Before 1944
1944 - 1971
1972 - 1981
1981 - 1990
1990 - 1998
Memories
The Future
Quotes
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 Intel introduces its 200-KHz 8008 chip, the first 8-bit microprocessor. It accesses 16KB of memory. The processor was originally developed for Computer Terminal Corporation (later called Datapoint). It uses 3500 transistors, based on 10-micron technology. Speed is 60,000 instructions per second.
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Atari is founded by Nolan Bushnell, and ships Pong, the first commercial video game. |
Canada's Automatic Electronic Systems introduces the world's first programmable word processor with a video screen, the AES 90. The computer system uses magnetic disks for storage, and a custom-built microprocessor.
Bill Gates and Paul Allen form the Traf-O-Data company. They had developed an 8008-based computer hardware/software system for recording automobile traffic flow on a highway.
5.25 inch diskettes first appear.
The first prototype Alto workstation computer is turned on at Xerox's Palo Alto Research Center. Its first screen display is a image of the Sesame Street character Cookie Monster.
Design work is completed on the Micral, the first non-kit computer based on a microprocessor (the Intel 8008). Built in France, the Micral is advertised in the U.S., but is not successful there.
The term "microcomputer" first appears in print, in reference to the Micral.
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Gary Kildall writes a simple operating system in his PL/M language. He calls it CP/M (Control Program/Monitor). |
IBM introduces the IBM 3340 hard disk unit, known as the Winchester, IBM's internal development code name. The recording head rides on a layer of air 18 millionths of an inch thick.
Scelbi Computer Consulting Company offers the first computer kit in the U.S. using a microprocessor, the Intel 8008-based Scelbi-8H, for US$565, with 1KB programmable memory. An additional 15KB is available for US$2760.
Bob Metcalfe invents the Ethernet connectivity system.
Intel releases its 2-MHz 8080 chip, an 8-bit microprocessor. It can access 64KB of memory. It uses 6000 transistors, base on 6-micron technology. Speed is 0.64 MIPS (Million of Instructions Per Second).
Bravo is developed for the Xerox Alto computer. It is the first WYSIWYG ("What You See Is What You Get") program for a personal computer.
| Lauren Solomon, 12 year old daughter of Les Solomon, publisher of Popular Electronics, suggests the name "Altair" for Ed Robert's new microcomputer. Altair was the name of where Star Trek's Enterprise was going that night on TV. |
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Railway Express loses Ed Robert's only prototype Altair computer, en route to New York for review and photography for publishing by Popular Electronics.
Popular Electronics publishes an article by MITS announcing the Altair 8800 computer for US$439 in kit form. It uses the Intel 8080 processor. The Altair pictured on the cover of the magazine is actually a mock-up, as an actual computer was not available.
Motorola introduces its 6800 chip, an early 8-bit microprocessor used in microcomputers and industrial and automotive control devices.
Brian Kernighan and Dennis Ritchie develop the C programming language.
RCA releases the 1802 processor, running at a speedy 6.4 MHz. It is one of the first RISC (Reduced Instruction Set Chip). It is used on a variety of devices, from video games to NASA space probes.
Bill Gates and Paul Allen license their newly written BASIC to MITS, their first customer. This is the first computer language program written for a personal computer.
Gates and Allens Traf-O-Data company is renamed Micro-Soft (the hyphen is later dropped).
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Heiser opens "The Computer Store", in Los Angeles, selling assembled Altairs, boards, peripherals, and magazines. This is the first retail computer store in the USA. |
IBM's Entry Level Systems unit unveils "Project Mercury", the IBM 5100 Portable Computer. It is a briefcase-size minicomputer with BASIC, 16KB RAM, tape storage, and built-in 5-inch screen. Price: US$9000. Weight: 55 pounds.
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The first issue of Byte magazine is published. |
Zilog is founded.
