April 2009 - Posts
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Topics for this month: - Green Computing
- Interesting Industry/Technology Discussions & Updates
- IE8 Add-ons Local Example
- History of Microsoft
- Architecture Resources
- Industry Architecture Sites
- Architect Community Sites
- Upcoming Event
Some of the key highlights: Green Computing Check out Architecture Journal 18 : Green Computing if you have not already subscribed to the free digital subscription online. New editions of the architecture journal are published quarterly. Below is an extract from the article Environmentally Sustainable Infrastructure Design by Lewis Curtis on the best practices for Sustainable Architecture Design.
Best Practices for Sustainable Architecture Design When it comes to designing environmentally sustainable architecture, it can be overwhelming organizing the complexity. However, we’ve narrowed down a list that can be leveraged when studying an architectural design (no matter the complexity or scale). The following best practices summarize the guidelines discussed in this article: - Know your environmental business objectives.
- Determine who and what you want to impact (or not impact), with regard to regulatory entities, businesses, the public, as well as the environment.
- Understand energy consumption and environmental impact.
- Understand where energy is consumed in the data center and how a data center affects its surrounding environment.
- Develop an environmental monitoring strategy.
- Use environmental monitoring to measure consumption and output and develop metrics. Know what metrics you want to target (and ignore).
- Establish a focused set of system SKUs.
- Establish a focused set of system SKUs for each tier area to enforce energy efficiency and environmental impact standards.
- Build environmental sustainability into change and configuration management processes.
- Incorporate environmental sustainability into the data center’s change management and configuration management processes. Many IT organizations have a process operational model encapsulating change and configuration management. This is to ensure an adequate examination process for new technology adoption (change management) as well as encourage standardization to reduce complexity (configuration management). Strong operational process models have been attributed to reducing security vulnerabilities and understanding the impact of new technology adoption decisions. Today, energy consumption and environmental impact/differentiation need to be included in these operational processes for IT organizations to evolve.
- Enforce environmental impact standards into architectural capacity planning models.
- Getting one-time wins is relatively easy, promoting a continuous strategy of reducing energy consumption and GHG impact is quite difficult. Start at the heart of the problem: Reducing over-provisioning during the capacity planning phase will significantly help to prevent out-of-control growth leading to excessive GHG production and energy consumption.
- Optimize details in each infrastructure tier.
- Focus on the details of each tier of the infrastructure to reduce energy and environmental impact of key systems.
- Reduce architectural complexity.
- Reduce the number of tiers and component dependencies to reduce excessive system use, and aggregate tier systems through consolidation techniques.
- Leverage environmental transference when possible and acceptable.
- Use transference to leverage software plus services with external cloud providers to significantly reduce GHG and energy consumption impact in the enterprise. Ensure proper environmental service level agreements (SLAs) are in place for your organization.
- Use a holistic design approach.
- Use a holistic design approach to the architecture: Carefully examine the environmental components in each tier, as well as the environmental impact on external systems supporting the overall solution. Use a plan of action that leverages technologies, processes, and strategies.
Environmental impact and energy consumption are quickly becoming crucial systemic qualities for IT architectural design considerations. As this happens, it will be important for architects to understand this new systemic quality well and document successful patterns to analyze and design environmentally sustainable solutions in the future. By focusing environmental objectives and systemically analyzing the infrastructure with proper design rigor, architects can effectively lead environmentally sustainability IT projects with a higher probability of success.
