1990 - presents

1991

• MIPS Technologies unveils the R4000 RISC processor architecture.
• IBM gets rid of its printer and typewriter operation to a New York investment firm.
• Advanced Micro Designs introduces the Am386DX.
• Lotus Development announces Lotus 1-2-3 for the Macintosh.
• Apple Computer announces QuickTime software for integration of dynamic media for Macintosh computers.
• Microsoft releases MS-DOS 5.0
• Intel introduces the 50-MHz 486 microprocessor.
• Microsoft changes the name of the operating system shared with IBM called OS/2 v3.0 to Windows NT 3.0.
• The ban on business is lifted on the Internet.
• Apple Computer ships its System 7.0 Macintosh operating system for US$100.
• The PCMCIA card specification v2.0 is released.
• Microsoft and others announce the Multimedia PC (MPC) standard.
• Apple Computer, Motorola, and IBM officially sign an accord on technology sharing.
• Apple Computer introduces the Macintosh Classic II.
• Apple Computer unveils the Macintosh PowerBook 100.
• MIPS Technologies officially introduces the 100-MHz R4000, its 64-bit RISC processor.
• IBM and Intel sign a 10-year joint development agreement to create a series of integrated processors.
• The Pearl Agency in Germany develops the first software vending machine.
• Creative Labs introduces the Sound Blaster Pro Deluxe, the first stereo PC sound card.
• Hewlett-Packard introduces its first color image scanner, the HP Scanjet IIc.
• Pixar begins work with the Walt Disney Company on a full-length computer animated film.
• Intel introduces the Peripheral Component Interconnect (PCI) local-bus standard for personal computer systems.

1992

• Microsoft stock reaches US$113 per share, making Bill Gates the richest man in the United States.
• NEC introduces the first double-speed CD-ROM drive.
• Microsoft launches its first TV advertising campaign, for Windows.
• Intel and Microsoft announce the Advanced Power Management (APM) specification for laptop computers.
• Intel introduces the i486DX2 microprocessor, with clock speeds of 25/50-MHz (external/internal).
• Microsoft ships Windows 3.1.
• IBM and Microsoft sign a "divorce" document.
• Advanced Micro Devices begins work on a fifth-generation x86 processor (in the class of Intel's Pentium chip).
• Apple Computer introduces the PowerBook 145.
• Intel introduces the 66-MHz i486DX2 microprocessor.
• Intel introduces the 66-MHz OverDrive chip as a companion to the 486SX/33.
• Digital Equipment unveils the 150-MHz Alpha 21064 64-bit microprocessor.
• Novell buys Unix Systems Laboratories from AT&T, gaining all rights to the Unix source code.
• Novell purchases Digital Research Inc. for US$80 million.
• Creative Labs introduces the Sound Blaster 16, a 16-bit stereo PC sound card.

1993

• IBM reports a year-end loss of US$4.96 billion.
• NeXT announces that it will drop its hardware line.
• Pinnacle Micro introduces the RCD-202 recordable CD-ROM drive.
• Apple Computer ships the 10 millionth Macintosh computer.
• Digital Equipment announces the 200-MHz Alpha 21064 processor.
• Intel introduces the Pentium processor.
• The Software Publishers Association reports that MS-Windows applications are outselling MS-DOS programs for the first time.
• Sun Microsystems, Novell, Hewlett-Packard, IBM and the Santa Cruz Operation announce that they will work together toward a unified Unix operating system standard.
• Compaq Computer, Intel, Microsoft, and Phoenix Technologies define the Plug and Play specification for PCs.
• Microsoft formally launches Windows NT 3.1.
• The PCI Special Interest Group completes the version 2.0 specification of the PCI local-bus standard for microcomputers.
• The United States Environmental Protection Agency officially launches the Energy Star program.
• Apple Computer introduces the Newton MessagePad 100 personal digital assistant at Macworld Expo.
• PC Gamer, the first computer magazine devoted totally to computer gaming, begins publication.
• Corel completes its purchase of Ventura Software.
• Compton's New Media Incorporated receives a patent on multimedia search and retrieval technology.
• Gateway 2000 introduces the industry's first VESA VL-bus system.
• Novell transfers the Unix trademark to the international X/Open standards organization
• Apple Computer discontinues the Apple II line of computers.
• Benny S. Lee, of Everex Systems, Inc. is sentenced to one year in prison for manufacturing and selling counterfeit MS-DOS software.
• The Multimedia PC Marketing Council sets the MPC Level 2 standard, dictating the minumum configuration required of a PC to run MPC-2 class software.
• Commodore Business Machines stops producing Intel-based personal computers.