Intel introduces the 5-MHz 8085 microprocessor. Speed is 0.37 MIPS. It uses 6500 transistors, based on 3-micron technology. It supports an 8-bit bus. Operates on a single 5-volt power supply.
| Steve Jobs and Steve Wozniak form the Apple Computer Company, on April Fool's Day. |
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Wang Laboratories announces a word-processing system using advanced computer technology, rather than traditional electromechanical devices. The price is US$30,000, more than twice that of the most expensive competitor's word-processor.
The Apple I computer board is sold in kit form, and delivered to stores by Steve Jobs and Steve Wozniak. Price: US$666.66.
Zilog releases the 2.5-MHz Z80, an 8-bit microprocessor whose instruction set is a superset of the Intel 8080.
The tradename "Microsoft" is registered.
Advanced Micro Devices and Intel sign a patent cross-license agreement, giving Advanced Micro Devices the right to copy Intel's microcode.
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U.S. Robotics is founded, in Skokie, Illinois. |
Apple Computer moves from Jobs' garage to an office in Cupertino.
Microsoft ships "Microsoft FORTRAN" for CP/M-based computers.
| Radio Shack (a division of Tandy Corp.) announces the TRS-80 microcomputer, with Z80 CPU, 4KB RAM, 4KB ROM, keyboard, black-and-white video display, and tape cassette for US$600. |
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Apple Computer releases Applesoft, a version of BASIC with floating-point capabilities. It is licenced from Microsoft.
Intel introduces the 4.77-MHz 8086 microprocessor which was created by two engineers in just three weeks. It uses 16-bit registers, a 16-bit data bus, and 29,000 transistors, using 3-micron technology. Price is US$360. It can access 1 MB of memory. Speed is 0.33 MIPS. Later speeds included 8-MHz (0.66 MIPS) and 10-MHz (0.75 MIPS).
Atari announces the Atari 400 and 800 personal computers, using the 6502 microprocessor.
Dennis Hayes forms Hayes Microcomputer Products.
Microsoft begins developing BASIC for the Intel 8086 processor.
Taito develops and releases the Space Invaders arcade game in Japan and arcade centers.
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Magnavox releases the Odyssey2 cartridge-based console game system. |
Apple Computer releases DOS 3.2.
Zilog ships the 16-bit Z8000 processor.
Software Arts demonstrates VisiCalc at the 4th West Coast Computer Fair. Dan Bricklin and Bob Frankston wrote it during 1978-79, under the company name Software Arts, under contract to Personal Software.
Intel introduces the 4.77-MHz 8088 microprocessor. It was created as a stepping stone from the 8086, as it operates on 16 bits internally, but supports an 8-bit data bus, to use existing 8-bit device-controlling chips. It contains 29,000 transistors, using 3-micron technology, and can address 1MB of memory. Speed is 0.33 MIPS. A later version operates at 8-MHz, for a speed of 0.75 MIPS.
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Bob Metcalfe founds 3Com Corporation. |
CompuServe begins a service to computer hobbyists called MicroNET, offering bulletin boards, databases, and games.
Clive Sinclair creates Sinclair Research.
Motorola's 68000 16-bit microprocessor appears. It uses 68,000 transistors, giving it its name.
Personal Software releases VisiCalc for the Apple II, for US$100.
| Atari develops the Asteroids computer game. |
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Alan Shugart founds Seagate Technologies, in Scotts Valley, California.
Atari founder Nolan Bushnell leaves the company, to manage Pizza Time Theatre.
IBM introduces the IBM 3800 laser printer, capable of printing 20,000 lines per minute.
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Hayes Microcomputer Products introduces the 110/300 baud Micromodem II for the Apple II, for US$380. |
Morrow Designs advertises the 26 MB DISCUS M26 hard drive system for US$5000
| Sinclair Research announces the ZX80 computer in the North American market. It uses a 3.25-MHz NEC Technologies 780-1 8-bit microprocessor, and comes with 1KB RAM and 4KB ROM. |
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Microsoft Corp. announces its first hardware product, the Z-80 SoftCard for the Apple II. This card gives the Apple II CP/M capability, contributing greatly to Apple Computer's success.
Satellite Software International ships WordPerfect 1.0 for Data General minicomputers.
Seattle Computer Products decides to make their own disk operating system (DOS), due to delays by Digital Research in releasing a CP/M-86 operating system.
