1955
-Bill Gates is born on the 28 of October.

1972
-The first issue of People's Computer Company is released.

1975
-MITS releases a version of MicroSoft BASIC 2.0 for its Altair 8800, in 4K and 8K editions.

1976
-Commodore International buys MOS Technology.
-Mike Markkula, ex-marketing wizard at Intel, visits Steve Jobs' garage, to see the Apple computers.
-Steve Wozniak decides to remain at Hewlett-Packard, but is soon convinced that he should leave and join Apple Computer permanently.

1977
-Radio Shack opens its first all-computer store, in Fort Worth, Texas.

1978
-The first Personal Computer Expo is held, in New York City.
-The first issue of SoftSide is published, for TRS-80 enthusiasts.

1979
-2.5 years after the introduction of the Apple II, 50,000 units have been sold.
-Personal Software releases VisiCalc for the Apple II.
-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.
-Radio Shack begins shipping the TRS-80 Model II to users.
-Mattel announces a keyboard unit for the Intellivision. Estimated retail price: US$700.

1980
-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.
-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.".

pcbiography.net

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