1994

• Silicon Graphics co-founder leaves to start Mosaic Communications.
• Microsoft releases Microsoft Windows 3.11.
• Apple Computer introduces QuickTime 2.0, with interactive television, music and full-screen video support.
• Apple Computer unveils and ships its first computers based on the PowerPC 601 processor.
• Apple Computer releases MacOS System 7.1 and later 7.5.
• Apple Computer introduces QuickTake 100, the first 24-bit color digital camera for under US$1000.
• Intel ships its 100-MHz IntelDX4 435 processor.
• Novell buys WordPerfect Corporation for US$850 million.
• Aldus and Adobe Systems announce plans to merge the two companies.
• Commodore International and Commodore Electronics, components of Commodore Business Machines, file for voluntary liquidation.
• Mosaic Communications releases Netscape Navigator 1.0, a world-wide web browser.
• The U.S. Patent and Trademark Office decides to reject all 41 of Compton's New Media Incorporated's patent application's claims.
• Apple Computer delivers the DOS Compatible Card.
• Microsoft is granted a trademark to the name "Windows" for software products.
• Microsoft releases MS-DOS 6.22, with disk compression under the name DriveSpace.
• Borland International sells its Quattro Pro spreadsheet to Novell for about US$140 million.
• Digital Equipment Corporation formally introduces its next-generation Alpha AXP processors.
• The International Telecommunications Union ratifies the 28.8Kbps V.34 modem standard.
• U.S. Robotics ships the Courier v.34 28.8Kbps modems. List price: US$329 internal, US$349 external.
• IBM introduces the Aptiva line. They are built to replace the PS/1 line and are aimed at the home PC market.
• Microsoft announces and ships Windows NT Workstation 3.5 and Windows NT Server 3.5.
• IBM formally launches OS/2 Warp version 3
• Seagate Technologies announces the first disk drive and interface achieving a transfer rate of 100 MB per second.
• Apple Computer, Motorola, and IBM announce that they will create a computer platform to run all major operating systems, except Microsoft Windows.
• Cyrix announces the M1 next-generation x86 processor.
• Intel confirms that about 2 million Pentium chips have been shipped with a defective floating-point unit.
• Apple Computer demonstrates a PCI-based Power Macintosh using a 120-MHz PowerPC 604 processor.
• WordStar International, Spinnaker Software, and SoftKey Software Products merge companies.
• Number Nine Computer Corp. ships the first PC video board using a 128-bit accelerator chip.
• Iomega Corp. introduces its Zip drive and Zip disks, floppy disk sized removable storage in sizes 100MB.
• The SCSI-2 standard is finalized.