Some interesting readings on green computing…. Business Exchange – Green Computing : http://bx.businessweek.com/green-computing/ Green Computing - a COSN Leadership Initiative : http://www.cosn.org/greencomputing/ The Green Grid - get connected to efficient IT : http://www.thegreengrid.org/ London 2012 targets green-tech to cut costs : http://news.zdnet.co.uk/itmanagement/0,1000000308,39622903,00.htm CIO Decisions – aligning IT and business in the mid market enterprise – the green monster : http://media.techtarget.com/searchCIO-Midmarket/downloads/CIOe_zine_vol1.pdf Green IT at Microsoft Interesting article by Dion Hinchcliffe. Read full article. Some extracts…  - Cloud Computing
- Non-relational databases
- Next-generation distributed computing
- Web-Oriented Architecture (WOA)
- Mashups
- Open Supply Chains via APIs
- Dynamic Languages
- Social computing
- Crowdsourcing and peer production architectures
- New Application models
CIO.com: 5 Ways to Cut Costs with Technology An interesting article from CIO.com on 5 ways to cut costs with technology.... ultimately, this is the best time for companies to do self-evaluation and consolidation.... Now more than ever, the first thing on every business owner’s mind is saving money. Perhaps one of the most effective ways to do so is through the use of technology. While there are a number of ways in which technology can reduce costs for business, these five solutions are straightforward to implement and produce results quickly. 1. Outsource Information Technology Needs
Right now, businesses are struggling to do more with less. By outsourcing technology needs such as IT Support, Website Hosting, and Computer Networking, any business can get the benefits of having a full-time IT staff at a fraction of the cost. In addition to saving money, outsourcing technology needs saves valuable time, giving business owners and employees alike the freedom to focus on profitable daily operations. 2. Evaluate Current Software
Businesses that haven’t taken the time to evaluate their software may very well be missing valuable opportunities to streamline certain processes. By assessing the effectiveness of current technologies and identifying areas in which productivity can be improved, businesses can significantly increase their overall effectiveness. In fact, the right customized software solution can remove 20-50% of a company’s excess labor. Any way you look at it, decreased labor means decreased costs for businesses. 3. Conduct a Website Audit
The virtual storefront of a business, a website has the potential to attract qualified customers and as a result, boost revenue. However, issues with design, usability, and functionality can hinder a website’s ability to convert site traffic into customers. A website audit conducted by a qualified professional can help businesses identify ways to increase revenue, transforming an unprofitable site into a lucrative resource. 4. Monitor Computer Systems
When technology fails, businesses lose money in the form of lost productivity, lost sales, and costly repairs. By having their computer systems monitored round-the-clock, businesses can identify and resolve technology issues before they result in unnecessary maintenance costs and lost revenue. Investing in a monitoring service now can help to save any business from incurring the high costs of a future technology failure. 5. Integrate Business Systems
In the current economic climate, no business can afford to waste time or manpower. When employees spend time entering the same data into separate software applications, productivity can suffer. Integration with multiple business systems can cut costs by reducing the need for redundant data entry and making necessary information readily available. External source: http://advice.cio.com/chris_miles/5_ways_to_cut_costs_with_technology For full article of Microsoft Singapore Architecture newsletter: The Microsoft Singapore Architecture Newsletter is brought to you by: Linda Chong Architect Evangelist Developer & Platform Evangelism Connect with me through t : (65) 6888 8021 | f : (65) 6888 8287 | m : (65) 9655 0493e : lchong@microsoft.com | b : http://blogs.msdn.com/lchong | im (Live) : chonghcl@hotmail.com
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| Brad Anderson and Jeff Wettlaufer are together again, this time for a chat on desktop virtualization scenarios and technologies. Using Brad's whiteboard for illustration, they cover application virtualization, desktop (or hardware) virtualization, presentation virtualization, and finally, virtual desktop infrastructure, or VDI. For additional information relevant to their discussion, please refer to: | /Dennis
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| The Assessment, Consulting & Engineering (ACE) Infrastructure Security team, part of Microsoft Information Security, is dedicated to secure the platforms on which applications reside. What's considered a risk? Gerard Morisseau, describes how their risk model works and how they identify security maturity levels in different environments inside and outside of Microsoft. If you want to learn more about ACE Infrastructure security, you can read more on their blog. | /Dennis
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| For Microsoft, 1985 brings the announcement of the release of Microsoft MacEnhancer expansion system, the Microsoft Mouse is quarantined in Canada and Microsoft celebrates its 10th Anniversary. There's some great footage of the 1985 Roast in this episode.
Previous Episodes:
The History of Microsoft – 1975
The History of Microsoft - 1976
The History of Microsoft - 1977
The History of Microsoft - 1978
The History of Microsoft - 1979
The History of Microsoft – 1980
The History of Microsoft – 1981
The History of Microsoft – 1982
The History of Microsoft – 1983
The History of Microsoft - 1984 January 23, 1985
Microsoft announces the release of Microsoft MacEnhancer expansion system, a new hardware product designed to open up the Apple Macintosh computer to a wide range of IBM compatible peripherals.
