Chronology of Events
in the
History of Microcomputers
1977-1980 Home Computers
Apple, Commodore, Radio Shack, Microsoft, more microprocessors, VisiCalc,
Sinclair
1977
-
January
-
The Apple Computer Company is incorporated.
-
Apple employees move into an office on Stevens Creek Boulevard in Cupertino,
California. [353.259]
-
A working model of the first Radio Shack computer is demonstrated to company
president, Charles Tandy. [266.197]
-
Commodore's Chuck Peddle shows the first PET to Radio Shack, hoping to
have Radio Shack sell it. [445.256]
-
Xerox puts David Liddle in charge of
developing the Alto computer into a marketable product.
-
February
-
The first ComputerLand franchise is opened in Morristown, New Jersey, under
the name Computer Shack. [9] [266.194] [548.433] (Tandy franchise [346.258])
-
Apple Computer moves from Jobs' garage
to an office in Cupertino.
-
Bill Gates and Paul Allen sign a partnership agreement to officially create
the Microsoft company.
-
April
-
The First West Coast Computer Faire is held, in San Francisco's Brooks
Civic Auditorium. Nearly 13,000 attended the weekend event. [203.7] [266.145]
[353.265]
-
Commodore Business Machines Inc. unveils its PET computer at the West Coast
Computer Faire. The PET includes a 6502 CPU, 4KB RAM, 14KB ROM, keyboard,
display, and tape drive, for US$600. [9] [266.182] [346.46] [445.256] (US$800
[176.54] [190.81]) (MAR [41])
-
Apple Computer introduces the Apple
II at the West Coast Computer Faire. The computer features a 6502 CPU,
4KB RAM, 16KB ROM, keyboard, 8-slot motherboard, game paddles, graphics/text
interface to color display, and built-in BASIC, for US$1300. It is the
first personal computer with color graphics.
-
Apple Computer delivers its first Apple
II system.
-
May
-
10 months after its introduction, 175 Apple I kits have sold. [218]
-
Pertec buys MITS and the Altair line for US$6 million in stock. [233.194]
[266.51] [346.44] [548.384]
-
June
-
Camp Retupmoc, the first week-long computer camp, is held in Terre Haute,
Indiana. [9]
-
Apple II computers are shipped to Europe by independent distributor Eurapple.
[46]
-
July
-
August
-
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. [9] [195.49] [202.198] [319.43] [548.413]
(US$300 [266.198]) (JUN [41]) (1978 [205.24])
-
September
-
One month after launching the TRS-80, 10,000 are sold, despite sales projections
of only 3,000 in the first year. [266.198] [548.413]
-
October
-
Radio Shack opens its first all-computer store, in Fort Worth, Texas. [266.198]
-
November
-
Apple Computer releases Applesoft, a
version of BASIC with floating-point capabilities. It is licenced from
Microsoft.
-
Paul Terrell sells his chain of 74 Byte Shops, valued at US$4 million.
[266.190]
-
December
-
At an executive board meeting at Apple Computer,
president Mike Markkula lists the floppy disk drive as the company's top
goal.
-
Microsoft wins a legal battle with Pertec, on ownership of the BASIC Gates
and Allen wrote and licensed to MITS. [346.45]
-
(month unknown)
-
(month unknown)
-
Vector Graphic Inc. introduces the Vector Graphic I system. [202.203]
-
(month unknown)
-
The first issue of Personal Computing is published, by David Bunnell. [266.xv]
-
(month unknown)
-
Compu-Serv changes its name to CompuServe
Incorporated.
-
(month unknown)
-
Bally completes designs of a home computer. [267.48]
-
(month unknown)
-
Dan Bricklin conseives the idea for the VisiCalc spreadsheet program. [346.101]
-
(month unknown)
-
Heath Company introduces the H-8 personal computer kit, based on the Intel
8080.
-
(month unknown)
-
Officials of the US National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health
first begin measuring radio-frequency radiation from display monitors.
They report emmissions are too low for their instruments to measure. [558.138]
-
(month unknown)
-
The Altair Software Distribution Company changes its name to Peachtree
Software. [548.434]
-
(month unknown)
-
IMSAI licences use of CP/M for its microcomputers for US$25,000. [266.139]
-
(month unknown)
-
Atari introduces the Atari Video Computer System, later renamed the Atari
2600. [292]
-
(month unknown)
-
Gilbert Hyatt adds a claim to a single-chip computer to his 1970 patent
application. [590.5]
1978
-
January
-
Apple Computer demonstrates its first
working prototype Apple II disk drive at the Consumer Electronics Show,
in Las Vegas.
