History of Computer Micro Era 1971-1989.

1.    Bill Gates and Paul Allen form Traf-O-Data in 1971 to sell their computer traffic-analysis sytems.

2.    Gary Kildall writes PL/M, the first high-level programming language for the Intel Microprocessor.

3.    Steve Jobs and Steve Wozniak are building and selling “blue boxes” in Southern California in 1971.

4.    Intel introduces the 8008, the first 8-bit microprocessor in April of 1972.

5.    Jonathan A. Titus designs the Mark-8 and is featured in the July 1974 Radio Electronics.

6.    In January 1975 Popular Electronics features the MITS Altair 8800; it is hailed as the first “personal” computer.

7.    Paul Allen and Bill Gates develop BASIC for the Altair 8800. Microsoft is born!!!

8.    Apple is selling its Apple II for $1,195, including 16K of RAM but no monitor by 1977.

9.    Software Arts develops the first spreadsheet program, Visicalc by the spring of 1979. 500 copies per month are shipped in 1979 and sales increase to 12,000 per month by 1981.

10. By 1980 Apple has captured 50% of the personal computer market.

11. In 1980 Microsoft is approached by IBM to develop BASIC for its personal computer project. The IBM PC is released in August, 1981.

12. The Apple Macintosh, featuring a simple graphical interface using the 8-MHz, 32-bit Motorola 68000 CPU and a built-in 9-inch B/W screen, debuts in 1984.

13. Microsoft Windows 1.0 ships in November, 1985.

14. Microsoft’s sales for 1989 reach $1 billion.