Chronology of Events
in the
History of Microcomputers
1984-1986 Graphics for Everyone
Macintosh, Silicon Graphics, Amiga, IBM EGA, Atari ST, Microsoft Windows,
Next Inc., Intel 80386, Sun SPARC
1984
January
Terrence E. Valeski and a group of investors buy all rights to the Intellivision
from Mattel for US$16.5 million. [292] (US$20 million [340.10])
Jack Tramiel, founder and president of Commodore, leaves the company. [332.10]
[334.6] [345.160] [349.30] [350.12] [362.6] [363.6] [410.5]
Apple Computer runs its "1984" commercial
during the SuperBowl, introducing the Macintosh computer. Apple
Computer runs the ad only once, but dozens of news and talk shows replay
it, making it one of the most memorable ads in TV history. The ad cost
US$1.5 million.
Apple Computer introduces the Macintosh,
for US$2500. It uses the 8-MHz 32-bit Motorola
68000 CPU, built-in 9-inch B/W screen, 512x342 graphics, 400KB 3.5-inch
floppy disk drive, mouse, 128KB RAM, and weighing 20 pounds.
Apple Computer introduces its 300-baud
modem for US$300, and 1200-baud modem for US$500.
Apple releases a new version of the Lisa computer, the Lisa 2. It uses
all new software, as well as the Macintosh operating system. It comes with
512KB RAM, and one 3.5-inch 400KB floppy drive. The Lisa 2/5 comes with
a 5MB hard drive, and the Lisa 2/10 comes with a 10MB hard drive. [373.11]
Seiko Instruments U.S.A. Inc. displays the first wristwatch computer, with
a 10-character, 4-line LCD. [9]
Hitachi ad for their 3-inch compact
floppy disk drive: "It's clear that the 3-inch floppy will become the new
standard."
IBM sues Corona Data Systems for copyright
violation of the IBM PC's BIOS, and wins.
Commodore announces the Commodore 264 at the Winter Consumer Electronics
Show in Las Vegas, Nevada. Code name for the computer was "TED". The 264
uses a 7501 microprocessor, 64KB RAM, 320x200 pixel graphics offering 128
color variations. [333.7] [334.44] [350.4] [354.18] [356.7] [359.86]
Commodore shows a prototype of the Commodore 364 computer at the Winter
Consumer Electronics Show. The 364 is like the Commodore 264, but with
a separate numeric keypad and built-in voice synthesizer. [334.44] [350.4]
[354.18]
February
Timex withdraws from the home computer business. [331.58]
Apple Computer unveils the Apple IIc
with an intense publicity extravaganza, at the Moscone Center in San Francisco.
Priced at US$1300, 2,000 dealers place orders for more than 52,000 units
on the day of its introduction. The IIc uses a 65C02A microprocessor, 128KB
RAM, weighs 7.5 pounds, includes a 3.5-inch floppy drive, supports 40-
or 80-column screens, and allows both QWERTY and Dvorak keyboard layouts.
(MAY [9])
Apple Computer retires the Apple III
and Apple III+, with only 65,000 units sold in total.
Microsoft France releases Multiplan for the IBM PC. [346.118]
Silicon Graphics begins shipping its first
3-D graphics workstations.
Apple Computer releases the color Apple
Scribe printer, using a special waxed ribbon and thermal print head.
AT&T and Olivetti
form a strategic relationship to develop and market PCs in the US.
May
Apple Computer announces that 70,000
Macintosh computers have been shipped in the first 100 days since its announcement.
Apple Computer names Kay Power as a
research fellow of Apple.
Apple Computer introduces the DuoDisk
dual 5.25-inch floppy disk drive unit for the Apple II line.
Apple Computer releases the AppleMouse
II with MousePaint and a peripheral card for the Apple IIe or Apple II
Plus (or directly in the Apple IIc).
Quarterdeck Office Systems officially
launches DESQ, a text-based windowing environment for running DOS programs.
June
The Summer Consumer Electronics Show is held, in Chicago, Illinois. [366.16]
Ashton-Tate ships dBASE III. [346.266]
Tom Jennings creates the FidoNet BBS network. [6] [9] [164.47]
Motorola adds the 68020 32-bit processor
to its line.
Amiga demonstrates a new computer, code-named "Lorraine". [341.6]
Apple Computer releases the Apple Color
Plotter, a 4-pen plotter.
