1992

• Apple Computer petitions the FCC to allocate a 40-MHz wide band of frequencies for use with its personal digital assistants.

• Apple Computer chairman John Sculley coins the term Personal Digital Assistant, referring to hand-held computers that typiclly operate via a stylus on a LCD display.
• IBM reports a year-end loss, for the first time, of US$564 million, on revenues of US$64.8 billion.
• NeXT announces that a version of the NextStep OS will be made for Intel PCs.

• Five years of arbitration with Intel ends, with Advanced Micro Devices being awarded full rights to produce and sell its Am386 line of processors.
• The PowerOpen Association is formed, with the goal of producing specifications for an open software/hardware platform that can run all UNIX, DOS/Windows (via emulation), and Macintosh applications.

• MIPS Technologies ships the 100-MHz R4000 processor.
• Apple Computer introduces the CD150 CD drive, replacing the AppleCD SC Plus.
• Bridgette is incorporated, created by Michael Ehman as a successor to Ehman, Inc., to sell Macintosh peripherals.
• Apple Computer announces the Macintosh LC II, replacing the Macintosh LC in the US. The LC II uses a 16-MHz Motorola 68030, and comes with 4MB RAM, 256KB video RAM, and a 40MB hard drive, for US$1700. With 512KB video RAM, and an 80MB hard drive, the price is US$2050.
• Microsoft launches its first TV advertising campaign, for Windows.
• Microsoft buys Fox Software for 1.36 million shares of Microsoft's common stock.
• Apple Computer and IBM found Taligent, to work on a platform-independent operating system.
• IBM ships OS/2 2.0.
• Quarterdeck Office Systems ships DESQview X.
• Intel and Microsoft announce the Advanced Power Management (APM) specification for laptop computers, which allows the system to shut down power to system resources not currently in use.
• Intel introduces the i486DX2 microprocessor, with clock speeds of 25/50-MHz (external/internal). For the most part, the DX2 is just a 25-MHz 486 that internally runs twice as fast. Price is US$550. Speed is 41 MIPS.

• Cyrix introduces the 25-MHz Cx486SLC microprocessor. It features an internal 32-bit data path, but with a 16-bit external data path. It includes a 1KB cache, but no coprocessor. Price is US$119.
• Ehman, Inc., a Macintosh peripherals company, closes, with US$4 million in debts.
• Microsoft ships Windows 3.1. 1 million copies of the new and upgrade versions are sold through retail channels within the first 50 days.

• AutoDesk ships AutoCAD Release 11 for the Macintosh.
• Apple Computer introduces the 33-MHz 68040-based Macintosh Quadra 950 (replacing the Quadra 900). It includes 8MB of RAM, 230/400MB hard drive options, and 24-bit video supporting 19-inch color monitors. Prices range from US$7200-9200.
• Sun Microcomputers' Sunsoft division introduces the Solaris 2.0 operating system for Intel-based PCs.

• Cyrix introduces the Cx486DLC microprocessor. It is comparable to Intel's i486, but with only a 1KB cache, and using only 600,000 transistors.
• Intel introduces the Peripheral Component Interconnect (PCI) local-bus standard for PC systems.
• Mass Microsystems begins shipping its FloptiPak 21 21MB Floptical drive for the Macintosh. Price is US$700.
• IBM and Microsoft sign a "divorce" document, allowing source code sharing for current versions operating systems up to September 1993.
• Microsoft Chairman Bill Gates receives a National Medal of Technology for Technical Achievement from US President George Bush.

• Apple Computer discontinues the PowerBook 100.
• Advanced Micro Devices begins work on a fifth-generation x86 processor (in the class of Intel's Pentium chip).
• Lotus Development wins a preliminary judgement over Borland International in its spreadsheet copyright suit. Borland International removes its Lotus 1-2-3 compatibility macros from Quattro Pro and releases it.

• The first version of the VESA VL-Bus standard for PCs is ratified.
• Apple Computer introduces the PowerBook 145, replacing the PowerBook 140. It features a backlit supertwist LCD display, 25-MHz 68030 processor, System 7 operating system, 4MB RAM, 40 MB hard drive, and weighs 6.8 pounds. Price is US$2149.
• The number of users of Apple Computer's System 7 reaches 4 million.
• Compaq Computer introduces its first printer, the Compaq Pagemqrq.
• Intel introduces the 33/66-MHz i486DX2 microprocessor. Speed is 54 MIPS.

• Intel introduces the 33-MHz i486SX microprocessor. Speed is 27 MIPS.
• Borland International ships Quattro Pro for Windows.
• Apple Computer launches the Performa Line, designed for mass merchandisers and superstores. The Performa 600 features a 32-MHz Motorola MC68030 processor, three NuBus slots, internal hard drive, SuperDrive 3.5-inch floppy drive, 4 MB RAM, and 512 KB video RAM.
• Apple Computer renames the Macintosh LC II the Performa 400.
• Apple Computer renames the Macintosh Classic II the Performa 200.
• IBM creates the IBM Personal Computer Company.
• Apple Computer receives its first PowerPC 601 processor for testing.
• IBM introduces the 20/40-MHz and 25/50-MHz 486SLC2 microprocessors. They feature a 16KB cache and optimized instruction set, but no internal math coprocessor, and only a 16-bit data path.
• NeXT ships NextStep v3.0.