February 1, 1985
Ida Cole is named the new Vice President of Applications, responsible for planning, development, and marketing for the application software product line. She will report to Jon Shirley, President. She was previously with Apple Computer, Inc..
May 3, 1985 Microsoft Mouse Quarantined in Canada
Rich MacIntosh, General Manager of Microsoft Canada, Inc., was recently called to the Canadian Department of Agriculture to retrieve his Microsoft "Mouse" after four weeks of quarantine.
August 9, 1985
Microsoft announces that Wright Runstad & Company breaks ground today on a new Microsoft World Headquarters in Redmond scheduled for completion by mid-1986. The $25 million facility will be located in the southeast quadrant of Evergreen Place Office Park, in a heavily wooded, 29-acre campus setting.
August 12, 1985 Microsoft celebrates its 10th anniversary with sales figures of $140 million for the fiscal year of 1985.
August 22, 1985 Microsoft signs an agreement with IBM for joint development of operating systems and other systems software products.
September 3, 1985 Microsoft selects the Republic of Ireland as the site of its first production facility outside the U.S. for software products to be sold in the European market.
September 30, 1985
Microsoft announces the shipment to retail stores of Excel for the Macintosh, a powerful, full-featured microcomputer spreadsheet that combines business graphics with an on-sheet database.
November 20, 1985 Microsoft ships the retail version of Windows, an operating system that extends the features of the MS-DOS. Other products released in 1985: MS-DOS 3.2, Chart for Macintosh, Microsoft Access 1.0 (business communication app, not database), Cobol 2.1, MacEnhancer 2.0, Basic 2.1 Interpreter for the Mac, Chart 2.0 for DOS, Word for Networks, QuickBasic Compiler, LOGO for the Mac, Notable New Hires: Jeremy Butler - Former Senior Vice President, International and OEM.;Tony Dirksen - Former Senior Manager, Investor Relations;Ralf Harteneck - Former Vice President, Communication and Meeting Services Group;Min S. Yee - Former Vice President and Publisher of Microsoft Press. Other 1985: · Gaming: Tetris is written by Russian Alexey Pazhitnov. · Internet: The Domain Name System (DNS) is created. Symbolics.com is the first domain registered, followed shortly by cmu.edu, purdue.edu, and others. · Storage: The CD-ROM format is created by Phillips, in collaboration with Sony. · USSR: Mikhail Gorbachev becomes general secretary of the Communist Party on the death of Chernenko. · Exploration: The wreck of the Titanic is discovered after 73 years. · Music: All-star Live Aid concerts in Philadelphia and London raise almost $250 million for African famine relief. · Drugs: Crack cocaine begins hitting the streets of New York, setting off a drug epidemic. · TV: Top-rated shows include The Cosby Show, Family Ties, and Murder She Wrote. MacGyver, Moonlighting, and Golden Girls premiere. Economy: The US becomes a debtor nation for first time since 1914. · The King: The U.S. Postal Service issues an Elvis Presley commemorative stamp, which sells a record-breaking 500 million. · Comics: Bill Watterson’s Calvin and Hobbes premieres in the nation’s newspapers. · Terrorism: Palestinian terrorists hijack the Italian liner Achille Lauro, killing one hostage. US Navy jets later force down the terrorists’ getaway plane in Sicily. · Reagan: Public outrage accompanies President Reagan on his visit to a * military cemetery at Bitburg, Germany. · Rock: Rock Hudson dies of AIDS. · The Real Thing?: Coca-Cola introduces New Coke in one of the biggest marketing disasters of the 20th century. · Greenpeace: French intelligence officers bomb and sink Greenpeace’s Rainbow Warrior in the harbor of Auckland, New Zealand. The boat was protesting French nuclear testing. · Soccer Disaster: The main stand at Bradford City Football Ground in Northern England catches fire, killing 40 and injuring more than 170. · Movies: Top grossing movies of the year include Out of Africa, Back to the Future, Rambo, and The Color Purple. Out of Africa also nets Oscars for Best Movie and Best Director (Sydney Pollack). Best Actor is William Hurt in Kiss of the Spider Woman, Best Actress is Geraldine Page in Trip to Bountiful. | /Dennis
