iomega Corp. introduces its Zip drive and Zip disks, floppy disk sized removable storage in sizes of 25MB or 100MB.

(month unknown)
•Novell halts all development of Novell DOS.

(month unknown)
•American Online gains its one-millionth subscriber.

(month unknown)
•Apple Computer releases the Apple Color StyleWriter Pro 360dpi color inkjet printer.

(month unknown)
•Merisel buys the ComputerLand chain. 

(month unknown)
•Apple Computer ships Macintosh Application Environment 1.0 for the HP-UX operating system with the Motif interface, and the Solaris operating system with the OpenLook interface.

(month unknown)
•The SCSI-2 standard is finalized as ANSI X3.131-1994.

(month unknown)
•NEC Technologies ships the NEC MultiSpin 4xPro quad-speed CD-ROM drive, for US$1000.


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End of 1993-1994 - Serious Power