Commodore announces the Commodore 16 at the Consumer Electronics Show.
The machine looks like the VIC-20 and Commodore 64, but has 16KB of RAM,
and is expected to sell for around US$100, and marketed as "The Learning
Machine". [366.7] [366.16]
Commodore announces the renamed Commodore 264 as the Plus/4. It will now
feature four built-in programs, not just one. Price should be around US$300.
[356.7] [366.16]
Commodore announces the DSP 1101 letter-quality daisywheel printer, designed
for the Plus/4. [366.22]
Commodore announces the MPS 802 dot matrix printer. [366.22]
Commodore announces the MCS 801 color dot matrix printer. [366.22]
Commodore announces the MPS 803 dot matrix printer, designed for use with
the Commodore 16. [366.22]
Okidata introduces the Okimate 10 thermal transfer color dot matrix printer,
for US$240. [366.36]
AT&T introduces the PC 6300, an 8-MHz
8086-based PC manufactured by Olivetti.
July
Jack Tramiel, former president of Commodore International, buys a controlling
interest in the Atari home computer and video game divisions from Warner
Communications, for US$240 million in long-term notes. Warner retains Atari's
coin-operated game division and home communications venture Ataritel. [9]
[30] [355.14] [360.15] [410.5] [482.D1]
Six months after its introduction, 100,000 Macintosh computers have been
sold. [203.65]
Digital Vision releases the Computer Eyes video capture system for the
Apple II, selling for US$130 (US$350 with a camera). [218]
IBM announces the PC AT, a 6MHz 80286
computer using PC-DOS 3.0, a 5.25-inch 1.2MB floppy drive, with 256KB RAM,
for US$4000, which doesn't include hard drive or monitor/card. With a 20MB
hard drive, color card and monitor: US$6700.
IBM introduces PC/IX, based on UNIX System
III from AT&T, for the PC AT.
IBM announces TopView, a DOS multitasking
program.
IBM announces the Enhanced Color Display
monitor with 640x350 resolution, priced at US$850.
IBM announces the Enhanced Graphics Adapter
(EGA), supporting up to 640x350 resolution in 16 colors. With 64K, the
card costs US$524. For 640x350x16 mode, a US$200 64KB RAM expander is required.
IBM announces the Professional Graphics
Display monitor, for US$1300. The 14-inch monitor will display up to 256
colors (from 4096) simultaneously at 640x480 resolution.
IBM announces the Professional Graphics
Controller card, for US$3000. The card takes up two adjacent slots of a
PC, and includes an 8-MHz 8088 chip and 384KB of memory.
Microsoft releases MS-DOS 3.0 for
PCs. It adds support for 1.2 MB floppy disks, and bigger (than 10 MB) hard
disks.
Visicorp sells Visi-On to Control Data. [484.D3]
September
Apple Computer introduces the Macintosh
512K for US$3200. It uses an 8-MHz 68000 processor, and comes with 512
KB RAM, and a 400 KB 3.5-inch floppy drive.
Digital Research announces its Graphics Environment Manager (GEM) icon/desktop
user interface for 8086- and DOS-based computers. [9] (OCT [346.266]) (NOV
[477.159])
Microsoft gives a demonstration
of the final version of Windows to IBM.
For the third time, IBM is not interested.
The number of hosts on the Internet reaches 1000. [56]
November
The Tandy 1200 debuts.
Apple Computer launches the "Test Drive
a Macintosh" promotion. About 200,000 take a Macintosh home for a free
24-hour trial.
Lotus Development officially announces
Jazz for the Macintosh, an all-in-one program incorporating a spreadsheet,
database, graphics, word processing, and communications.
Satellite Software International ships WordPerfect 4.0 for US$500. [330.108]
[502.49]
The 2 millionth Apple II computer is sold. [46] [75] [346.267]
Jim Manzi is named president and chief operating officer of Lotus
Development.
Several companies introduce 2400 baud modems at COMDEX, priced at US$800-900.