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| In this episode Donovan pays a visit to Stuart Kwan, Group Program Manager for the Federated Identity Team. Stuart has been working in the Identity space for a number of years at Microsoft and in this interview he discusses the challenges around Identity in the industry and the ubiquitous need for Identity as computing systems become more and more connected. He states that by solving certain problems with Identity, it can then be highly leveraged to solve all kinds of different problems for all kinds of different people building different kinds of applications across all kinds of industries. Stuart also highlights his team’s work on Microsoft code name “Geneva” Server, “Geneva” Framework and Windows CardSpace “Geneva” and how these help to leverage Identity on the Windows platform whether in on or off premises scenarios. URL references in video:
“Geneva” Forum on MSDN
Microsoft code name "Geneva" | /Dennis
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| For Microsoft, 1984 means a partnership with Apple, Microsoft Press Introduces its first two titles and we create a new Hardware and Peripherals Division dedicated to developing and marketing hardware products. Previous Episodes:
The History of Microsoft – 1975
The History of Microsoft - 1976
The History of Microsoft - 1977
The History of Microsoft - 1978
The History of Microsoft - 1979
The History of Microsoft – 1980
The History of Microsoft – 1981
The History of Microsoft – 1982
The History of Microsoft - 1983
1984 Revenue/Headcount The 1984 Fiscal year-end sales total $97,479,000. The 1984 fiscal Year employee headcount totals 860 people. January 24, 1984
Microsoft and Apple Computer announce the new Apple Macintosh computer and Microsoft's custom-designed productivity software for the new computer. Macintosh's interface, combined with Microsoft’s software: Multiplan, Chart, Word, File, and BASIC provides a powerful and functional environment for all users. March 4, 1984 Microsoft joins forces with Spectravideo and four Japanese firms to establish a hardware/software compatibility standard based on the popular Z80® 8-bit microcomputer. The standard, called MSX, was announced on June 15, 1983 and made available a new set of standard specifications so diverse software programs would be compatible with low-cost home computers from different manufacturers. MSX was developed primarily for the Japanese market as the first unified format in Japan for software or hardware. It was never adapted for sale in the U.S. March 22, 1984 Microsoft Press introduces its first two titles: Cary Lu's "The Apple Macintosh Book” and Peter Norton's "Exploring the IBM PCjr Home Computer." March 29, 1984 Microsoft creates a new Hardware and Peripherals Division dedicated to developing and marketing hardware products that complement Microsoft's software product line. August 14, 1984 IBM chooses XENIX and MS-DOS for its new generation personal computer, the IBM PC AT. September 9, 1984
Microsoft schedules a meeting with Redmond city officials to discuss relocating the company to the Evergreen Place development in 1985. September 24, 1984 Francis J. Gaudette joins Microsoft as vice president of Finance and Administration. Other products released in 1984: Project 1.0, Multiplan for Mac 1.0, Chart 1.01, Serial Mouse 2.5, SoftCard II, PCJr Booster w/Mouse, Pascal 3.2, Fortran 3.2, C Compiler 2.0 Notable New Hires: Charles Stevens - Corporate Vice President, Enterprise & Partner Group (EPG);Rich Macintosh - Former vice president of Sales and Support, U.S. Sales;Marty Taucher - Former senior group marketing manager for Microsoft's Consumer Division.;Joe Vetter - Former vice president of the Western U.S. and South Pacific Regions; Other 1984: · Winter Olympics: At the Sarajevo Olympics, twin brothers Phil and Steve Mahre took first and second place in the slalom, while Torvill & Dean earned perfect scores and a gold medal for their ice dance to Ravel’s “Bolero.” · Bhopal: A gas leak at a Union Carbide plant in Bhopal, India killed over 3,000. · Nobel: South African Bishop Desmond Tutu won the Nobel Peace Prize. · Housing: The average price of a new single-family home broke six figures. · Beirut: The U.S. withdrew its Marines from Beirut following terrorist bombing. · Presidential Election: Reagan defeated Mondale and won reelection by a landslide 59 percent, carrying 49 states. · Music: Top hits included Michael Jackson's Thriller, Prince's Purple Rain, Bruce Springsteen's Born in the U.S.A, Ray Parker