Chronology of Personal Computers

Copyright © 1995-2024 Ken Polsson
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References are numbered in [brackets], which are listed here. A number after the dot gives the page in the source.

Last updated: 2023 October 25.


1995

July
  • Forbes magazine declares Bill Gates the world's richest person, at US$12.9 billion. [1700.270]
July 6
  • IBM completes its US$3.5 billion acquisition of Lotus Development, making it a wholly-owned subsidiary. [142] [217] [1559]
July 13
  • The US Justice Department files a brief with a federal judge in New York, asserting that Microsoft's marketing and sales strategy for its on-line service may be in violation of the Sherman Antitrust Act. [1700.269]
July 14
  • Microsoft terms Windows 95 source code "golden", meaning that no more changes to the 15 million lines of code will be made before the product ships. [1700.270]
July
  • IBM announces that it will offer customers the Mac OS for purchase with its PowerPC-based systems in 1996. [568]
  • The Business Applications Performance Company (BAPCo) releases the SYSmark for Windows NT benchmark suite. It includes crippled versions of programs available for Alpha, MIPS, and x86 architectures. Price is US$495. [568]
  • Cyrix announces sample availability of the 100 MHz CX5x86 processor. It features 16 kB cache, 2x and 3x clock doubling, and incorporates 1.95 million transistors in a 0.65 micron process. Price is US$147 in 1000 unit quantities. Code-name during development was M1sc. [557.135] [621]
  • Taligent releases CommonPoint for AIX. [2605.70]
  • U.S. retail market share for personal computers: Apple 8%. [496]
  • Symantec buys Delrina. [439.29]
  • Netscape Communications releases the Netscape Navigator 1.2 web browser. [919]
  • Microsoft stock hits US$100 per share. [909.236]
  • U.S. Robotics begins shipping enhanced Courier V.Everything modems capable of transmitting data at up to 33.6Kbps. [235]
  • Seagate Technology ships the one millionth Barracuda 3.5-inch hard drive, since the line was introduced in 1993. [227]
  • Seagate Technology ships the one millionth Elite 5.25-inch hard drive, since the line was introduced in November 1989. [227]
  • Hewlett-Packard unveils the DeskJet 1600C and 1600CM, color ink-jet printers. [402.35]

