1985

• Forethought releases FileMaker for the Macintosh, for US$199.
• The Winter Consumer Electronics Show is held in Las Vegas, Nevada.
• Commodore unveils the Commodore 128 Personal Computer. It functions as three computers in one: a complete Commodore 64, a CP/M mode, and a new 128KB mode.
• Atari introduces the 65XE, for US$120. Variations include the 65XEM with a built-in 8-voice synthesizer, and the 65XEP with built-in monitor and 3.5 inch disk drive.
• Atari introduces the 130XE, with 128KB RAM.
• Atari introduces the 130ST: 128KB RAM, 192KB ROM, 512 color graphics, MIDI interface, and mouse for US$400.
• Atari introduces the 520ST: 512KB RAM, 192KB ROM, 512 color graphics, MIDI interface, and mouse for US$600.
• Microsoft releases Microsoft Word 1.0 for the Macintosh.
• Microsoft shows Apple's Steve Jobs the Microsoft Excel spreadsheet for the first time. Jobs is not impressed, claiming that Lotus Development's Jazz would be more popular.
• Compaq Computer reports second year revenues of US$329 million, an industry record.
• Coleco sells off its Adam inventory and leaves the computer business.
• Apple Computer officially renames the Lisa the Macintosh XL.
• Apple Computer releases the Apple LaserWriter laser printer.
• Satellite Software International ships WordPerfect Jr. for US$200. It is designed for use on the IBM PCjr.
• Former Microsoft founder Paul Allen founds Asymetrix.

• Microsoft releases Microsoft Word 2.0 for DOS.
• Apple Computer co-founder Steve Wozniak resigns from Apple Computer, to start a company that will develop home video products.
• IBM releases TopView, for US$150.

• Apple Computer introduces the Apple Enhanced IIe.
• IBM announces that it will cease production and promotion of the IBM PCjr.

• IBM abandons production of the IBM PCjr.
• The Macintosh XL (formerly called Lisa) is dropped from Apple Computer's product line.
• Compaq Computer introduces the Compaq Deskpro 286 and Portable 286.

• John Sculley essentially fires Steve Jobs at Apple Computer.
• Microsoft introduces Microsoft Excel for the Macintosh, in New York.
• Lotus Development releases Lotus Jazz for the Macintosh, for US$595.
• Microsoft demonstrates Microsoft Windows at Spring Comdex. Release date is set for June, at a price of US$95.

• Microsoft releases a revised Microsoft Word 1 for the Macintosh.
• Mike Markkula backs John Sculley's decision to "banish" Steve Jobs from any official duties at Apple Computer.
• Apple Computer reports its first quarterly loss.
• Microsoft announces Windows 1.0.
• Apple Computer introduces the UniDisk 5.25 single 5.25-inch floppy disk drive, with the ability to daisy-chain additional drives through it.

• Commodore unveils the new Amiga 1000 in New York. It features a multitasking, windowing operating system, using a Motorola 68000 CPU, with 256KB RAM, and 880KB 3.5-inch disk drive, for US$1300.
• Micrografx releases its first Microsoft Windows application, In*A*Vision.
• Wang announces a series of products to turn PCs into local and remote Wang terminals.
• Aldus releases Aldus PageMaker for the Apple Macintosh, for US$495.
• Quarterdeck Office Systems ships DESQview 1.0.

• Microsoft and IBM sign a joint-development agreement to work together on future operating systems and environments.

• Electronic Arts releases DeluxePaint for the Amiga. DeluxePaint was a rewrite of Prism for the IBM PC, which was an enhanced port of Doodle, created on a Xerox syystem.
• Apple Computer co-founder Steve Jobs resigns from Apple Computer.
• The one millionth copy of Microsoft Multiplan is sold.
• Steve Jobs and five senior managers of Apple Computer Inc. found NeXT Incorporated.
• Computer company Gateway 2000 is formed, in Sioux City, Iowa, USA.
• Lotus Development ships Lotus 1-2-3 Release 2.0.
• Satellite Software International ships WordPerfect 4.1 for US$500.
• Microsoft releases Microsoft Excel for the Macintosh 512K.
• Apple Computer introduces the UniDisk 3.5, a double-sided 3.5-inch disk drive, capable of storing 800KB per disk.
• Apple Computer releases the Apple ImageWriter II printer.

