1994

• Apple Computer shows its first PowerPC product, an upgrade board with a 66-MHz PowerPC 601 microprocessor, for many of Apple's Centris and Quadra Macintosh computers.
• AST Research sues Texas Instruments for patent infringement. Texas Instruments countersues.
• Shipments of Apple Computer Macintosh computers hits 1 million for the previous four month period, for the first time.
• Newer Technology introduces the Quadra Overdrive at Macworld Expo. The clock-doubled accelerator boards fit in the 68040 socket of the Macintosh Quadra or Centris. Processor speeds of 40-MHz and 50-MHz are available, for US$1700.
• Apple Computer announces eWorld, an online service for Apple tech support and a virtual shopping mall. It is to replace AppleLink.
• NEC Technologies ships its quad-speed CD-ROM, priced at US$1000.
• Apple Computer announces that it will license its System 7.x operating system to other hardware companies.

• Microsoft releases Microsoft Windows 3.11.
• Silicon Graphics founder and chairman James Clark resigns.
• Apple Computer introduces the Macintosh LC 575 and LC 550.
• Apple Computer introduces QuickTime 2.0, with interactive television, music and full-screen video support.
• IBM announces the shutdown its Ambra Europe company by the end of the quarter.
• A US District Court rules that Microsoft violated patents held by Stac Electronics, in data compression used in Microsoft's DoubleSpace in DOS 6. Microsoft is ordered to remove or replace the technology.
• Electronic Arts and Broderbund Software announce a proposed merger, in a stock swap valued at about US$408 million.
• Microsoft releases MS-DOS 6.21, removing DoubleSpace disk compression.

• Digital Equipment ships the 66-MHz Alpha 21068 processor.
• Digital Equipment ships the 166-MHz Alpha 21066 processor.
• Apple Computer unveils and ships its first computers based on the PowerPC 601 processor, the Power Macintosh 6100/60, 7100/66, and 8100/80. Prices range from US$2000-4000 for complete systems. 145,000 systems ship in the first two weeks.
• Apple Computer releases System 7.1, the OS for the Mac.
• Cyrix begins new shipments of the Cx486DX microprocessor, after fixing a flaw in the 32-bit floating-point code.
• Apple Computer introduces QuickTake 100, the first 24-bit color digital camera for under US$1000.
• Apple Computer announces the Newton MessagePad 110 and 100. The 110 comes with 1MB RAM, transfers data remotely at 38.5Kbps, and runs on four AA batteries.
• Apple Computer ships the Macintosh Quadra 610 DOS Compatible. It features a 40-MHz Motorola 68LC040 chip and a 25-MHz Intel 486SX chips, for US$1580.
• Hewlett-Packard ships the HP DeskWriter 560C color inkjet printer. It features 600x300dpi, at a list price of US$720.
• Hewlett-Packard ships the HP DeskWriter 520 inkjet printer. List price is US$365.
• Intel ships its 25/75-MHz IntelDX4 319 processor. Speed is 53 MIPS. It uses 1.6 million transistors, employing 0.6-micron technology. The chip has 16KB onboard caches, and operates on 3.3 volts. Price is US$475.
• Claris announces the Safety Suite utility for the Macintosh.
• Intel ships its 33/100-MHz IntelDX4 435 processor. Speed is 70.7 MIPS. It uses 1.6 million transistors, employing 0.6-micron technology. The chip has 16KB onboard caches, and operates on 3.3 volts. Price is US$580.
• Intel ships its 25/50-MHz IntelSX2 486 processor.
• Novell ships Novell DOS 7.0.
• Intel ships the 60/90-MHz Pentium 735 processor. Speed is 149.8 MIPS. The chip uses Intel's new 0.6 micron BiCMOS technology. Pricing is US$849 each in quantities of 1000. Code name during development was P54C.
• Intel ships the 66/100-MHz Pentium 815 processor. Speed is 166.3 MIPS. The chip uses Intel's new 0.6 micron BiCMOS technology. Pricing is US$995 each in quantities of 1000.
• Novell buys WordPerfect Corporation for US$850 million. (estimated $885 million in stock)
• MIPS Technologies ships the 100-MHz R4600 RISC microprocessor.
• Aldus and Adobe Systems announce plans to merge the two companies.
• IBM and Motorola announce the 100-MHz PowerPC 601 processor.
• NexGen announces the Nx586 microprocessor, at speeds of 60- and 66-MHz.

