1980 – The machine was code named “Sara”. It was the Apple III and was planned to be the successor to the Apple II. However, the machine had enough failures that Apple had to re-launch this computer in August. Therefore, it was refered to as “Apple Failure III”. Then IBM came out with the PC and Apple switched gears with their Macintosh line. Apple III saw modest numbers before it was retired on April 24th, 1984. Full Day in Tech History podcast show notes for May 19 Star Wars Episode I Apple opens the first Apple Stores Intel debuts the pineview Atom chip Podcast: Play in new window | Download | Embed
2011 – Eric Schmidt shows off the new Google Chrome OS but with an added feature as he introduced Google Chromebook – a personal computer with the Google Chrome OS built-in. The device loads straight to the browser where you can install applications for functionality on your Chromebook. The first Chromebook would begin selling on June 15, 2011. 1979 – Daniel Bricklin and Robert Frankston demonstrate the spreadsheet program “Visicalc”. Of course, it will become the “killer app” for PC’s. 100 cells could be calculated in 20 seconds. By the first year, sales will hit on hundred thousand and seven hundred thousand in six years. VisiCalc will fall to clones and ultimately to products like Lotus 1-2-3 and Microsoft Excel ...
1983 – Microsoft releases the 2-button mouse. It was designed for Microsoft Word 1.0. The first mouse would fail, but the second version in 1985 would solidify the mouse on PC’s. Of course, Microsoft launched Microsoft Word v. 1.0for $229. Full Day in Tech History podcast show notes for May 2 Other Events in the Day in Technology History Excel launches for Macintosh Intel releases 3600MHz Pentium D processor Podcast: Play in new window | Download | Embed
1984 – Apple introduces the Apple IIc, their answer to a portable machine. It weighed 7 1/2 lbs and featured a 1.023MHz CPU and 128 KB RAM. $1,295. The device device had a built-in floppy and peripheral expansion ports. This was a closed system – no expansion slots to plug in cards. It was deemed an appliance computer, which meant was ready to go when you pulled it out of the box. Full Day in Tech History podcast show notes for April 24 Other Events in the Day in Technology History IBM PC first announced (but wouldn’t be released until Aug 12th) Amiga 3000 announced Cnet / Yahoo deal Google Drive is released Podcast: Play in new window | Download | ...
1977 – Two days prior, Microsoft send MITS a letter with the allegation that they were not up on royalty payments and if they didn’t catch up, MITS would be in breach and the 8080 BASIC would be pulled. MITS sends a letter stating that they are not correct. Ultimately, this would begin a debate that would end in November when Microsoft pulled the 8080 BASIC out. Full Day in Tech History podcast show notes for April 21 The Tanday 5000MC Intel 3 GHz Pentium 4 Firefox 3.0.9 is released Podcast: Play in new window | Download | Embed
2012 – Facebook – trying to get a hold on photosharing – decides to not wait for their iPhone app to come out but instead purchase Instagram for 1 billion dollars ($300 million and 23 million shares of Facebook stock). The reason Facebook made the purchase was for the close to 50 million Instagram users. Facebook had plans to keep both companies separate, but found later that joining the two via databases would help both companies grow. The companies finalized the deal on September 6, 2012. 1998 - Seiko Instruments introduces the world’s first wrist wearable Personal Computer called the Ruputer. This wristwatch was planned to be released June 10, 1998 and cost $285. The Ruputer featured a 16-bit, 3.6 MHz ...
2001 – The reason why I decided to highlight this event is to make you aware that Tablets are not a new thing. Computer companies have been trying to perfect the tablet for many years. in 2001, for example, Microsoft CEO Bill Gates introduces the Tablet PC initiative. Using a Crusoe processor and the XP OS, he shows off a touch screen with Microsoft Notebook handwriting recognition software. This 3 pound revolution weighed only 3 lbs and would cost the average consumer $2,000 – 3,500.Wikazine – Full show notes for March 26 First World Altair Computer Convention is held in New Mexico. Kevin Mitnick pleads guilty Dr. Who comes back out of mothballs. Podcast: Play in new window | Download | ...
1983 -IBM announces the IBM Personal Computer XT (eXtended Technology). It features a Intel 8088 processor, 10MB hard drive, 128 kB RAM, 40Kb ROM and double-sided 360 kB floppy drive. For $4995, it’s all yours. The machine was also called IBM Machine Type number 5160.The XT could support up to 256 kb on the motherboard. You could get expansion cards to raise to 640 kb. The 8088 processor ran at 4.77 MHz. It weighed 32 lbs (desktop only) and was 19.5 inches wide by 16 inches deep and 5.5 inches high. The IBM PC XT was the successor to the IBM PC. It was developed until April 1987. Wikazine – Full show notes for March 8 Sierra and Broderbund announce the ...
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