1979

• Microsoft moves its offices from Albuquerque, New Mexico to Bellevue, Washington.

• Apple Computer releases DOS 3.2.

• Zilog ships samples of the 16-bit Z8000 processor.

• Microsoft 8080 BASIC wins the ICP Million Dollar Award, the first microprocessor product to do so.
• Taito first shows the Space Invaders game, in Japan.

• Software Arts demonstrates VisiCalc at the 4th West Coast Computer Faire. Dan Bricklin and Bob Frankston wrote it during 1978-79, under the company name Software Arts, under contract to Personal Software.
• Seattle Computer Products makes the first prototype of its 8086 microprocessor card for the S-100 bus.
• Microsoft tries out its 8086 BASIC on Seattle Computer Products' 8086 processor card for the first time.
• Processor Technology closes.
• Tandy/Radio Shack announces the TRS-80 Model II.

• The Source telecommunications service goes online.
• Apple Computer introduces the Apple II Plus, with 48KB memory, for US$1195.
• Apple Computer introduces its first printer, the Apple Silentype, for US$600. It is a Trendcom Model 200, released under the Apple name.
• Intel introduces the 4.77-MHz 8088 microprocessor. It was created as a stepping stone to the 8086, as it operates on 16 bits internally, but supports an 8-bit data bus, to use existing 8-bit device-controlling chips. It contains 29,000 transistors, using 3-micron technology, and can address 1MB of memory. Speed is 0.33 MIPS. A later version operates at 8-MHz, for a speed of 0.75 MIPS.
• Bob Metcalfe founds 3Com Corporation.
• Texas Instruments introduces the TI-99/4 personal computer, for an initial price of US$1500. It uses the TI 9940 16-bit microprocessor.
• MicroPro releases the WordStar word processor, written by Rob Barnaby. (written by Seymour Rubenstein )
• Microsoft announces Microsoft BASIC 8086 at the National Computer Conference.

• Apple Computer releases DOS 3.2.1.
• CompuServe begins a service to computer hobbyists called MicroNET, offering bulletin boards, databases, and games.
• Clive Sinclair creates Sinclair Research.

• Microsoft releases its Assembler language for 8080/Z80 microprocessors.
• Wayne Ratliff develops the Vulcan database program (Ashton- Tate later markets it as dBase II).

• Motorola's 68000 16-bit microprocessor appears. It uses 68,000 transistors, giving it its name.
• IMSAI files for bankruptcy.
• Apple Computer sells 35,000 Apple II computers for the fiscal year.

• 2.5 years after the introduction of the Apple II, 50,000 units have been sold.
• Personal Software releases VisiCalc for the Apple II, for US$100.
• Atari begins shipping the Atari 400 and Atari 800 personal computers. The 400 comes with 8KB, selling for US$550. The 800 sells for US$1000.
• Radio Shack begins shipping the TRS-80 Model II to users.
• Mattel announces a keyboard unit for the Intellivision. Estimated retail price: US$700.

• Texas Instruments begins shipping the TI 99/4.
• ComputerLand grows to include 100 franchises.

• The first Comdex show is held in Las Vegas.
• A group of Apple Computer engineers and executives is given a demo of Xerox Palo Alto Research Center's Alto computer system, in exchange for Xerox buying 100,000 Apple Computer shares for US$1 million.
• Sears begins selling Atari home computers.

• Atari develops the Asteroids computer game.

• Microsoft completes work on BASIC for the Intel 8086 processor.

• Atari produces the first coin-operated Asteroids game machine.

• Microsoft begins developing an 8086 version of FORTRAN.

• The first issue of COMPUTE! magazine is published.

• Mattel Electronics releases the Intellivision video game system.

• (1980?) Apple Computer's Trip Hawkins negotiates a deal with Dan Fylstra of Personal Software to buy his company and VisiCalc for US$1 million in Apple stock. Apple's president refuses to approve the deal.

• Alan Shugart founds Seagate Technologies (hard disk maker), in Scotts Valley, California.

• Shugart Associates publishes the Shugart Associates Systems Interface (SASI).

• The National Computer Conference is held in New York.

• Tim Patterson of Seattle Computer Products demonstrates his 8086 card with Microsoft at the LifeBoat Associates booth at the National Computer Conference.

• A group of programmers from the Dynamic Modeling Group at MIT incorporates InfoCom.

• Apple Computer begins work on "Sara", the code name for what will be the Apple III.

• Apple Computer releases the word processing program AppleWriter 1.0.

• Michael Shane founds Leading Edge Products.

• Vector Graphic Inc. introduces the Vector Graphic System B system.

• Schlumberger Ltd. sells Heath Company to Zenith Radio Corp. for US$64.5 million.

• Niklaus Wirth invents the Modula-1 programming language.

• NEC releases its NEC PC 8001 microcomputer in Japan, the first for that country.

• Atari founder Nolan Bushnell leaves the company, to manage Pizza Time Theatre.

• IMSAI declares bankruptcy. Its assets are purchased by Fischer-Freitas.

• IBM introduces the IBM 3800 laser printer, capable of printing 20,000 lines per minute.

• Hayes Microcomputer Products introduces the 110/300 baud Micromodem II for the Apple II, for US$380.

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