Before 1944
1944 - 1971
1972 - 1981
1981 - 1990
1990 - 1998
Memories
The Future
Quotes
Commodore announces the Commodore 64 microcomputer.Sharp introduces the Sharp PC-1500 Hand Held Personal Computer.Microsoft signs an agreement to develop applications for the Macintosh.Intel introduces the 6-MHz 80286 microprocessor.Sun Microsystems is founded.IBM first offers CP/M-86 for the IBM PC.Microsoft releases MS-DOS 1.1.The first IBM PC clone is released by Columbia Data Products.Digital Equipment announces Rainbow 100.IBM ships the 200,000th IBM PC.Hercules announces the Hercules Graphics Card.Lotus Development announces of Lotus 1-2-3.VisiCorp announces the VisiOn graphical user interface.Apple Computer becomes the first personal computer company to reach US$1 billion in annual sales.Microsoft releases Microsoft COBOL for MS-DOS.Microsoft ships its Multiplan spreadsheet program to IBM for testing and marketing.Advanced Micro Devices and Intel sign a 10-year technology exchange agreement.John Warnock founds Adobe Systems.Mouse Systems introduces the first commercial mouse for the IBM PC.Drexel University in Philadelphia announces it will require all students to own a personal computer.
Apple Computer officially unveils the Lisa computer.Apple Computer introduces the Apple IIe.Media Distributing offers a 44MB hard drive.Sony Electronics announces the 3.5 inch floppy disk and drive, double-sided, double-density, holding up to 1MB.Lotus Development ships Lotus 1-2-3 Release 1.0 for MS-DOS.Microsoft introduces Multi-Tool Word for DOS.Radio Shack introduces the TRS-80 Model 4.The one millionth Apple II is made.AT&T Bell Labs designs C++.IBM announces the IBM PC-XT Model 370.Texas Instruments withdraws from the personal computer market.Microsoft formally announces Microsoft Windows.Satellite Software International ships WordPerfect 3.0.Microsoft again shows Windows to IBM.Apple unveils the new Macintosh to the press.In an obscure television market Apple Computer runs its "1984" Macintosh ad.IBM and Microsoft begin co-developing OS/2.Dan Silva and others leave Xerox to form Electronic Arts.In its first year, Compaq Computer sells 47,000 computers, worth US$111 million.Borland International is founded by Philippe Kahn.Novell introduces the NetWare network operating system for the IBM PC.Wang announces the single in-line memory module (SIMM).
Apple Computer runs its "1984" commercial during the NFL SuperBowl.Apple Computer's Steve Jobs introduces the Apple Macintosh.Commodore announces that during 1983 Commodore sold US$1 billion worth of computers.IBM announces the IBM Portable PC.NEC introduces the 8-MHz V20 microprocessor.74 days after the introduction of the Macintosh.Compaq Computer introduces its PCs to Europe.Silicon Graphics begins shipping its first 3-D graphics workstations.Apple Computer announces that computers have been selling well since its announcement.Motorola adds the 68020 32-bit processor to its line.Commodore announces the Commodore 16.Commodore purchases Amiga Corporation.IBM announces the PC-AT.IBM announces the Enhanced Graphics Adapter.Microsoft releases MS-DOS 3.0 for PCs.Microsoft gives a demonstration of the final version of Windows to IBM.The number of hosts on the Internet reaches 1000.Apple Computer launches the "Test Drive a Macintosh" promotion.Several companies introduce 2400 baud modems at COMDEX.Tandy introduces the Tandy 1000.Sierra On-Line releases King's Quest.Hewlett-Packard introduces the LaserJet laser printer.Apple Computer buys 15% of Adobe.MIPS Computer Systems is founded.Philips announces CD-ROM players for personal computers.MIT begins developing the X Window System.
Apple Computer runs a TV ad during the SuperBowl called "Lemmings".Compaq Computer reports second year revenues of US$329 million.Atari introduces the 520ST.Former Microsoft founder Paul Allen founds Asymetrix.Apple Computer co-founder Steve Wozniak resigns from Apple Computer.Apple Computer's board of directors removes Steve Jobs as head of the Macintosh division.IBM abandons production of the IBM PCjr.Microsoft demonstrates Microsoft Windows at Spring Comdex.Mike Markkula backs John Sculley's decision to "banish" Steve Jobs from any official duties at Apple Computer.Microsoft and IBM sign a joint-development agreement to work together on future operating systems and environments.Aldus releases Aldus PageMaker for the Apple Macintosh.Steve Jobs and five senior managers of Apple Computer Inc. found NeXT Incorporated.Computer company Gateway 2000 is formed.Apple Computer releases the Apple ImageWriter II printer.Cauzin releases Cauzin SoftStrips.Intel introduces the 16-MHz 80386DX microprocessor.Microsoft France releases a French version of Multiplan 2.0 for the IBM PC.IBM introduces its token ring network.General Electric Information Services begins the GEnie online service.Iomega introduces its storage cartridge system to the Macintosh market.Microsoft ships Microsoft Windows 1.0.Apple Computer and Microsoft sign an agreement regarding Microsoft's use of Apple's visual display.VisiCorp files for bankruptcy.Nintendo introduces the Nintendo Entertainment System in the US.Apple Computer's board of directors strips Steve Jobs of all operational responsibilities.Novell introduces NetWare 2.0 network operating system.Software Arts sells the rights to VisiCalc to Mitch Kapor.