• Symantec and Central Point Software Incorporated agree to merge companies in a stock swap valued at about US$60 million.
• Broderbund Software calls off the proposed merger with Electronic Arts, due to a significant drop in the stock value of Electronic Arts.
• Motorola releases small quantities of its 68060 microprocessor, operating at 50- and 66-MHz.
• IBM and Motorola announce the 100-MHz PowerPC 604 processor. The 604 has one floating-point unit, and three integer units. Two of the integer units perform single clock cycle instruction, while the other is used for integer multiplication and division. The processor uses 3.6 million transistors.
• IBM releases PC-DOS 6.3.
• Commodore International and Commodore Electronics (two of the many international 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, after re-examining the patent application it granted to Compton's New Media in August 1993, decides to reject all 41 of the application's claims.

• Apple Computer introduces the 500 series of PowerBook computers (520, 520c, 540, 540c). All use clock-doubled Motorola 68LC040 microprocessors, at speeds of 50/25-MHz or 66/33-MHz. Prices range from US$2270 to US$3760.
• Apple Computer introduces the PowerBook Duo 280 and 280c. The 280c features a 33-MHz 68LC040, and 8.4-inch LCD display.
• Motorola ships sample copies of the PowerPC 603 processor.
• Microsoft sends out the first official beta test version of what will be Windows 95.
• MIPS Technologies announces availability of samples of the 200-MHz 64-bit R4400 RISC microprocessor.

• Apple Computer discontinues the DOS Compatible Card after only 2.5 months of offering it.
• IBM files a motion in court to have the provisions of the 1956 consent decree terminated.
• Apple Computer launches eWorld, its new online community, in the US. [46]
• Apple Computer unveils System 7.5 operating system.
• Apple Computer introduces new Macintosh 630 computers, and the PowerBook 150.
• Rock group Jefferson Airplane sues Berkeley Systems for copyright infringement of the flying toasters image in the After Dark screen saver program.
• MIPS Technologies ships the 75-MHz R8000 RISC microprocessor.
• MIPS Technologies ships the 133-MHz R4600 RISC microprocessor.
• MIPS Technologies ships the 200-MHz 64-bit R4400 RISC microprocessor.
• Microsoft and Stac Electronics settle their legal differences over data compression patents. Microsoft agrees to buy US$40 million of Stac stock, and to pay Stac a further US$43 million in royalties.
• Microsoft releases MS-DOS 6.22, bringing back disk compression under the name DriveSpace.
• Microsoft is granted a trademark to the name "Windows" for software products.
• Borland International sells its Quattro Pro spreadsheet to Novell for about US$140 million.
• Dr. Thomas R. Nicely of Lynchburg College notes that the Pentium processor sometimes produces flawed floating-point results, yielding only 4-8 decimals of precision.

• Gary Kildall dies in a bar brawl.
• IBM makes available sample quantities of the PowerPC 603 processor. High quantity pricing is US$165 for the 66-MHz chip, and US$195 for the 80-MHz version.
• IBM ships AIX 4.1 for the RS/6000, and AIX for the Power Macintosh.
• IBM reports that it has shipped 1 million PowerPC 601 processors in the first 10 months of production.
• Digital Equipment ships its AXP 21064A 64-bit 275-MHz Alpha RISC processor in volume quantities, at US$1083 per chip pricing. The processor features dual 16KB internal caches.
• Digital Equipment ships the 225-MHz Alpha 21064A processor.
• IBM announces that it will shut down the US operations of its Ambra subsidiary in October.
• Microsoft reaches a settlement with the US Department of Justice regarding alleged monopolistic licensing practices. Microsoft agrees to change some of its practices of how it sells its operating systems to vendors.
• U.S. Robotics ships the Courier v.34 28.8Kbps modems. List price: US$329 internal, US$349 external.