-
Ward Christianson and Randy Suess begin building the Computerized Bulletin
Board System, in Chicago, Illinois. [229.150]
-
February
-
The first major microcomputer bulletin board, run by Ward Christensen and
Randy Seuss, goes online, in Chicago, Illinois, USA. [9] [165.37] [229.150]
[373.15]
-
March
-
The Second West Coast Computer Faire is held, in San Jose, California.
[208.16] [266.183]
-
May
-
Intel begins production of the 8086
microprocessor. It is created by two engineers in just three weeks. Work
on the processor began when it was realized that the i432 project was in
trouble.
-
June
-
Intel introduces the 4.77-MHz 8086 microprocessor.
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).
-
Microsoft ships Microsoft
COBOL.
-
Apple Computer introduces the Disk II,
a 5.25 inch floppy disk drive linked to the Apple II by cable. Price: US$495,
including controller card.
-
The National Computer Conference is held in Anaheim, California. Attendance
is 57,240. [224.10]
-
Pertec ceases production of the Altair. [233.194]
-
August
-
MicroPro introduces WordMaster. [346.259]
-
Digital Equipment opens a retail store
in a shopping mall, for selling small computer systems priced below US$10,000.
-
Paul Terrell demonstrates the Z80-based Exidy Sorcerer at the Personal
Computing Show in Philadelphia. [268.112]
-
October
-
The first Personal Computer Expo is held, in New York City. [194.178]
-
The first issue of SoftSide is published, for TRS-80 enthusiasts. [269.216]
-
December
-
Epson announces the
MX-80 dot matrix printer, which established a new standard in high performance
with low price for printers.
-
Atari announces the Atari 400 and 800 personal computers, using the 6502
microprocessor. The Atari 800 was code-named "Colleen". [9] [231.83] [252.50]
-
Microsoft's sales for the year reach
US$1 million.
-
(month unknown)
-
(month unknown)
-
(summer) Apple Computer hires Chuck
Peddle, designer of the 6502 microprocessor and Commodore's PET.
-
(month unknown)
-
(fall) Microsoft begins developing
BASIC for the Intel 8086 processor.
-
(month unknown)
-
(late) Seymour Rubenstein forms MicroPro International. [266.152] [346.124]
[548.432]
-
(month unknown)
-
(late) Apple Computer begins work on
an enhanced Apple II with custom chips, code-named Annie.
-
(month unknown)
-
(late) Apple Computer begins work on
a supercomputer with a bit-sliced architecture, code-named Lisa.
-
(month unknown)
-
(month unknown)
-
Taito develops the Space Invaders arcade game in Japan. [267.46]
-
(month unknown)
-
Taito releases the Space Invaders game to arcade centers. [367.34]
-
(month unknown)
-
Exidy Systems introduces the Sorcerer Microcomputer. [280.53]
-
(month unknown)
-
Bally begins shipping its Bally Professional Arcade game. [267.50] [292]
-
(month unknown)
-
Texas Instruments introduces the TMS-4164,
a single 5V 64KB programmable memory chip. Initial price is US$125.
-
(month unknown)
-
Cinematronics releases Space Wars to arcades. [338.68]
-
(month unknown)
-
Tandy opens its first dedicated computer center. [34]
-
(month unknown)
-
Scientific Micro Systems introduces the Signetics 8x300 microprocessor.
[556.11]
-
(month unknown)
-
Apple Computer begins research and development
on what would become the Lisa.
-
(month unknown)
-
APF Electronics introduces the MP-1000 video game unit. [275.38]
-
(month unknown)
-
Scott Adams founds Adventure International. [266.135]
-
(month unknown)
-
(month unknown)
-
Bob Frankston and Dan Bricklin found Software Arts. [266.230]
-
(month unknown)
-
Xerox donates 50 Alto computers to Stanford,
Carnegie-Mellon, and MIT.
-
(month unknown)
-
Magnavox releases the Odyssey2 cartridge-based console game system. [292]
-
(month unknown)
-
Hermann Hauser founds Acorn Computers, in England. [347.59]
1979
-
January
-
Microsoft moves its offices from
Albuquerque, New Mexico to Bellevue, Washington.
-
February
-
March
-
Zilog ships samples of the 16-bit Z8000
processor.
-
April
-
Microsoft 8080 BASIC wins the ICP
Million Dollar Award, the first microprocessor product to do so.
