Last updated: 2002 March 05.

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[2002-]

1984

January, 1984

• Terrence E. Valeski and a group of investors buy all rights to the Intellivision from Mattel for US$16.5 million.
• Jack Tramiel, founder and president of Commodore, leaves the company.
• 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.
• Macintosh (image).
• Apple Computer introduces its 300-baud modem for US$300, and 1200-baud modem for US$500.
• Microsoft ships Microsoft BASIC and Microsoft Multiplan for the Macintosh."The BASIC programming language played such a huge role in the success of the Apple II that Steve Jobs encouraged Bill Gates in 1982 to make a version of BASIC for the yet-to-be-release Macintosh. Gates was a little too anxious to release Microsoft BASIC in time for it to ship at the time of the introduction of the Mac, and therefore it was a really bad implementation. Don Denman was also creating a version of BASIC for Apple called MacBASIC which even in beta releases was much better than Microsoft's product. Gates knew their version was much better, so when it came time to renew Apple's license for Applesoft BASIC, Gates said he would only renew it if Apple killed the MacBASIC project."
• 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.
• Lisa (image).
• Seiko Instruments U.S.A. Inc. displays the first wristwatch computer, with a 10-character, 4-line LCD.
• Hitachi ad for their 3-inch compact floppy disk drive: "It's clear that the 3-inch floppy will become the new standard."
• 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.
• 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.

February, 1984

• Timex withdraws from the home computer business.
• Microsoft releases Multiplan v1.1 for the PC.
• IBM announces the IBM Portable PC, for US$2900.
• IBM 5155 Portable Personal Computer (image)
• IBM sues Eagle Computer and Corona Data Systems for copyright violation of the IBM PC's BIOS, and wins.

March, 1984

• Ashton-Tate announces the integrated software package, Framework.
• Microsoft releases MS-DOS 2.1 for the IBM PCjr.
• IBM PCjr (image).
• Microsoft releases MS-DOS 2.11. It includes enhancements to better allow conversion into different languages and date formats.
• IBM ships the IBM PCjr. It uses the 8088 CPU, includes 64KB RAM, a "Freeboard" keyboard, and one 5.25-inch disk drive, no monitor, for US$1300.
• IBM PCjr (image)
• Microsoft decides to temporary shelve work on a new spreadsheet (Excel) for the PC, and concentrate on a version for the Macintosh.
• 74 days after the introduction of the Macintosh, 50,000 units have been sold.
• Macintosh (image).
• Project IIx is cancelled at Apple Computer.

April, 1984

• Commodore International launches the Commodore PC at the Hanover Fair in Germany.
• Commodore International launches the Commodore Z8000 at the Hanover Fair in Germany.
• Compaq Computer introduces its PCs to Europe.
• 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.
• Apple IIc (image).
• Apple Computer retires the Apple III and Apple III+, with only 65,000 units sold in total.
• Apple III (image).
• Microsoft France releases Multiplan for the IBM PC.
• 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.
• Microsoft releases Microsoft Word v1.1 for DOS.
• AT&T and Olivetti form a strategic relationship to develop and market PCs in the US.

May, 1984

• 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, 1984

• The Summer Consumer Electronics Show is held, in Chicago, Illinois.
• Ashton-Tate ships dBASE III.
• Tom Jennings creates the FidoNet BBS network.
• Motorola adds the 68020 32-bit processor to its line.
• Amiga demonstrates a new computer, code-named "Lorraine".
• 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".
• 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.
• Commodore announces the DSP 1101 letter-quality daisywheel printer, designed for the Plus/4.
• Commodore announces the MPS 802 dot matrix printer.
• Commodore announces the MCS 801 color dot matrix printer.
• Commodore announces the MPS 803 dot matrix printer, designed for use with the Commodore 16.
• Okidata introduces the Okimate 10 thermal transfer color dot matrix printer, for US$240.
• Compaq Computer introduces the Compaq Deskpro.
• AT&Tintroduces the PC 6300, manufactured by Olivetti.

July, 1984

• 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. Warner retains Atari's coin-operated game division and home communications venture Ataritel.
• Six months after its introduction, 100,000 Macintosh computers have been sold.
• Macintosh (image).
• Digital Vision releases the Computer Eyes video capture system for the Apple II, selling for US$130 (US$350 with a camera).