Jr.’s “Ghostbusters,” Tina Turner’s “What’s Love Got to Do with It,” and Kenny Loggins’ “Footloose.” · VCRs: The Supreme Court okays home TV recording in its ruling on the Sony case. · Medicine: Baby Fae received a transplanted baboon heart. · Summer Olympics: The Los Angeles Olympics featured record-setting performances from Americans Carl Lewis, Joan Benoit, and Mary Lou Retton and were a commercial success despite being boycotted by the Soviet Union. · Hong Kong: Britain agreed to return Hong Kong to China in 1997. · Nuclear protests: The Diablo Canyon nuclear reactor in California went online despite protests. · Internet: By year-end, 1,000 hosts were on the Internet. In 2003, there were over 170 million. · TV: Sitcoms Kate & Allie and The Cosby Show premiered, to both critical and popular acclaim. Other top shows included Dallas, Dynasty, The A-Team, and Simon & Simon. · Tennis: McEnroe bested Connors at Wimbledon, while Navratilova topped Evert Lloyd. · New Orleans World's Fair: Although a financial failure, the fair did result in a large riverside park which opened up access to the Mississippi. · Oscars: Amadeus won Oscars for best picture, actor (F. Murray Abraham), and director (Milos Forman). Best actress award went to Sally Field for Places in the Heart. | /Dennis
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| For Microsoft, 1983 means the end of an era with the resignation of Paul Allen, the introduction of MS - DOS 2.0 and the formation of Microsoft Press, a trade-book publishing division specializing in computer books.
Previous Episodes:
The History of Microsoft – 1975
The History of Microsoft - 1976
The History of Microsoft - 1977
The History of Microsoft - 1978
The History of Microsoft - 1979
The History of Microsoft – 1980
The History of Microsoft – 1981
The History of Microsoft – 1982 1983 Timeline February 18, 1983 Paul Allen resigns as Microsoft's executive vice president, but remains on the Board of Directors. March 9, 1983 Microsoft introduces MS-DOS 2.0. May 2, 1983 Microsoft introduces the Microsoft Mouse, a low-cost, handheld pointing device for use with the IBM PC as well as any other MS-DOS-based personal computer. August 1, 1983
The assets of Wiser Laboratories Pty, Ltd. of Australia, the local distributor of Microsoft products, are acquired. With the establishment of this subsidiary, Microsoft obtains a direct distribution network into the region. All of Wiser's employees will be retained, and the firm will stay at its existing address. This is considered the company’s first acquisition. September 29, 1983 Microsoft ships it’s full-featured word processing program, Word for MS-DOS 1.00 and provides a free demonstration copy to subscribers of The PC World Software Review. November 3, 1983
Microsoft Press, a trade-book publishing division specializing in computer books, is formed. Nahum Stiskin is named General Manager and Publisher. The primary marketing focus is the business professional, with secondary emphasis on the hobbyist, home, and education markets. Microsoft Press expects to publish 30 to 35 books in its first year.
November 10, 1983 Microsoft unveils Windows, an extension of the MS-DOS operating system that provides a graphical operating environment. Windows features a window management capability that allows a user to view unrelated application programs simultaneously. It also provides the capability to transfer data from one application program to another. Windows wouldn’t actually ship until 2 years later. December 1, 1983
The first international subsidiaries to connect to Microsoft e-mail are in Europe: Microsoft Ltd. in the U.K., Microsoft Sarl in France, and Microsoft G.m.b.H. in Germany. Other products released in 1983: BASIC Interpreter 1.0, Multi-Tool Budget 1.0, Microsoft Multiplan 1.1, Microsoft Sort Notable new hires: Jon Shirley - Former Microsoft president, chief operating officer, and director; Joachim Kempin - Former senior vice president of Microsoft's OEM Division;Mike Slade -Former product manager, helped products such as Excel and Works to become household names and managed the entire line of Mac products;Pete Higgins - Former group vice president of the Interactive Media Group and member of the Office of the President;Raymond B. "Buck" Ferguson - Former senior director of Investor and Shareholder Relations;Bernard Vergnes - Chairman Emeritus of Microsoft EMEA. Other 1983: · World