-
Taito first shows the Space Invaders game, in Japan. [276.258]
-
May
-
Software Arts demonstrates VisiCalc at the 4th West Coast Computer Faire.
Dan Bricklin and Bob Frankston wrote it during 1978-79, under the company
name Software Arts, under contract to Personal Software. [9.202] [80.126]
[176.64] [203.9] [218] [266.xv] [346.102] (JUN [41])
-
Seattle Computer Products makes the first prototype of its 8086 microprocessor
card for the S-100 bus. [2]
-
Microsoft tries out its 8086 BASIC on Seattle Computer Products' 8086 processor
card for the first time. [346.63]
-
Processor Technology closes. [266.124]
-
Tandy/Radio Shack announces the TRS-80 Model II. [266.198] [548.413]
-
June
-
The Source telecommunications service goes online. [9]
-
Apple Computer introduces the Apple
II Plus, with 48KB memory, for US$1195.
-
Apple Computer introduces its first
printer, the Apple Silentype, for US$600. It is a Trendcom Model 200, released
under the Apple name.
-
Intel introduces the 4.77-MHz 8088 microprocessor.
It was created as a stepping stone to 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. [120])
-
Texas Instruments introduces the TI-99/4
personal computer, for an initial price of US$1500. It uses the TI 9940
16-bit microprocessor.
-
MicroPro releases the WordStar word processor, written by Rob Barnaby.
[266.153] [346.259] (written by Seymour Rubenstein [176.64])
-
Microsoft announces Microsoft
BASIC 8086 at the National Computer Conference.
-
July
-
Apple Computer releases DOS 3.2.1.
-
CompuServe begins a service to computer
hobbyists called MicroNET, offering bulletin boards, databases, and games.
-
August
-
Microsoft releases its Assembler language for 8080/Z80 microprocessors.
[346.260]
-
Wayne Ratliff develops the Vulcan database program (Ashton- Tate later
markets it as dBASE II). [9] [346.259]
-
September
-
Motorola's 68000 16-bit microprocessor
appears. It uses 68,000 transistors, giving it its name.
-
IMSAI closes. [266.77]
-
Apple Computer sells 35,000 Apple II
computers for the fiscal year.
-
October
-
2.5 years after the introduction of the Apple II, 50,000 units have been
sold. [218]
-
Personal Software releases VisiCalc for the Apple II. [46] [140] [218]
[266.230] [346.102] (NOV [120])
-
Atari begins shipping the Atari 400 and Atari 800 personal computers. The
400 comes with 8KB, selling for US$550. The 800 sells for US$1000. [249.110]
-
Radio Shack begins shipping the TRS-80 Model II to users. [250.116]
-
Mattel announces a keyboard unit for the Intellivision. Estimated retail
price: US$700. [289.132]
-
November
-
Texas Instruments begins shipping the TI
99/4.
-
ComputerLand grows to include 100 franchises. [266.195]
-
December
-
(month unknown)
-
(spring) Atari develops the Asteroids computer game. [281.78]
-
(month unknown)
-
(spring) Microsoft completes work
on BASIC for the Intel 8086 processor.
-
(month unknown)
-
(fall) Atari produces the first coin-operated Asteroids game machine. [281.78]
-
(month unknown)
-
(fall) Microsoft begins developing
an 8086 version of FORTRAN.
-
(month unknown)
-
(end) Mattel Electronics releases the Intellivision video game system.
[292]
-
(month unknown)
-
(month unknown)
-
Shugart Associates publishes the Shugart Associates Systems Interface (SASI).
[543]
-
(month unknown)
-
The National Computer Conference is held in New York. [346.63]
-
(month unknown)
-
Tim Patterson of Seattle Computer Products demonstrates his 8086 card with
Microsoft at the LifeBoat Associates booth at the National Computer Conference.
[346.63]
-
(month unknown)
-
A group of programmers from the Dynamic Modeling Group at MIT incorporates
InfoCom. [548.435]
-
(month unknown)
-
Apple Computer begins work on "Sara",
the code name for what will be the Apple III.
-
(month unknown)
-
(month unknown)
-
Michael Shane founds Leading Edge Products. [203.24]
-
(month unknown)
-
Vector Graphic Inc. introduces the Vector Graphic System B system. [202.203]
-
(month unknown)
-
Schlumberger Ltd. sells Heath Company to Zenith Radio Corp. for US$64.5
million. [246.81]
-
(month unknown)
-
Niklaus Wirth invents the Modula-1 programming language. [132]
-
(month unknown)
-
NEC releases its NEC PC 8001 microcomputer in Japan, the first for that
country. [346.55]
-
(month unknown)
-
Atari founder Nolan Bushnell leaves the company, to manage Pizza Time Theatre.