August, 1984

• Commodore purchases Amiga Corporation.
• Amiga 1000 (image).
• 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 announces its PC Network local area network.
• 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.

September, 1984

• Apple Computer introduces the Macintosh 512K for US$3200.
• Digital Research announces its GEM icon/desktop user interface for 8086- and DOS-based computers.

October, 1984

• Microsoft releases Microsoft Word v1.15 for DOS.
• 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.

November, 1984

• 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.
• The 2 millionth Apple II computer is sold.
• Jim Manzi is named president and chief operating officer of Lotus Development.
• Microsoft releases MS-DOS 3.1. It adds support for Microsoft networks.

December, 1984

• Several companies introduce 2400 baud modems at COMDEX, priced at US$800-900.
• Apple sells the 250,000th Macintosh system.
• Tandy introduces the Tandy 1000, for US$1300.

(month unknown), 1984

• (spring) Atari officially discontinues the Atari 5200.
• The "I'm proud to be Canadian" Hyperion is a DOS PC that was manufactured in Kanata (near Ottawa) in the mid-1980's. It received considerable government subsidies and, while it was considered well-designed and manufactured and a real threat to the Compaq Portable, the Ottawa, Ontario, Canada firm that designed it, was unable to gather the momentum Compaq did and the rest is history.
• Hyperion computer (image.)

(month unknown), 1984

• (spring) Commodore stops manufacturing the VIC-20.
• VIC-20 (image).

(month unknown), 1984

• (summer) Sierra On-Line releases the game King's Quest.

(month unknown), 1984

• (summer) IBM introduces a new keyboard for the IBM PCjr, offering a free upgrade to all who want it.
• IBM PCjr (image).

(month unknown), 1984

• (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.
• Visicalc (image).

(month unknown), 1984

• (fall) Atari introduces the Atari 7800 ProSystem.

(month unknown), 1984

• Milton Bradley discontinues manufacturing of the Vectrex.
• Vectrex (image).

(month unknown), 1984

• Motorola unveils its 68010 CPU chip.

(month unknown), 1984

• 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.

(month unknown), 1984

• Apple Computer releases ProDOS.

(month unknown), 1984

• 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), 1984

• Mattel sells marketing rights for the Aquarius home computer to Radofin Electronics.

(month unknown), 1984

• Hewlett-Packard introduces the LaserJet laser printer, featuring 300dpi resolution, for US$3,600.
• Hewlett-Packard Pioneers inkjet printing technology with the introduction of the HP Thinkjet printer.
• Thinkjet printer (image).

(month unknown), 1984

• Intel introduces the 80186, 80188, and 80286 processors.

(month unknown), 1984

• Sirius Software files for Chapter 11 backruptcy proceedings.

(month unknown), 1984

• Mindset debuts the Mindset PC.

(month unknown), 1984

• MIPS Computer Systems is founded, and begins developing its RISC architecture.

(month unknown), 1984

• Commodore introduces the Plus/4, with integrated software in ROM.
• Commodore Plus/4 (image)

(month unknown), 1984

• Olivetti buys 60% of Acorn Computers' public shares.

(month unknown), 1984

• The Odyssey Division of North American Philips ceases production of hardware for its Odyssey programmable videogame system.
• Odyssey (image).

1985

January, 1985

• The Winter Consumer Electronics Show is held in Las Vegas, Nevada.
• 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.
• 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.
• Atari introduces the 130XE, with 128KB RAM
• Atari 130XE (image).
• Atari introduces the 130ST: 128KB RAM, 192KB ROM, 512 color graphics, MIDI interface, and mouse for US$400.
• Atari introduces the 520ST: 512KB RAM, 192KB ROM, 512 color graphics, MIDI interface, and mouse for US$600.
• Microsoft releases Microsoft Word v1.0 for the Macintosh.
• 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.
• Compaq computer (image).
• Coleco sells off its Adam inventory and leaves the computer business.
• Apple Computer officially renames the Lisa the Macintosh XL.
• Apple Lisa (image)
• 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.
• IBM PCjr (image).
• Former Microsoft founder Paul Allen founds Asymetrix.
• Paul Allen (image).

February, 1985

• Microsoft releases Microsoft Word v2.0 for DOS.
• Apple Computer co-founder Steve Wozniak resigns from Apple Computer, to start a company that will develop home video products.
• IBM releases TopView, for US$150.

