1987

• Microsoft France releases a French version of Multiplan 3.0 for the IBM PC.
• Lotus Development files a lawsuit against Paperback Software (maker of VP-Planner) and Mosaic Software (maker of The Twin), claiming infringement of copyrights over the look and feel of 1-2-3.
• Microsoft begins shipping Microsoft Word 3.0 for the Macintosh.
• Byte by Byte releases Animate 3-D for the Amiga.
• Apple Computer introduces the Apple Platinum IIe.

• Cauzin abandons the Cauzin SoftStrips product.
• Intel introduces the 20-MHz 80386DX microprocessor.
• Commodore announces the Amiga 500. It features a 68000 processor, 512KB RAM, floppy disk drive, and custom chips for animation, video, and audio.
• Commodore announces the Amiga 2000.
• Apple Computer's John Sculley tells Ashton-Tate's Ed Esber that Apple Computer will not compete with Ashton-Tate by publishing the 4th Dimension database program.

• Apple Computer introduces 800KB floppy drives for the Macintosh.
• Apple Computer introduces the open architecture Macintosh II. It uses a 16-MHz 68020 processor. The basic system sells for US$3900. A system with 1MB RAM, one 800K floppy drive, and a 40MB hard drive is priced at US$5500. The system features a plug-and-play architecture for expansion cards.
• Apple Computer makes its 1 millionth Macintosh personal computer.
• Apple Computer introduces the expandable Macintosh SE. It uses a 8-MHz 68000 processor, and comes with 1 MB of RAM. A dual floppy system sells for US$2900. With a 20 MB hard drive, price is about US$3800.
• Apple Computer discontinues the Macintosh 512K Enhanced.
• Apple Computer introduces NuBus as the Mac's standard bus.
• U.S. Robotics unveils its 9600 bps Courier HST modem, for US$995. BBS sysops can purchase the modem for US$495.
• 3M introduces the 2-MB high density 3 1/2-inch diskette.
• Aegis Development releases VideoScape 3D for the Amiga.

• Lotus Development announces it will create new versions of Lotus 1-2-3 for DOS, OS/2 Presentation Manager, the Macintosh, and mainframe computers.
• IBM introduces the IBM Personal System/2 (PS/2) line, with IBM's first 386 PC, and 3.5-inch floppy drives as standard. The PS/2 Model 30 uses a 8-MHz 8086, the Model 50 and 60 use the 10-MHz 80286, and the Model 80 uses a 20-MHz 80386.
• Guy Kawasaki resigns from Apple Computer.
• ACIUS is formed, with the primary purpose of producing the 4th Dimension database in the U.S. market.
• IBM unveils its Video Graphics Array (VGA) in its Model 50 and higher of the PS/2 line. VGA offers 256 simultaneous colors at a resolution of 320x200, and 16 colors at 640x480. The colors displayed have six bits of depth for each primary color, giving a palette of 262,144 different colors to select from.
• IBM unveils its Multicolor Graphics Array (MCGA) on its PS/2 Model 30. The MCGA is limited to 64K of memory, limiting 640x480 resolution to just 2 colors, but still allowing 320x200 in 256 colors.
• IBM introduces its Micro Channel Architecture (MCA) on its Model 50 and higher of the PS/2 line.
• IBM and Microsoft announce Operating System/2 (OS/2).
• IBM announces the 8514/A Display Adapter, a high-resolution graphics card for the MCA PS/2 line. The 8514/A adds 1024x768 in 16 colors to the standard VGA, at a cost of US$1290. With the addition of a US$270 Memory Expansion Kit, 640x480 and 1024x768 resolutions can be had in 256 colors.
• IBM announces the 8514 16-inch monitor, for US$1550.
• IBM announces DOS 3.3 for PCs, for US$120. It adds support for 1.44 MB floppy disks, and multiple 32 MB hard drive partitions.
• Microsoft announces Microsoft Windows 2.0.
• Wang begins shipping 386-based PCs.
• IBM ships TopView 1.12.
• Advanced Micro Devices files suit against Intel, claiming Intel had breached contractual obligations in a 1982 technology sharing agreement between the two companies.

• PC MOS 1.0 ships.
• Quarterdeck Office Systems ships DESQview 2.0.
• Microsoft releases Excel 1.04 for the Macintosh II.

• Casady & Greene release QuickDex for the Macintosh, for US$35.
• IBM withdraws TopView from the market.
• Atari introduces the Atari XE Game System, with 64KB RAM, supporting 256KB game cartridges.
• Microsoft and IBM release the OS/2 developers' kit.
• Microsoft sells its 500,000th mouse.