Apple Computer introduces the Macintosh Plus.IBM announces the IBM RT Personal Computer.Microsoft releases MS-DOS 3.2.IBM boosts the speed of the IBM PC AT by replacing the CPU with a 8-MHz Intel 80286.Compaq Computer joins the Fortune 500 list faster than any company in history.Microsoft first sells shares to the public.Apple Computer discontinues the original Macintosh.WordPerfect ships WordPerfect 4.2.Ashton-Tate ships the one millionth copy of dBase.Lotus Development releases a French version of Lotus 1-2-3 v2.0 in France.MIPS Technologies unveils the 8-MHz R2000 32-bit CPU. With 110,000 transistors.Adobe introduces Adobe Illustrator.NEC Home Electronics introduces its NEC JC-1401P3A Multisync monitor.The Small Computer System Interface standard is finalized as ANSI X3.131-1986.
Intel introduces the 20-MHz 80386DX microprocessor.Apple Computer introduces the open architecture Macintosh II.Apple Computer makes its 1 millionth Macintosh personal computer.U.S. Robotics unveils its 9600 bps Courier HST modem.IBM introduces the IBM Personal System/2 (PS/2) line.IBM unveils its Video Graphics Array (VGA).IBM introduces its Micro Channel Architecture (MCA).IBM and Microsoft announce Operating System/2 (OS/2).IBM announces DOS 3.3 for PCs.Microsoft announces Microsoft Windows 2.0.Advanced Micro Devices files suit against Intel.Sun Microsystems introduces its first SPARC-based system.Microsoft acquires Forethought.Apple Computer creates the Claris software company.Microsoft ships Microsoft Bookshelf, the firsy CD-ROM application.Microsoft unveils the Microsoft Excel spreadsheet.Microsoft releases Microsoft Windows/386.Ven-Tel unveils its EC18K-34 modem.Ad Lib Incorporated unveils its Ad Lib Personal Computer Music System.Microsoft releases Microsoft Word 4.0 for the PC.Borland International ships the Quattro spreadsheet program.Intel introduces the 80387 math coprocessor.IBM discontinues the IBM PC line.
ANSI formally adapts SCSI as a standard.Apple Computer releases its first Ethernet networking product.Spectrum Holobyte introduces Tetris.Apple Computer sues Microsoft and Hewlett-Packard for copyright infringement.Intel introduces the 25-MHz 80386DX microprocessor.Motorola unveils the 88000 processor.Apple Computer contracts with Quantum Computer Services to create AppleLink.Microsoft releases MS-DOS 4.0.Intel introduces the 16-MHz 80386SX microprocessor.Compaq Computer introduces its first laptop PC with VGA graphics.Steve Jobs of NeXT Inc. unveils the first NeXT computer.Digital Research transforms CP/M into DR DOS.The bus standard used on IBM AT compatibles is given the name Industry Standard Architecture.W.H. Sim founds Creative Labs, Inc.Atari sues Nintendo.Hewlett-Packard introduces the HP DeskJet inkjet printer.The CD-ROM format ISO 9660:88 is adopted.
Apple Computer introduces the Macintosh SE/301The VESA graphics standard emerges.Intel begins production of the 80486 microprocessor.Intel announces the 25-MHz 486 microprocessor.Intel introduces the 33-MHz version of the 80386DX microprocessor.Microsoft releases Microsoft Word 5.0 for DOS.The Personal Computer Memory Card International Association (PCMCIA) is formed.Apple Computer introduces 1.4MB floppy drives for the Macintosh. Apple Computer and Microsoft announces an alliance to develop a new font standard.Cyrix introduces the FasMath 83D87 math coprocessor.WordPerfect ships WordPerfect 5.1.At Fall Comdex, IBM and Microsoft strongly endorse each other's operating systems.Xerox files a US$150 million lawsuit aginst Apple.Intel unveils the i860 RISC processor.Creative Labs introduces the Sound Blaster.Sun Microsystems announces the 12.5 MIPS 20-MHz SPARCstation.
Motorola announces the availability of its 32-bit 25-MHz microprocessor.Intel introduces the 33-MHz 486 microprocessor.Microsoft introduces and ships Microsoft Windows 3.0.Digital Research releases DR DOS 5.0.The US Federal Trade Commission begins an investigation of Microsoft Corp.Microsoft's sales revenues hit US$1 billion for the past year.Acer Incorporated buys Alto Computer Systems for US$94 million.The IEEE approves the 10BASE-T Ethernet specification.IBM and Microsoft end cooperative work on operating systems.Apple Computer discontinues many of it's Macintoshes.IBM introduces the XGA MCA graphics card.Apple Computer's AppleLink - Personal Edition is renamed America Online.Motorola announces a new line of single-chip RISC processors.A judge rules that competitors to Intel can use the x86 designation.US District Court throws out 5 of 6 claims in Xerox' suit against Apple Computer.