March, 1985

• Apple Computer introduces the Apple Enhanced IIe.
• Apple IIe (image).
• IBM announces that it will cease production and promotion of the IBM PCjr.

April, 1985

• IBM abandons production of the IBM PCjr.
• IBM PCjr (image)
• The Macintosh XL (formerly called Lisa) is dropped from Apple Computer's product line.
• Compaq Computer introduces the Compaq Deskpro 286 and Portable 286.

May, 1985

• John Sculley essentially fires Steve Jobs at Apple Computer.
• Microsoft introduces Microsoft Excel for the Macintosh.
• Lotus Development releases Jazz for the Macintosh.
• Microsoft demonstrates Microsoft Windows at Spring Comdex. Release date is set for June, at a price of US$95.

June, 1985

• Microsoft releases a revised Microsoft Word v1 for the Macintosh.
• Apple Computer reports its first quarterly loss.
• Microsoft announces Windows 1.0.
• 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, 1985

• 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.
• Wang announces a series of products to turn PCs into local and remote Wang terminals.
• Aldus PageMaker is released for the Apple Macintosh.
• Quarterdeck Office Systems ships DESQview 1.0.

August, 1985

• Microsoft and IBM sign a joint-development agreement to work together on future operating systems and environments.

September, 1985

• Apple Computer co-founder Steve Jobs resigns from Apple Computer.
• The one millionth copy of Microsoft Multiplan is sold.
• Steve Jobs and five senior managers of Apple Computer Inc. found NeXT Incorporated.
• Computer company Gateway 2000 is formed, in Sioux City, Iowa, USA.
• Lotus Development ships Lotus 1-2-3 Release 2.0.
• Satellite Software International ships WordPerfect 4.1 for US$500.
• Microsoft releases Microsoft Excel for the Macintosh 512K.
• 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, 1985

• Intel announces the 16-MHz 80386 microprocessor. It uses 32-bit registers and a 32-bit data bus, and incorporates 275,000 transistors. Initial price is US$299. It can access 4 gigabytes of memory.
• Microsoft France releases a French version of Multiplan 2.0 for the IBM PC.
• Apple Computer discontinues its 128K Mac.
• IBM announces its token ring network.
• General Electric Information Services begins the GEnie online service.
• Hayes Microcomputer Products is issued a patent for the "Improved Escape Sequence with Guard Time", a technique to put a modem into command mode.
• AT&T Computer Systems introduces the PC 6300 Plus.

November, 1985

• Microsoft ships Microsoft Windows 1.0, for US$100. It is delivered two years after the initial announcement of the product.
• Tandy announces it will offer Digital Research's GEM graphical user interface for its microcomputers.
• Apple Computer and Microsoft sign an agreement regarding Microsoft's use of Apple's copyrights on the visual display of the Macintosh.
• Lotus Development releases Lotus 1-2-3 v2.0.

December, 1985

• Ashton-Tate delivers dBASE III Plus.

(month unknown), 1985

• (early) VisiCorp files for bankruptcy.

(month unknown), 1985

• U.S. Robotics introduces the Courier 2400 modem.

(month unknown), 1985

• The Acorn Advanced RISC Machine (ARM), a 32-bit processor for home use, appears.

(month unknown), 1985

• Mips Technologies introduces the first commercially available RISC chip, the R2000.

(month unknown), 1985

• Microsoft purchases all rights to DOS from Seattle Computer Products for US$925,000.

(month unknown), 1985

• Motorola unveils its 68008 CPU chip.

(month unknown), 1985

• Sun Microsystems begins work on its SPARC processor.

(month unknown), 1985

• Steve Wozniak returns to Apple Computer.

(month unknown), 1985

• Mimic Systems announces the Spartan, a hardware upgrade for the Commodore 64 that turns it into an Apple IIe.

(month unknown), 1985

• Software Arts sells the rights to VisiCalc to Mitch Kapor, of Lotus Development, for US$800,000.

(month unknown), 1985

• Nintendo introduces the Nintendo Entertainment System in the US.
• Nintendo Entertainment System (image)

1986

January, 1986

• Microsoft releases MS-DOS 3.25.
• Apple Computer introduces the Macintosh Plus, with 1 MB RAM, support for hard drives, a new keyboard with cursor keys and numeric keypad, priced at US$2600.
• Apple Computer introduces the LaserWriter Plus printer.
• John Sculley becomes chairman of Apple Computer.
• Compaq Computer reports third year revenues of US$503.9 million, a U.S. business record.
• 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.