• Cauzin releases Cauzin SoftStrips, a form of barcode technology for publishing computer files in magazines, to be scanned into Macintosh computers.
• Intel introduces the 16-MHz 80386DX microprocessor. It uses 32-bit registers and a 32-bit data bus, and incorporates 275,000 transistors (1.5 microns). Initial price is US$299. It can access 4 gigabytes of physical memory, or up to 64 terabytes of virtual memory.
• Microsoft France releases a French version of Multiplan 2.0 for the IBM PC.
• Apple Computer discontinues its 128K Mac.
• IBM announces its token ring network.
• General Electric Information Services begins the GEnie online service.
• Hayes Microcomputer Products is issued a patent for the "Improved Escape Sequence with Guard Time", a technique to put a modem into command mode.
• AT&T Computer Systems introduces the PC 6300 Plus.

• Microsoft ships Microsoft Windows 1.0, for US$100. It is delivered two years after the initial announcement of the product.
• Tandy announces it will offer Digital Research's GEM graphical user interface for its microcomputers.
• Apple Computer and Microsoft sign an agreement regarding Microsoft's use of Apple's copyrights on the visual display of the Macintosh.

• Ashton-Tate delivers dBase III Plus.

• VisiCorp files for bankruptcy.

• Mitch Kapor and Dan Bricklin make a deal to sell Software Arts to Lotus Development.

• The Advanced RISC Machine (ARM), a 32-bit processor for home use, is shipped. Its first application is in an accelerator card for Acorn PCs.

• Chips & Technologies releases its first product, a set of five chips that are equivalent to 63 smaller chips on an IBM PC AT motherboard.

• IBM introduces Token-Ring networking.

• IBM announces the PC Network software, its first networking software for PCs.

• Photonics Corporation begins developing Photolink, a wireless infrared LAN technology for the Apple Macintosh.

• U.S. Robotics introduces the Courier 2400 modem.

• Intel introduces the 80287 math coprocessor.

• Manfred Schmitt founds computer manufacturer ESCOM, in Germany.

• Microsoft purchases all rights to DOS from Seattle Computer Products for US$925,000.

• Motorola unveils its 68008 CPU chip.

• Novell introduces NetWare 2.0 network operating system.

• Sun Microsystems begins work on its SPARC processor.

• Ashton-Tate buys Forefront, maker of Framework.

• As part of the Microsoft Office advertisement campaign, Apple Computer runs a TV ad called "Lemmings", showing blindfolded business executives walking off a cliff.

• Steve Wozniak returns to Apple Computer.

• Mimic Systems announces the Spartan, a hardware upgrade for the Commodore 64 that turns it into an Apple IIe.

• Commodore Business Machines and Electronic Arts create the Interchange Film Format (IFF) for graphics, sound, text, animation, and other file types.

• Software Arts sells the rights to VisiCalc to Mitch Kapor, of Lotus Development, for US$800,000.

• Nintendo introduces the Nintendo Entertainment System in the US.

• Michael Ehman founds Ehman, Incorporated, as a Macintosh peripherals vendor.

• Broderbund releases the first game in the Carmen Sandiego series.

• Iomega introduces its Bernoulli storage cartridge system to the Macintosh market.

• In the Micro/Vest versus Bill Millard (ComputerLand) lawsuit, Millard is ordered to hand over 20% of ComputerLand stock to Micro/Vest, plus US$141 million in punitive damages.

• Ashton-Tate buys MultiMate International Corporation.

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