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  • Apple Computer introduces the Power Macintosh 7200/90, with 90 MHz PowerPC 601 processor, 500 MB hard drive, 4X CD-ROM, 16 MB RAM, and 2 MB video RAM. [859.77]
  • Apple Computer introduces the Power Macintosh 7500/100, with 100 MHz PowerPC 601 processor, 500 MB hard drive, 4X CD-ROM, 16 MB RAM, and 2 MB video RAM. [859.77]
  • Apple Computer introduces the Power Macintosh 8500, with a 120 MHz PowerPC 604 processor, 16 MB RAM, 1GB hard drive, 24 bit video I/O, three PCI slots, and 4X CD-ROM drive. Price is about US$4000. [114] [673.24] [541] [859.77]
  • Panasonic introduces the PowerDrive^2 rewritable, removable, phase-change optical drive with 4X CD-ROM drive. Price is US$899 (internal), or US$999 (external). [1271.46]
  • Broderbund announces it is acquiring The Learning Company. [860.19]
July 28
  • Columbia Pictures releases the film The Net to theaters in the USA.
    • The game Wolfenstein 3D is played/debugged on a Macintosh computer.
    • Another computer shows the Windows operating system running.
    • Several types of Apple Macintosh computers are used throughout the film.
    [2342]
(month unknown)
  • Apple Computer announces the Performa 6116CD computer. It features 60 MHz PowerPC 601 processor, 8 MB RAM, 700 MB hard drive, 2X CD-ROM drive, 14-inch monitor, external modem, one NuBus slot, and keyboard. Price is about US$1900. [541]
  • Apple Computer announces the Performa 5200CD computer. It features 75 MHz PowerPC 603 processor, 8 MB RAM, 800 MB hard drive, 4X CD-ROM drive, fax/modem, and built-in monitor. Price is about US$2000. [541]
August 8
  • The US Justice Department announces it will not pursue an antitrust case against Microsoft before the launch of Windows 95. [1700.270]
August 9
  • (2:30 PM New York) Shares of Netscape Communications are first made available to the public on the NASDAQ stock exchange. Before trading, shares are priced at US$28. The stock opens at US$71, reaching a high of US$74.75. The market value of the company becomes US$2.2 billion. This is the best opening day for a stock in Wall Street history for an issue of its size. [1423.3,220] [1438.16] [1700.271] [1897.130]
August
  • Apple Computer introduces the Power Macintosh 7200 computer. It features a 75 MHz PowerPC 601 processor, 8 MB RAM, 500 MB hard drive, 4X CD-ROM drive, three PCI slots, SCSI and Ethernet connectors. Price is about US$1700. Price for 90 MHz is US$1900. [114] [673.24] [541]
  • Apple Computer introduces the Power Macintosh 7500, with a 100 MHz PowerPC 601 processor, 16 MB RAM, 500 MB hard drive, 2 MB VRAM, 4X CD-ROM drive, floppy drive, Ethernet, and three PCI bus slots. Price is US$2700. [114] [673.24] [852.129] [541]
  • Apple Computer introduces QuickDraw 3D. [870.95]
  • Radius announces the Radius 81/110, with 110 MHz PowerPC 601 processor, 2 GB hard drive, 4X CD-ROM, 16 MB RAM, for US$4800. [859.35]
  • Cyrix begins volume shipments of its 5x86 processor. [469]
  • The Software Publishers Association announces software packaging guidelines in an attempt to reduce packaging and use less environmentally harmful materials. [603.13]
  • Pinnacle Micro introduces the Apex 4.6, a 5.25-inch optical drive, storing 4.6GB on a single removable disc. Transfer rate is up to 6 MBps, with a seek time of 17ms. Costs are US$200 for cartridges, and US$1700 for the drive. Software supports Windows, Macintosh, and various UNIX platforms. [402.6]
  • Lotus Development ships SmartSuite 4.0 for Windows 3.1, for US$400. [322.3]
  • Intel demonstrates a system using a 150 MHz P6 CPU, running Windows 95. [114]
  • Boca Research abandons its plans to merge with Hayes Microcomputer Products. [237.37] [321.12] [451.A8]
  • Apple Computer releases an update to QuickTime, adding support for animation tracks. [884.65]
  • Microsoft begins shipping Windows NT Server 3.51. [567.132]
  • Compaq Computer introduces nine new desktop models based on the 133 MHz Pentium processor. [113]
  • Hewlett-Packard introduces the HP 850C color ink jet printer. It prints at 600 dpi for black text, and 300 dpi for color images. Connection is via serial, parallel, or LocalTalk network. List price is US$658. [402.35] [926.55]
August 21
  • US District Court Judge Thomas Jackson holds the first and only hearing on the consent decree between Microsoft and the US Department of Justice. Within 17 minutes, he signs his approval of it. The decree will govern Microsoft's licensing practices of Windows for the next 6.5 years, barring the company from linking unrelated software licenses. The ruling comes after five years of investigation of monopolistic licensing practices. [387.32] [389.29] [765.14] [775] [1462.94] [1700.260] [1711.3]
August 23
  • Quote by comedian Jay Leno about computers, at a rehersal for the Windows 95 launch: "I came illiterate, now I'm leaving virtually retarded.". [1700.2]
August 24
  • At the stroke of midnight in Auckland, New Zealand, the first retail copy of Windows 95 is sold. [1700.6]
  • Microsoft signs a licensing agreement allowing IBM to install Windows 95 on its personal computers. IBM is the last company allowed to license the operating system prior to the product launch, and also pays the most, US$45.90 per copy. [1711.230]
  • Microsoft releases the Windows 95 operating system, with a product launch in a circus tent on Microsoft's campus in Redmond. Over 12,500 people were invited to attend the launch, plus live satellite broadcasts are made available in 42 US cities and world capitals. This is the first consumer Windows version that does not require MS-DOS pre-installed. New features include integrated TCP/IP stack, dial-up networking, and long filenames. More than 20,000 retail stores offer copies for sale. Microsoft prepares for support calls, with 1600 people staffing tech support lines. The software comprises over 11 million lines of code. The US$250 million publicity campaign includes US$12 million for the rights to the "Start Me Up" song by the Rolling Stones. This is the biggest marketing extravaganza for a consumer product ever. First day sales total about 300,000 copies. [123] [182] [191.48] [271.70] [272.A5] [301.3] [323.20] [387.1] [388.6] [389.29] [428.12] [439.12] [548.159] [620.134] [626.72] [721.156] [755.93] [794.39] [877.17] [909.236] [1112.144] [1125.5] [1129.166] [1215.41] [1629.35] [1639.125] [1700.1,275] [1897.130] [2605.175]