[335.8]
-
(month unknown)
-
IMSAI declares bankruptcy. Its assets are purchased by Fischer-Freitas.
[251.174] [266.xv]
-
(month unknown)
-
Bob Metcalfe founds 3Com Corporation.
-
(month unknown)
-
IBM introduces the IBM
3800 laser printer, capable of printing 20,000 lines per minute.
-
(month unknown)
1980
-
January
-
Mike Harvey begins the Nibble magazine for Apple
Computer products.
-
Universal Data Systems announces the 103LP 300 bps modem, connecting directly
into the phone line, requiring no additional power. Price: US$195. [252.44]
-
Morrow Designs advertises the 26 MB DISCUS M26 hard drive system for US$5000.
[248.69]
-
The first issue of S-Eighty is published, for TRS-80 enthusiasts. [269.216]
-
The first issue of Computer Shopper is published. [269.216]
-
Hewlett-Packard completes work on the Capricorn
project, producing the HP-85. With a 32-character wide CRT display, small
built-in printer, cassette tape recorder, and keyboard, it sold for US$3250.
-
February
-
Microsoft begins development on
an 8086 version of AT&T's UNIX operating
system.
-
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. [255.94]
-
Mattel begins shipping the game component of the Intellivision. [268.48]
-
March
-
Atari ad: "Atari promises to be the most popular Personal Computer System
of the 1980's!". [249.124]
-
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. The card includes CP/M and Microsoft's
Disk BASIC, all for US$349. The announcement is made at the West Coast
Computer Faire in San Francisco. Tim Patterson of Seattle Computer Products
had built several prototypes before Microsoft's
Don Burdis took over the project. In its first year of release, 25,000
units are sold.
-
Satellite Software International ships WordPerfect 1.0 for Data
General minicomputers.
-
At the West Coast Computer Faire, Adam Osborne approaches Les Felsenstein
with the idea of starting a computer company. [266.261]
-
April
-
Tim Patterson begins writing an operating system for use with Seattle Computer
Products' 8086-based computer. [346.75]
-
Data General announces the Eclipse MV/8000.
Code name during development was Gallifrey Eagle.
-
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. [2]
-
May
-
Apple Computer introduces the Apple
III at the National Computer Conference, in Anaheim, California. The Apple
III uses a 2-MHz 6502A microprocessor, and includes a 5.25-inch floppy
drive. Price ranges from US$4500 to US$8000.
-
Universal Data Systems announces the 202LP 1200 bps modem, connecting directly
into the phone line, requiring no additional power. [252.44]
-
June
-
Seagate Technologies announces the
first Winchester 5.25-inch hard disk drive.
-
Steve Ballmer joins Microsoft.
-
Shugart begins selling Winchester hard-disk drives. [9]
-
July
-
Radio Shack introduces the TRS-80 Model III. It uses the Zilog
Z80 CPU, and is priced from US$700 to US$2500.
-
Radio Shack introduces the TRS-80 Color Computer. It uses the Motorola
6809E CPU, comes with 4KB RAM, and sells for US$400.
-
Radio Shack introduces the TRS-80 Pocket Computer. It features a 24 character
display, with 1.9KB of programmable memory. Price is US$230. [253.172]
[266.198] (AUG [256.30])
-
Radio Shack introduces the Daisy Wheel Printer II for US$1960. [256.30]
-
The last issue of S-Eighty is published. [269.216]
-
IBM representatives meet with Microsoft's
Bill Gates and Steve Ballmer to talk about Microsoft
products, and home computers. [266.271] [346.70]
-
IBM asks Bill Gates to write the operating
system for their upcoming PC.
-
August
-
IBM meets with Microsoft
again, and shows plans for Project Chess, a personal computer. The code
name for the computer is "Acorn". 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. [2]
(SCP-DOS [266.272])
-
Hal Lashlee and George Tate form Software Plus. The company later changes
its name to Ashton-Tate. [346.260]
-
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.
-
Apple Computer releases DOS 3.3.
-
September
-
Microsoft decides to propose to
IBM that they provide the operating system
for IBM's microcomputer.