• Intel introduces the 33-MHz 80386SX microprocessor. Speed is 2.9 MIPS.
• Cyrix announces the Cx486SLC/E processor.
• IBM and Motorola announce the PowerPC 601 microprocessors, in 50-MHz and 66-MHz versions. PowerPC stands for "Power Performance Chip".
• Cyrix introduces the clock-doubled Cx486DRu2 microprocessor. Price is US$399.
• Apple Computer begins direct mail order sales.
• Apple Computer's "Cognac" project team first successfully boots up a prototype Power Macintosh using a Power PC 601 processor.
• Apple Computer introduces the PowerBook 160. It features a 10-inch 16-grayscale backlit supertwist LCD display, 25-MHz 68030 processor, System 7 operating system, 4MB RAM, 512 KB video RAM, external monitor port, 40 MB hard drive, and weighs 6.8 pounds. Price is US$2429.
• Apple Computer introduces the PowerBook 180, replacing the PowerBook 170. It features a 33-MHz 68030 processor, 68882 math coprocessor, 4MB RAM, and 80 MB hard drive. Price is US$3869.
• Apple Computer introduces the Macintosh PowerBook Duo systems, consisting of a 4.2-pound portable computer, and a Macintosh Duo Dock desktop docking station.
• Apple Computer introduces the Macintosh PowerBook Duo 210, featuring a 25-MHz Motorola MC68030 processor, 4 MB RAM, 80 MB hard drive, 640x480 grayscale 9.1-inch diagonal supertwist LCD screen, for US$2249.
• Apple Computer introduces the Macintosh PowerBook Duo 230, featuring a 33-MHz Motorola MC68030 processor, 4 MB RAM, 80 MB hard drive, 640x480 grayscale 9.1-inch diagonal supertwist LCD screen, for US$2609.
• Apple Computer introduces the Macintosh IIvx, which is a Macintosh Performa 600 with a 68882 math coprocessor and 32 KB of cache RAM.
• Apple Computer introduces the Macintosh IIvi.
• IBM introduces its ThinkPad laptop computer, with a radical new pointer device.
• Sun Microsystems ships the 50-MHz Sun MicroSPARC processor.
• One year after the introduction of Apple Computer's PowerBook, sales of US$1 billion make it the first personal computer to break that threshold. More than 400,000 PowerBooks have been shipped.
• SuperMac Technology begins beta-testing of its DigitalFilm product.
• Microsoft ships Microsoft Windows for Workgroups 3.1, which integrates networking and workgroup functionality.

• SuperMac Technology ships the DigitalFilm video production system for the Macintosh. Price is US$5999.
• Quark ships QuarkXPress 3.1 for Windows.
• Apple Computer announces QuickTime for Windows.
• Microsoft ships Microsoft Access Database for Windows.
• Digital Equipment unveils the 150-MHz Alpha 21064 64-bit microprocessor.
• Intel introduces the 486SL processor, designed for notebook computers. Speeds include 20-MHz (15.4 MIPS), 25-MHz (19 MIPS) and 33-MHz (25 MIPS). The processors can address 64 MB of physical memory, and 64 terabytes of virtual memory. They use 1.4 million transistors, employing 0.8-micron technology.
• Hewlett-Packard announces an expansion of its HP 9000 series, with the midrange Model 735 workstation for US$37,400, deskside Model 755 for US$59,000, as well as low-end Model 715/33 for US$5,000 and Model 725/50 for US$17,900.
• Sun Microsystems announces the low-end SPARCclassic workstation for US$4300 and high-end SPARCcenter 2000 multi-processor server.

• Apple Computer discontinues the Apple IIgs.
• Novell buys AT&T's UNIX Systems Laboratories, gaining all rights to the UNIX source code, for US$150 million.

• WordPerfect releases WordPerfect for Windows.

• A US federal court rules that Advanced Micro Devices does not have the right to use Intel microcode in its microprocessors.

• Outbound Systems ships the Outbound Notebook System 2030E. It features a 25-MHz 68030, 40-120MB hard drive, floppy drive, 4MB RAM, and weighs 6.25 pounds. Prices start at US$3300.

• Outbound Systems ships the Outbound Notebook System 2030S. It features a 33-MHz 68030, 40-120MB hard drive, floppy drive, 4MB RAM, and weighs 6.25 pounds. Prices start at US$3900.

• Lotus Development ships Lotus 1-2-3 v1.1 for the Macintosh.

• Apple Computer introduces its first personal digital assistant at the Consumer Electronics Show in Chicago.

• Novell purchases Digital Research Inc. for US$80 million.

• Creative Labs introduces the Sound Blaster 16 with Advanced Signal Processor, a 16-bit stereo PC sound card.

• Microsoft buys the Foxbase company.

• Apple Computer releases System 7.1 operating system, for the Macintosh.

• Commodore introduces the Amiga 600: 4096 colors, stereo sound, full pre-emptive multitasking operating system (Workbench 2.05), PCMCIA slot, Motorola 68000 CPU, for a base price of $500.

• Hewlett-Packard introduces the HP LaserJet 4 laser printer.

• The Multimedia PC Marketing Council ups the requirements for MPC compliance to a 16-MHz 386SX processor.

• Apple Computer and Sharp announce an agreement to codevelop a personal digital assistant, based on Apple's software and Sharp's hardware.

• Hewlett-Packard unveils the HP PainJet XL300 color thermal ink-jet printer. It supports PCL 5C and PostScript Level 2, and includes a LocalTalk connector, Centronics parallel port, and RS-232 serial port. The PC-compatible version has a list priceof US$3500. For the Macintosh, an extra US$2000 is required for PostScript and an additional 4MB of RAM.

• Quote from Robert X. Cringely: "If IBM is God in the PC universe then Bill Gates is the pope.".

• Photonics discontinues the Photolink products.

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