  • Microsoft releases Microsoft Office 95. [439.29] [564.13] [943.44]
  • Microsoft releases Windows 95 PLUS pack, including Internet Explorer 1.0 web browser. Price is US$50. [564.13] [913] [191.48] [1897.130]
  • Maldive Islands issues a 30-l postage stamp depicting a woman at a personal computer. [2588.62]
August 25
  • Apple Computer releases the PowerBook 5300 series. [739.130] [1205.36] [2605.237] (early 1995 [926.35])
August 27
  • In the first four days of its release, one million copies of Windows 95 have been sold. [917.100] [1129.166] [1280.50] [1897.130]
(month unknown)
  • Advanced Micro Devices announces the X5 processor, a 133 MHz 486 with 16 kB write-back cache. [508]
  • Intel announces the Writeback Enhanced IntelDX4 processor. This clock-tripled 486 processor adds a write-back cache design, slightly faster than write-through mode. This processor will gradually phase out the write-through IntelDX4. [513]
  • IBM begins shipping 117 MHz PowerPC 603e processors to Apple Computer. [469]
September 14
  • Apple Computer recalls all PowerBook 5300 computers to exchange Sony-manufactured lithium-ion batteries for nickel-metal-hydride batteries, due to two fires in early units white charging. [2605.237]
September 15
  • United Artists releases the film Hackers to theaters in the US. Various personal computers are used throughout the film to control television programming, a supercomputer, traffic lights, building lights, and more. Apple Computer products appear (3.5-inch disk drive, portable computer, windowing software). [1992]
September
  • The United States Patent Office overturns the decision to grant Gilbert Hyatt a patent on the microprocessor. The ruling recognizes Texas Instruments' Gary Boone as the prior inventor of the microprocessor. [590.5]
  • Diamond Multimedia Systems acquires modem maker Supra, for cash and stock worth US$54 million. [325.18] (August [375.3])
  • Intel announces the 80486SXSF and GXSF 486 microprocessors, designed for handheld computer products. The GX has a 16-bit bus, the SX a 32-bit bus. Both are 33 MHz, operating on 2.0-3.3 volts. [324.3] [508]
  • AT&T shuts down NCR, at a cost of US$1.2 billion. [282.112]
  • IBM introduces the Aptiva PC. [142]
  • Intel announces the official name for the processor code-named P6: Pentium Pro. [62] [432.47] [508]
  • Two groups of companies agree on a proposed DVD high density compact disc format. The new format will allow up to 18.8 gigabytes total on a double-sided disc. [727.6] [324.50] (December [1298.191])
  • Six months after its release, 30,000 units of Microsoft Bob have been sold. [226.12]
  • Intel ships the 83 MHz Pentium OverDrive Processor, for replacement in 33 MHz 486DX and 486DX2/66 systems. Price: US$299 each. Code-name during development was P24T. [323.3] [403.123] [508]
  • AT&T spins off its computer subsidiary (formerly NCR) as AT&T Global Information Solutions. [324.20]
September 17
  • The Fox Broadcasting Company airs The Simpsons TV show in the US. A stock sound "ta da" from Windows 3 is played when a DNA machine finds a match. [1802]
September 18
  • Netscape Communications releases Navigator 2.0 beta, with support for Java applets. [948.102]
September 24
  • The Fox Broadcasting Company airs The Simpsons TV show in the US. A personal computer shows the "Flying Toasters" screen-saver. [1803]
September
  • Advanced Micro Devices announces the 75 MHz SS/5 processor, pin-compatible with Intel's Pentium processor, and equal in performance. (This processor is renamed about a month later as the SSA5 processor. This processor is the K5 released under a different name due to not meeting the K5's goal of 30% better performance than comparable Intel processor.) [508] [496]
  • Advanced Micro Devices renames the SS/5 processor the SSA5. It is the K5 code-named processor, but running at less than the original target performance level. The SSA5 operates at 75 MHz, and is expected to ship early in 1996. [496] [466]
  • Cyrix announces and ships the 100 MHz CX6x86 processor. Performance is comparable to a 133 MHz Intel Pentium processor. The chip is manufactured by IBM, using a 0.65 micron process, incorporating 3 million transistors. Price is US$450 each in quantities of 1000. Code-name during development was M1. [325.111] [389.49] [431.54] [437.27] [438.35] [460] [512.112] [557.135] [909.35] [496]
(month unknown)
  • Hewlett-Packard introduces the CopyJet M scanner/printer. It integrates an HP DeskJet 1200C/PS color ink jet printer with a flatbed scanner, making it a 300 dpi color copier. Price is US$3199. It features 6 MB RAM, parallel port, ports for Ethernet and LocalTalk networks, Adobe PostScript Level 2, enhanced PCL 5, and HP-GL/2. [917.44] [918.39]
  • Power Computing introduces the Power 120 computer, featuring a 120 MHz PowerPC 601 processor, 16 MB RAM, 850 MB hard drive, 2 MB VRAM, and NuBus expansion slots. Price is US$2819. [917.45]
  • Novell releases WordPerfect 3.5 for the Macintosh. Price is US$189. [917.81]

End of 1995 July-September. Next: 1995 October.

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A list of references to all source material is available.


Last updated: 2023 October 25.
Copyright © 1995-2024 Ken Polsson (email: ken@kpolsson.com).
URL: http://kpolsson.com/comphist/
Link to Ken P's home page.

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