February, 1986

• Compaq Computer introduces the Compaq Portable II.
• Quarterdeck Office Systems ships DESQview 1.1.
• Quarterdeck Office Systems ships DESQview 1.2.
• Microsoft moves from Bellevue to Redmond, Washington.
• Microsoft releases a French version of Windows 1.02.

March, 1986

• The First International Conference on CD-ROM is held in Seattle, Washington, hosted by Microsoft.
• IBM begins shipping the IBM RT PC.
• 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.
• Silicon Graphics decides to switch from the Motorola 68000 line to MIPS Technologies' line of RISC processors.

April, 1986

• IBM announces the IBM PC Convertible, 80C88-based, 256K RAM, and two 720K floppy disks, for US$2000.
• IBM discontinues the IBM Portable PC.
• IBM 5155 Portable Personal Computer (image)
• Satellite Software International ships Student WordPerfect for US$75.
• IBM boosts the speed of the IBM PC AT by replacing the CPU with a 8-MHz Intel 80286.
• Jim Manzi is named chief executive officer of Lotus Development Corp.
• Microsoft releases Microsoft Word v3.0 for DOS.
• Compaq Computer joins the Fortune 500 list faster than any company in history.
• Compaq Computer ships its 500,000th personal computer.
• Apple Computer replaces the Macintosh 512K with the Macintosh 512K Enhanced, for US$2000.
• Satellite Software International changes its name to WordPerfect Corporation.

May, 1986

• IBM ships TopView 1.1.

July, 1986

• Apple Computer discontinues the Macintosh XL.
• Jim Manzi is appointed chairman of Lotus Development.

August, 1986

• Intel ships the 80386.
• Microsoft announces Works for the Macintosh.

September, 1986

• 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.
• Apple Computer releases AppleWorks 2.0.
• Apple Computer introduces the Apple 3.5 drive for the Mac and the Apple IIGS.
• IBM announces the IBM PC-XT Model 286, with 640KB RAM, 1.2MB floppy drive, 20MB hard drive, serial/parallel ports, and keyboard for US$4000.
• Quarterdeck Office Systems ships DESQview 1.3.
• Steve Jobs decides to use the ill-fated erasable optical disk drives for the first NeXT machine.

October, 1986

• WordPerfect ships WordPerfect 4.2 for US$500.
• Microsoft announces Microsoft Word v3.0 for the Macintosh.
• Ashton-Tate ships the one millionth copy of dBASE.

November, 1986

• Lotus Development releases a French version of Lotus 1-2-3 v2.0 in France.

December, 1986

• PageMaker is released for the PC. [120]
• WordPerfect ships WordPerfect for the Apple IIgs for US$180.

(month unknown), 1986

• Microsoft purchases Dymanical Systems, Inc., makers of a TopView clone called Mondrian.

(month unknown), 1986

• Motorola begins work on the 88000 processor.

(month unknown), 1986

• Digital Research introduces its GEM operating environment for MS-DOS.

(month unknown), 1986

• MIPS Technologies unveils the 8-MHz R2000 32-bit CPU. With 110,000 transistors, it achieves a speed rating of 5 MIPS.

(month unknown), 1986

• MIPS Technologies begins volume shipments of its first RISC processor, the R2000.

(month unknown), 1986

• Little-known company Advanced Logic Research announces the first 386-based PC, the Access 386.

(month unknown), 1986

• Mitch Kapor, founder of Lotus Development, leaves the company.

(month unknown), 1986

• NexGen begins work on the design of a fifth generation x86 processor.

(month unknown), 1986

• Motorola announces the 68030 microprocessor.

(month unknown), 1986

• NEC Home Electronics introduces its NEC JC-1401P3A Multisync monitor.

(month unknown), 1986

• Software Publishing Corporation introduces Harvard Presentation Graphics for the PC.

(month unknown), 1986

• IBM begins work on what would become the IBM RS/6000 series.

(month unknown), 1986

• Gateway 2000 ships its first PC.

(month unknown), 1986

• NexGen is founded.

[1926-1970][1971-1976][1977-1980][1981-1983][1984-1986]

[1987-1990][1991-1993][1994-1996][1997-1999][2000-2001]

[2002-]

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