-
The "Dirty Dozen" is formed, the 12 engineers assembled to design and build
the IBM PC, in Boca Raton, Florida. The
PC's code name is Acorn.
-
Apple Computer sells over 78,000 Apple
II computers during the fiscal year.
-
The first issue of Softalk magazine for Apple
Computer products appears.
-
Tim Patterson shows Microsoft his
86-DOS, written for the 8086 chip.
-
Software Publishing ships the pfs:File database program. [346.261]
-
IBM meets with Microsoft
again, to formalize plans to work together in creating a new microcomputer.
-
October
-
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 right. [346.76]
-
Bill Gates, Paul Allen, and Steve Ballmer meet with IBM
in Boca Raton, Florida, to deliver a report to IBM.
They propose that Microsoft be put in charge of the entire software development
process for IBM's new microcomputer, including
converting Seattle Computer Products' SCP-DOS to run on the computer.
-
Sol Libes quote in Byte magazine's ByteLines: "The 32-bit machine would
be 'overkill' for a personal computer.". [253.188]
-
November
-
Microsoft and IBM
sign a contract for Microsoft to
develop certain software products for IBM's
microcomputer.
-
Atari sponsers the First National (US) Space Invaders Competition, in New
York. Bill Heineman of Whittier, California scores 165,200 to win an Asteroids
Table Top Video Game. [267.44]
-
December
-
InfoCom releases the Zork adventure game for the TRS-80 and Apple II. In
the first nine months, 7,500 copies are sold. [548.436]
-
IBM delivers the first PC prototype to
Microsoft, so they can begin developing
BASIC and the machine's operating system.
-
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. [266.240]
-
Seattle Computer Products renames QDOS to 86-DOS, releasing it as version
0.3. Microsoft then bought non-exclusive
rights to market 86-DOS.
-
(month unknown)
-
(fall) Apple Computer ships the first
Apple III units in limited quantity.
-
(month unknown)
-
Exidy Systems introduces the Computer System 80. [280.53]
-
(month unknown)
-
Microsoft begins work on its first
microcomputer application, a spreadsheet program initially called Electronic
Paper.
-
(month unknown)
-
(month unknown)
-
Sinclair Research ships the ZX80 in North America, for US$200. [255.94]
-
(month unknown)
-
IBM assembles the members of "Project Chess", whose purpose is to create
a microcomputer. [346.69]
-
(month unknown)
-
Apple Computer begins project "Diana",
which would become the Apple IIe.
-
(month unknown)
-
Ken and Roberta Williams start On-Line Systems, developing software for
the Apple II. [353.282]
-
(month unknown)
-
IBM contacts Digital Research about using
CP/M-86 for IBM's upcoming microcomputer.
Gary Kildall is not interested, for a variety of reasons.
-
(month unknown)
-
Digital Research releases CP/M-86 for Intel
8086- and 8088-based systems.
-
(month unknown)
-
Intel announces the iAPX-432 32-bit
microprocessor. Intel later builds the
80286 as a step between the 8086 and the 432.
-
(month unknown)
-
The term RISC (reduced instruction set computer) is coined by Professor
David Patterson of the University of California in Berkeley. [154]
-
(month unknown)
-
Bally sells its Consumer Products Division to Astrovision. [267.50]
-
(month unknown)
-
Intel introduces the 8087 math coprocessor.
-
(month unknown)
-
(month unknown)
-
Alan Ashton and Bruce Bastian found Satellite Software International. [330.102]
(1979 [346.133])
-
(month unknown)
-
Apollo introduces a line of workstations using the Motorola
68000.
-
(month unknown)
-
Sony Electronics introduces the 3.5
inch floppy disk and drive, double-sided, double-density, holding up to
875KB unformatted.
-
(month unknown)
-
Panasonic and Quasar unveil
hand-held computers, made by Matsushita. The unit uses a 1-MHz 6502 CPU,
and weighs just 14 ounces (397 grams).
-
(month unknown)
-
Onyx introduces the Onyx C8002 microcomputer. It features a Zilog Z8000
microprocessor, 256KB RAM, tape backup, hard disk, serial ports for eight
users, and running Unix, for US$20,000. It is the first microcomputer featuring
an implementation of Unix. [461.140]
End of 1977-1980 - Home Computers
Continue to 1981-1983 - Business Takes Over
Copyright (C) 1995-97 Ken Polsson
internet e-mail: kpolsson@islandnet.com
URL: http://www.islandnet.com/~kpolsson/comphist.htm