• Symantec ships Norton Utilities 3.0 for Macintosh.
• Quark ships QuarkXPress 3.3 for Power Macintosh, for US$995, or an upgrade for US$195.
• Borland International ships dBase for Windows.
• DayStar announces entry-level PowerPC 601 upgrade boards for Macintosh computers.
• IBM shuts down its Ambra PC division.

• Microsoft ships Microsoft Excel for Power Macintosh.
• Microsoft ships Microsoft FoxPro for Power Macintosh.
• Microsoft ships Microsoft Word for Power Macintosh.
• Microsoft ships Microsoft PowerPoint for Power Macintosh.
• The International Telecommunications Union ratifies the 28.8Kbps V.34 modem standard.
• Advanced Micro Devices ships its Am486DX2-80 40/80-MHz processor.
• Microsoft ships its first keyboard, the Microsoft Natural Keyboard.
• U.S. Robotics ships the Sportster v.34 28.8Kbps modems. List price: US$329 internal, US$349 external.
• An appeals court agrees with the June 1993 ruling against Apple Computer in its March 1988 suit against Microsoft and Hewlett-Packard.
• NexGen introduces its Nx586 microprocessor, at speeds of 70-, 75-, 84-, and 93-MHz.
• Alaris introduces the first PC with a NexGen Nx586 processor.
• Atari and Sega settle their lawsuit, with Sega paying Atari US$90 million, in return for 7.4% of Atari, and rights to 70 Atari patents.
• Sun Microsystems unveils the 64-bit UltraSPARC RISC processor.
• Microsoft announces the name of its upcoming Windows upgrade: Windows 95.
• Microsoft ships Microsoft Word 6.0 for the Macintosh.
• Radius ships VideoVision Studio 2.0 for the Macintosh.
• Digital Equipment Corporation formally introduces its next-generation Alpha AXP processors, including a 300-MHz version that can execute 1 billion instructions per second.
• IBM introduces the Aptiva line, to replace the PS/1 line, aimed at the home PC market.

• Caldera is founded.
• Apple Computer expands its Macintosh Performa 6100 line with five new computers based on the PowerPC.
• Advanced Micro Designs unveils the chip architecture of the K5 processor.
• Microsoft announces and ships Windows NT Workstation 3.5 and Windows NT Server 3.5.
• Dr. Nicely reports his discovery of the Pentium floating point bug to Intel, and his report is made public on CompuServe.
• Microsoft makes a bid to buy Intuit (maker of Quicken) for US$1.5 billion stock swap.
• Seagate Technologies announces the first disc drive and interface achieving a transfer rate of 100 MB per second.
• IBM formally launches OS/2 Warp version 3.
• IBM and Motorola announce and introduce the prototype of the PowerPC 620 processor, operating at 133-MHz.
• Motorola announces availability of the PowerPC 603 processor, at US$175 for the 66-MHz chip, and US$199 for the 80-MHz version.
• Motorola announces availability of the PowerPC 601 processor, at US$189 for the 66-MHz chip, and US$299 for the 80-MHz version.
• IBM introduces the 100-MHz PowerPC 601 processor.
• IBM introduces the 100-MHz PowerPC 604 processor.
• IBM introduces the the 66-MHz and 80-MHz PowerPC 603 processors.
• IBM drops the PS/2, PS/1, Ambra, and ValuePoint lines, and XGA graphics, in favor of industry standards for its new PC line, the Series 300 and Series 700.
• MIPS Technologies announces the R10000 RISC microprocessor.
• Intel introduces the 75-MHz Pentium processor. Speed is 126.5 MIPS. It uses 3.2 million transistors, employing 0.6-micron BiCMOS technology.
• Gateway 2000 Incorporated sells the first PC powered by Intel's 75-MHz Pentium.
• Apple Computer ships System 7.5 for the Macintosh.