[7]
Apple sells the 250,000th Macintosh system. [346.267]
Tandy introduces the Tandy 1000, for US$1300. [317.40]
(month unknown)
(spring) Atari officially discontinues the Atari 5200. [337.65]
(month unknown)
(spring) Commodore stops manufacturing the VIC-20. [366.16]
(month unknown)
(summer) Sierra On-Line releases the game King's Quest. [351.27]
(month unknown)
(summer) IBM introduces a new keyboard for the IBM PCjr, offering a free
upgrade to all who want it. [357.79]
(month unknown)
(fall) Software Arts wins its lawsuit against VisiCorp over the rights
to the VisiCalc program. VisiCorp is ordered to pay US$500,000 to Software
Arts.
(month unknown)
(fall) Atari introduces the Atari 7800 ProSystem. [337.66]
(month unknown)
Milton Bradley discontinues manufacturing of the Vectrex. [338.84] [340.10]
Sinclair announces the 16/32-bit QL microcomputer, using the Motorola 68008
microprocessor, 128KB RAM, two built-in tape drives, and multitasking ROM-based
operating system. Weight is 3 pounds. Price is expected to be US$500. [366.38]
Apple Computer releases AppleWorks,
one of the first integrated software packages, with modules for word processing,
database management, and spreadsheet calculations. It was written by Rupert
Lissner.
(month unknown)
Mattel sells marketing rights for the Aquarius home computer to Radofin
Electronics. [340.10]
(month unknown)
Hewlett-Packard introduces the LaserJet
laser printer, featuring 300dpi resolution, for US$3,600.
(month unknown)
Intel introduces the 80186, 80188, and
80286 processors.
(month unknown)
Foxbase releases Foxbase for MS-DOS. [494.6]
(month unknown)
Sirius Software files for Chapter 11 backruptcy proceedings. [358.12]
(month unknown)
Mindset debuts the Mindset PC. [176.145]
(month unknown)
MIPS Computer Systems is founded, and begins developing its RISC architecture.
[160]
(month unknown)
Commodore introduces the Plus/4, with integrated software in ROM. [190.81]
(month unknown)
Olivetti buys 60% of Acorn Computers' public shares. [347.59]
(month unknown)
Philips announces CD-ROM players for personal computers, for under US$1000.
[582.90]
(month unknown)
The Odyssey Division of North American Philips ceases production of hardware
for its Odyssey programmable videogame system. [359.8]
1985
January
Forethought releases FileMaker for the Macintosh, for US$199. [582.198]
The Winter Consumer Electronics Show is held in Las Vegas, Nevada. [342.6]
Commodore unveils the Commodore 128 Personal Computer. It functions as
three computers in one: a complete Commodore 64, a CP/M mode, and a new
128KB mode. [8] [342.6] [343.14]
Atari introduces the 65XE, for US$120. Variations include the 65XEM with
a built-in 8-voice synthesizer, and the 65XEP with built-in monitor and
3.5 inch disk drive. [343.14] [357.66]
Atari introduces the 130XE, with 128KB RAM. [357.66]
Atari introduces the 130ST: 128KB RAM, 192KB ROM, 512 color graphics, MIDI
interface, and mouse for US$400. [343.14] [357.6]
Atari introduces the 520ST: 512KB RAM, 192KB ROM, 512 color graphics, MIDI
interface, and mouse for US$600. [343.14] [335.18] [357.7]
Microsoft releases Microsoft
Word 1.0 for the Macintosh.6.138] (1984 NOV [346.267])
Microsoft shows Apple's Steve Jobs
the Microsoft Excel spreadsheet
for the first time. Jobs is not impressed, claiming that Lotus
Development's Jazz would be more popular.
Compaq Computer reports second year
revenues of US$329 million, an industry record.
Coleco sells off its Adam inventory and leaves the computer business. [343.18]
(1984 [9])
Apple Computer officially renames the
Lisa the Macintosh XL.
Apple Computer releases the Apple LaserWriter
laser printer.
Satellite Software International ships WordPerfect Jr. for US$200. It is
designed for use on the IBM PCjr. [330.108]
Former Microsoft founder Paul Allen founds Asymetrix. [346.267]
Apple Computer introduces the UniDisk
5.25 single 5.25-inch floppy disk drive, with the ability to daisy-chain
additional drives through it.
July
Commodore unveils the new Amiga 1000 in New York. It features a multitasking,
windowing operating system, using a Motorola
68000 CPU, with 256KB RAM, and 880KB 3.5-inch disk drive, for US$1300.
Micrografx releases its first Microsoft Windows application, In-A-Vision.