Universal Data Systems announces the 202LP 1200 bps modem, connecting directly into the phone line, requiring no additional power.
Seagate Technologies announces the first Winchester 5.25-inch hard disk drive.
Steve Ballmer joins Microsoft.
| Radio Shack introduces the TRS-80 Pocket Computer. It features a 24 character display, with 1.9 KB of programmable memory. Price is US$230. |
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IBM representatives meet with Microsoft's Bill Gates and Steve Ballmer to talk about Microsoft products, and home computers. IBM asks Bill Gates to write the operating system for their upcoming PC.
IBM meets with Microsoft again, and shows plans for Project Chess, a personal computer. Bill Gates argues that IBM should use the 16-bit 8086, rather than the 8-bit 8080 processor.
QDOS 0.10 (Quick and Dirty Operating System) is shipped by Seattle Computer Products. Even though it had been created in only two man-months, the DOS worked surprisingly well. A week later, the EDLIN line editor was created. EDLIN was supposed to last only six months, before being replaced.
Microsoft announces the Microsoft XENIX OS, a portable and commercial version of the Unix operating system for the Intel 8086, Zilog Z8000, Motorola M68000, and Digital Equipment PDP-11.
Microsoft's Paul Allen contacts Seattle Computer Products' Tim Patterson, asking for the rights to sell SCP's DOS to an unnamed client (IBM). Microsoft pays less than US$100,000 for the rights.
Apple Computer becomes a publicly held company, selling 4.6 million shares at US$22 per share. More than 40 Apple employees and investors become instant millionaires.
Seattle Computer Products renames QDOS to 86-DOS, releasing it as version 0.3. Microsoft then buys non-exclusive rights to market 86-DOS.
Philips and Sony create the CD-Audio standard for optical disk storage of digital audio.
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Intel announces the iAPX-432 32-bit microprocessor. Intel later builds the 80286 as a step between the 8086 and the 432. |
Intel introduces the 8087 math coprocessor.
CompuServe merges with H&R Block, and renames MicroNET to CompuServe Information Service.
Sony Electronics introduces the 3.5 inch floppy disk and drive, double-sided, double-density, holding up to 875KB unformatted.
Panasonic and Quasar unveil hand-held computers, made by Matsushita. The units use a 1-MHz 6502 CPU, and weighs just 14 ounces (397 grams).
Commodore announces the VIC-20, with full-size 61-key plus four function key keyboard, 5KB RAM expandable to 32KB, 6502A CPU, 22 character by 23 line text display, and color graphics, for US$300. During its life, production peaks at 9,000 units per day.
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The director of Canada's Radiation Protection Bureau declares that video display terminals carry no radiation hazard.
Microsoft reorganizes into Microsoft Incorporated, with Bill Gates as President and Chairman, and Paul Allen as Executive Vice President. Later in the year it is renamed Microsoft Corporation.
Microsoft buys all rights to DOS from Seattle Computer Products, and the name MS-DOS is adopted.
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IBM introduces its first desktop computer, the Datamaster. It uses a 16-bit 8086, and is a dedicated data processing machine. |
The first IBM PCs roll off the assembly lines.
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IBM announces the IBM 5150 PC personal computer, in New York. The PC features a 4.77-MHz Intel 8088 CPU, 64KB RAM, 40KB ROM, one 5.25-inch floppy drive (160KB capacity), and PC-DOS 1.0 (Microsoft's MS-DOS), for about US$3000. A fully loaded version with color graphics costs US$6000. |
Apple Computer introduces its first hard drive, the 5MB ProFile, for US$3500.
Novell Data Systems ships the Novell Data Management Computer, with the ability to share its hard drive space with other computers through software comtrol and network cards.
Hayes Microcomputer Products advertises the Smartmodem 300, which becomes the industry standard.
College professor James Clark found Silicon Graphics
Intel and Advanced Micro Devices agree to collaborate on the design and production of new products.
Apple Computer prohibits mail-order sales of Apple computers, claiming there is no provision for customer education or services.
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