1995

• Apple Computer ships QuickTime VR.
• Radius Incorporated demonstrates the first Power Macintosh clone.
• Compaq Computer reaches worldwide number one PC marketshare position.
• Apple Computer signs a licensing agreement with three companies, allowing them to produce Macintosh compatible computers.
• IBM releases PC DOS 7.
• At an auction in New York, ESCOM buys all rights, properties, and technologies of Commodore.
• Microsoft asks Netscape Communications to agree to not develop Netscape Navigator for Windows 95 and successors. Netscape refuses.Intel introduces the P6 processor, to be called the Pentium Pro.
• Intel introduces the P6 processor, to be called the Pentium Pro.
• Intel announces the immediate availability of the 133-MHz Pentium processor.
• Apple Computer introduces the first commercial color laser printer, the Color Laser Printer 12/600PS.
• Iomega introduces the Jaz line of high capacity removable cartridge drives.
• Microsoft releases Windows NT v3.51.
• .S. Robotics begins shipping enhanced Courier V.Everything modems capable of transmitting data at up to 33.6Kbps.
• Cyrix announces the 100-MHz CX5x86 microprocessor.
• Microsoft releases Windows 95.
• Microsoft introduces Office 95.
• unified standard for DVD (Digital Versatile Disc) technology is announced.
• Diamond Multimedia Systems acquires modem maker Supra, for cash and stock worth US$54 million.
• Intel introduces the 83-MHz Pentium OverDrive processor, for replacement in 33-MHz 486DX and 486DX2/66 systems.
• Seagate Technologies and Conner Peripherals agree to a US$1.1 billion merger.
• Digital Equipment announces its Alpha 21164 processor running at 333-MHz.
• Novell announces its decision to exit from the personal productivity applications business.
• Amiga Technologies ships the A4000T microcomputer.
• Intel announces the Pentium Pro microprocessor at speeds of 150-, 180-, and 200 MHz.
• Sun Microsystems introduces new Ultra 1 and Ultra 2 workstations, based on the 64-bit UltraSparc microprocessor.
• IBM, Apple, and Motorola release the PowerPC Platform specifications, called the Common Hardware Reference Platform (CHRP).
• Sony Electronics introduces its 32-bit game system, PlayStation.
• Sega introduces the 32-bit game system, Saturn.

1996

• Advanced Micro Devices and NexGen complete their merger, with AMD paying US$623 million for NexGen.
• Intel announces the immediate availability of the 66/166-MHz Pentium processor.
• Corel purchases WordPerfect, Quattro Pro, and the PerfectOffice application suite from Novell for US$180 million.
• Intel renames the P7 processor Merced.
• Advanced Micro Devices and Intel sign a five-year patent cross-license agreement.
• Santa Cruz Operations releases SCO UnixWare 2.1.
• Silicon Graphics buys Cray Research, at a cost of about US$765 million.
• Corel releases Corel WordPerfect Suite 7, and Corel Office Professional Suite.
• Netscape Communications releases Netscape Navigator 2.02.
• Microsoft releases the first real version of Microsoft Internet Explorer, 2.0.
• Intel introduces the 200-MHz Pentium processor, in small quantities. Price is US$599.
• Digital Equipment ships 366-MHz and 400-MHz versions of its Alpha 21164 microprocessor.
• Nintendo announces the Nintendo 64, a 64-bit console system.
• Microsoft releases Windows NT 4.0.
• Microsoft releases Microsoft Internet Explorer 3.0.
• Microsoft unveils Windows CE operating system for hand-held PCs.
• Seagate Technology introduces the Cheetah ST19101 9.1 GB, a 10,000 RPM hard disk drive.
• Enorex Microsystems introduces the Enorex Ultra PC line of Digital Equipment Alpha processor-based workstations.
• Microsoft unveils Microsoft Office 97 at Fall Comdex.
• Apple Computer buys Steve Jobs' NeXT Software company for about US$425 million in cash and Apple stock.
• Digital Equipment announces availability of the 500-MHz Alpha 21164 processor.
• At the Microprocessor Forum, Advanced Micro Devices announces the K6 processor.
• At the Microprocessor Forum, Cyrix announces the M2 processor.

1997

• Microsoft buys WebTV for US$425 million.
• Steve Jobs announces an investment of US$150 million from Microsoft.
• Apple Computer releases the Mac OS 8.0.
• Apple announces it will only sell computers via the CompUSA retail chain adn online via the Apple Store.
• Netscape Communications releases the Netscape Communicator suite, which includes Navigator 4.
• Motorola announces it is leaving the Macintosh market.
• The U.S. justice department asks a federal court to hold Microsoft in contempt.
• Sun Microsystems takes legal action against Microsoft for using non-standardized Java in Internet Explorer 4.
• Apple announces the G3 processor, which is twice as fast as a comparably megahertz-rated Pentium II chip.

1998

• Compaq buys Digital Equipment for US$9.6 billion.
• Microsoft ships Windows 98.
• Netscape announces that it will make its source code available to anyone who wants it.
• Value of internet stocks such as Yahoo! and Infoseek skyrocket.
• Apple Computer ceases development of its Newton operating system and Newton OS-based products.
• Apple Computer releases the iMac.
• Intel releases the Pentium II 300, 333, 400, 450, and faster processors to the market.

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