• WordPerfect creates an Amiga/Atari division within the company.
• Microsoft acquires Forethought, maker of the PowerPoint presentation graphics program for the Macintosh. (buys PowerPoint from Forethought for US$14 million)
• WordPerfect ships WordPerfect for the Amiga for US$400.
• Zilog introduces its Z-280 16-bit version of the Z-80 CPU.
• Sun Microsystems introduces its first SPARC-based system, the Sun-4/260, with 10 MIPS performance.
• Sun Microsystems offers licenses for its SPARC microprocessor architecture.
• Apple Computer creates the company Claris, to handle some of Apple Computer's software for the Apple II and Macintosh. Apple Computer owns 82% of the company's stock.
• IBM ships the first PS/2 Model 80 systems.

• Raymond Lau releases Stuffit file archive utility for the Macintosh, for US$15.
• IBM introduces the PS/2 Model 25, with an 8-MHz Intel 8086, combined system unit with monitor, no hard drive, and reduced-size keyboard, starting at US$1350.
• Microsoft ships MS-DOS 3.3.
• Apple Computer introduces HyperCard, MultiFinder 5.0, and AppleFax Modem for the Macintosh, at the Macworld Expo.
• Tandy introduces the Tandy 1000 TX, 1000 HX, 1400 LT, and 4000.
• The Association of Shareware Professionals (ASP) is formed.

• Ashton-Tate ships dBase for the Macintosh.
• Microsoft ships Microsoft Bookshelf, its first CD-ROM application.
• Lotus Development announces Lotus 1-2-3 for the Macintosh.

• Lotus Development ships Lotus 1-2-3 2.01 for MS-DOS.
• Microsoft unveils the Microsoft Excel spreadsheet for Windows.
• Microsoft ships Microsoft Works for DOS.
• Microsoft releases Microsoft Windows/386, priced at US$195.
• Microsoft ships Windows 2.0.
• Compaq Computer introduces the Compaq Deskpro 386/20, featuring a 20-MHz Intel 80386 and a cache controller.
• Compaq Computer introduces the 20-MHz Compaq Portable 386.
• WordPerfect ships WordPerfect for the Atari ST for US$400.
• Ven-Tel unveils its EC18K-34 modem, which it claims can operate at up to 18,000 bps, with data compression achieving a throughput of 19,200 bps on normal voice phone lines. The cost of the modem is US$1400.
• Ad Lib Incorporated unveils its Ad Lib Personal Computer Music System for US$245. The card provides FM synthesis with 11 simultaneous voices.
• Microsoft releases Microsoft Word 4.0 for the PC.
• Microsoft releases Microsoft Word 3.0 for the Macintosh.

• Borland International ships the Quattro spreadsheet program, including emulation of Lotus 1-2-3 commands. This emulation will result in a nine-year legal battle over "look and feel" with Lotus Development.
• Compaq Computer makes its 1 millionth personal computer.
• IBM reports that it has shipped 1 million PS/2 systems.
• Impulse releases Silver 2.0 for the Amiga.

• Microsoft ships the one millionth copy of Windows.
• Microsoft releases OS/2 1.0.
• IBM ships first copies of OS/2 Standard Edition 1.0.

• AT&T creates a modified silicon fabrication of its CRISP architecture CPU, operating at 20-MHz.

• ComputerLand is sold for about US$150 million. Only two years earlier it was worth about US$1.4 billion.

• Mouse Systems changes its name to MSC Technologies.

• Commodore launches its first IBM PC-compatible machines, the PC10-1 and PC10-2. Both use a 4.77 MHz Siemens 8088.

• Lotus Development announces its intention to announce Lotus 1-2-3 for the Macintosh.

• Keith Sorenson founds RasterOps.

• Phar Lap Software and Quarterdeck Office Systems develop the Virtual Control Program Interface (VCPI), to allow 80386 protected-mode DOS extended applications to coexist with 80386-specific memory managers

• Intel introduces the 80387 math coprocessor.

• Letraset releases ImageStudio, the first commercial, gray-scale image-editing program for the Macintosh.

• Ashton-Tate releases the Rapidfile database file manager for MS-DOS.

• Ashton-Tate releases the Byline desktop publishing program for MS-DOS.

• Motorola unveils the 68030 microprocessor.

• U.S. Robotics introduces the Courier HST 9600 modem.

• IBM discontinues the IBM PC line.

• Linus introduces the WriteTop microcomputer, the first pen-based computer. It runs MS-DOS, uses an 8088 processor, and weighs 9 pounds.

• Hewlett-Packard releases the HP PaintJet color inkjet printer.

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