• Reply Corporation begins shipping the DOS on Mac PC coprocesor card for the Macintosh. The technology is licensed from Apple Computer.
• Digital Equipment launches the Starion line of home-targeted personal computer systems.
• Hayes Microcomputer Products files for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection.
• Apple Computer debuts the Power Macintosh 8100/100, as the industry's fastest, most powerful PC.
• Apple Computer, Motorola, and IBM announce that they will create a computer platform to run all major operating systems, except the Intel-based Microsoft Windows 3.1 and successors.
• Apple Computer declares its intention to openly license the Mac operating system.
• IBM ships the 100-MHz PowerPC 601 processors.
• IBM ships the the 66-MHz and 80-MHz PowerPC 603 processors.
• Cyrix announces the M1 next-generation x86 processor.
• Sun Microsystems announces the Sparcstation 20 Model HS11, using a 100-MHz HyperSparc processor from Ross Technology.
• Digital Equipment introduces its AlphaStation computers, with 166-MHz and 233-MHz Alpha AXP 21064 processors. This line incorporates the PCI bus, and sell for US$7000-$16000.
• Apple Computer delivers QuickTime 2.0 for Windows.
• Apple Computer ships the Power Macintosh Upgrade Card for Entry-Level Macintosh for US$599.
• DayStar ships the PowerCard 601 for 68040-based Macintosh computers. Price if US$699.
• Intel confirms that about 2 million Pentium chips have been shipped with a defective floating-point unit.

• The California Supreme Court upholds a 1992 decision that awarded Advanced Micro Devices technology rights in its suit against Intel.
• IBM ships the 100-MHz PowerPC 604 processors.
• Apple Computer sues San Francisco Canyon Company claiming unauthorized use of Apple Computer's QuickTime code to speed up Microsoft's Video for Windows product.
• Apple Computer demonstrates a PCI-based Power Macintosh using a 120-MHz PowerPC 604 processor.
• Intel ships the 63-MHz P24T Pentium Overdrive chip.
• Intel President Andy Grove admits the company mishandled the Pentium processor division problem, and appologizes for the resulting situation.
• NexGen announces sample availability of its 133-MHz Nx586 microprocessor.
• Novell ships UnixWare 2.0.
• Novell ships PerfectOffice 3.0 for Windows.

• IBM closes down the European division of the Ambra company.

• Adobe releases Adobe Illustrator 5.5 for the Macintosh.

• WordStar International, Spinnaker Software, and SoftKey Software Products merge companies, forming SoftKey International.

• Radius and SuperMac announce their intention to merge companies.

• Austin Computer Systems changes its name to IPC Technologies Incorporated.

• IBM introduces the ValuePoint line of PC systems.

• IBM and Motorola show a 120-MHz PowerPC 601 processor running in a prototype Power Macintosh.

• Aldus releases Aldus PageMaker 5.0a for Power Macintosh.

• Apple Computer introduces the Macintosh PowerBook 540c. Code-name during development was Blackbird. It features a 9.5-inch diagonal active-matrix 640c480 LCD panel, 320 MB hard drive, 33-MHz 68LC040 processor.

• Hayes Microcomputer Products abandons LANstep.

• Apple Computer introduces the "Houdini" board, the DOS Compatibility Card for the Quadra 610, with a 25-MHz 486SX processor. The entire inventory of 25,000 boards sells out in a few months.

• Cyrix ships the 33/66-MHz Cx486DRx2 processor.

• Number Nine Computer Corp. ships the first PC video board using a 128-bit accelerator chip.

• Microsoft releases FoxPro 2.6 for Unix.

• Iomega Corp. introduces its Zip drive and Zip disks, floppy disk sized removable storage in sizes of 25MB or 100MB.

• Novell halts all development of Novell DOS.

• American Online gains its one-millionth subscriber.

• Apple Computer releases the Apple Color StyleWriter Pro 360dpi color inkjet printer.

• Merisel buys the ComputerLand chain.

• Apple Computer ships Macintosh Application Environment 1.0 for the HP-UX operating system with the Motif interface, and the Solaris operating system with the OpenLook interface.

• The SCSI-2 standard is finalized as ANSI X3.131-1994.

• NEC Technologies ships the NEC MultiSpin 4xPro quad-speed CD-ROM drive, for US$1000.

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