[346.191]
Wang announces a series of products to turn PCs into local and remote Wang
terminals. [33]
Aldus releases Aldus PageMaker for the Apple Macintosh, for US$495. [120]
[180.220] [237.60] [582.199] (late 1985 [582.94])
Microsoft and IBM
sign a joint-development agreement to work together on future operating
systems and environments.
September
Electronic Arts releases DeluxePaint for the Amiga. DeluxePaint was a rewrite
of Prism for the IBM PC, which was an enhanced port of Doodle, created
on a Xerox syystem. [448.27]
Apple Computer introduces the UniDisk
3.5, a double-sided 3.5-inch disk drive, capable of storing 800KB per disk.
Apple Computer releases the Apple ImageWriter
II printer.
October
Cauzin releases Cauzin SoftStrips, a form of barcode technology for publishing
computer files in magazines, to be scanned into Macintosh computers. [582.202]
Intel introduces the 16-MHz 80386DX
microprocessor. It uses 32-bit registers and a 32-bit data bus, and incorporates
275,000 transistors (1.5 microns). Initial price is US$299. It can access
4 gigabytes of physical memory, or up to 64 terabytes of virtual memory.
Microsoft France releases a French version of Multiplan 2.0 for the IBM
PC. [346.119]
(April-June) The Advanced RISC Machine (ARM), a 32-bit processor for home
use, is shipped. Its first application is in an accelerator card for Acorn
PCs. [32] [599.15]
(month unknown)
Manfred Schmitt founds computer manufacturer ESCOM, in Germany. [491.52]
(month unknown)
Microsoft purchases all rights to
DOS from Seattle Computer Products for US$925,000.
As part of the Microsoft Office advertisement campaign, Apple
Computer runs a TV ad called "Lemmings", showing blindfolded business
executives walking off a cliff.
Mimic Systems announces the Spartan, a hardware upgrade for the Commodore
64 that turns it into an Apple IIe. [343.16]
(month unknown)
Commodore Business Machines and Electronic Arts create the Interchange
Film Format (IFF) for graphics, sound, text, animation, and other file
types. [449.33]
(month unknown)
Software Arts sells the rights to VisiCalc to Mitch Kapor, of Lotus
Development, for US$800,000.
(month unknown)
Nintendo introduces the Nintendo Entertainment System in the US. [292]
(month unknown)
Michael Ehman founds Ehman, Incorporated, as a Macintosh peripherals vendor.
[423.75]
(month unknown)
Broderbund releases the first game in the Carmen Sandiego series. [531.8]
1986
January
Microsoft releases MS-DOS 3.25. [346.268]
Apple Computer introduces the Macintosh
Plus. It features a 8-MHz 68000 processor, 1 MB RAM, SCSI connector for
hard drive support, a new keyboard with cursor keys and numeric keypad,
and an 800 KB 3.5-inch floppy drive. Price is US$2600.
Compaq Computer reports third year
revenues of US$503.9 million, a U.S. business record.
Eric Graham shows his "Juggler" demo animation on the Amiga, showing the
Amiga's capabilities of ray-traced animation merged with digitized sound.
[442.31]
IBM announces the IBM
RT Personal Computer, using RISC-based technology from IBM's
"801" project of the mid-70s. It is one of the first commercially-available
32-bit RISC-based computers. The base configuration has 1MB RAM, a 1.2MB
floppy, and 40 MB hard drive, for US$11,700. With performance of only 2
MIPS, it is doomed from the beginning.
Microsoft releases MS-DOS 3.2. It adds support for 3.5-inch 720 KB floppy
disk drives. [130] (1985 DEC [146]) (MAR [346.254])
Microsoft first sells shares to
the public, for US$21 per share. The initial public offering raises US$61
million. Bill Gates quickly becomes the world's youngest billionaire.
Apple Computer introduces the Macintosh
512K Enhanced, for US$2000. It features an 8-MHz 68000 processor, 512 KB
RAM, and 800 KB 3.5-inch floppy drive.
Satellite Software International changes its name to WordPerfect Corporation.
[109] [330.116]
Compaq Computer introduces the first
16-MHz Intel 80386-based PC, the Compaq
Deskpro 386.
Apple Computer introduces the Apple
IIGS, with the Apple 3.5 drive, for US$1000. It uses the Western
Digital Center W65C816 (65816) microprocessor, operating at 1-MHz or
2.8-MHz.