Population: 4.690 billion · Nobel Peace Prize: Lech Walesa (Poland) · U.S. Statistics: President- Ronald W. Reagan; Vice President - George Bush; Population -233,791,994; Life expectancy - 74.6 years · First Artificial Heart: A permanent artificial heart was implanted in a human for first time. The operation was performed on Dr. Barney B. Clark, 61, at University of Utah Medical Center in Salt Lake City. · First Woman In Space: Sally K. Ride, 32, is the first US woman astronaut in space as a crew member aboard space shuttle Challenger. · Academy Awards: Best Picture - Terms of Endearment, James L. Brooks, producer (Paramount); Best Actor - Robert Duvall, Tender Mercies; Best Actress - Shirley MacLaine, Terms of Endearment; Director - James L. Brooks, Terms of Endearment. · Nobel Prize for Literature: William Golding (UK) · Song of the Year: "Always on My Mind," Johnny Christopher, Mark James and Wayne Carson, songwriters · Record of the Year: "Rosanna," Toto · Major Movies of the Time: The Big Chill, Terms of Endearment, Fanny & Alexander, The Right Stuff · M*A*S*H: More than 125 million viewers tune in to the last episode of M*A*S*H. · Birth of Cell Phones: The FCC authorizes Motorola to begin testing cellular phone service in Chicago. · New Camera Technology: Kodak produces 8 million disc cameras during the first year of production. · The Pope: Pope John Paul II signs new Roman Catholic code incorporating changes brought about by Second Vatican Council. · World Series: Baltimore d. Philadelphia Phillies (4-1) · Wimbledon: Women - Martina Navratilova d. A. Jaeger (6-0 6-3); Men - John McEnroe d. C. Lewis (6-2 6-2 6-2) · War: U.S. forces invade island of Grenada, disposing the Marxist regime there · Median Household Income(current dollars): $20,885 · Cost of a first-class stamp: $0.20 · Pulitzer Prize for Fiction: The Color Purple, Alice Walker · Pulitzer Prize for Music: Three Movements for Orchestra, Ellen T. Zwilich | /Dennis
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| For Microsoft, 1982 means a new Chief Operating Officer, a new logo and the very first in-house fax machine. Previous Episodes:
The History of Microsoft – 1975
The History of Microsoft - 1976
The History of Microsoft - 1977
The History of Microsoft - 1978
The History of Microsoft - 1979
The History of Microsoft – 1980
The History of Microsoft - 1981
March 24, 1982Microsoft U.K. Ltd. (United Kingdom) is incorporated (first official international subsidiary). June 25, 1982
James C. Towne is appointed President and Chief Operating Officer of Microsoft. In July he takes over all responsibilities from Bill Gates, who will assume the title of Executive Vice President, responsible for all development activities. Gates remains Chairman of the Board. Towne was previously Vice President and General Manager of the Instrument Division at Tektronix. He is replaced by Jon Shirley the next year. June 28, 1982 Microsoft announces a new corporate logo, new packaging, and a comprehensive set of retail dealer support materials. (blibbet) July 6, 1982
Microsoft becomes a registered trademark in the U.S. ( No. 1,200,236 in Int.Cls 9 and 42 (computer programs and computer programming services). July 16, 1982
Microsoft Acquires a Fax Machine for in-house use. It is a Panafax 1200 and is group I and II compatible. July 16, 1982 The Microsoft Local Area Network (MILAN) is now fully functional, linking all of Microsoft's in-house development computers, including a DEC 2060, two PDP-11/70s, a VAX 11/250, and many MC68000 machines running XENIX. This system will simplify e-mail delivery on-site. (Bill Gates becomes billg) August 1, 1982
Microsoft Multiplan version 1.00 for MS-DOS ships. September 1, 1982
Microsoft announces the availability of its symbolic mathematic package muMATH/muSIMP for the IBM Personal Computer. This package is also offered for the Apple II, TRS-80, and CP/M-80 computer systems. October 1, 1982
Paul Allen is diagnosed with Hodgkin's Disease, which is localized and in a very treatable form. He is on a limited work schedule while undergoing treatments. Although his treatment is successful, he will resign from Microsoft in 1983. 1982 Revenue/Headcount The 1982 year-end sales total $24,486,000. The 1982 Calendar Year employee headcount totals 220 people. Other products released in 1982: Cobol 4.6, Typing Tutor II for Apple II, SoftCard Premium, Flight Simulator for MS-DOS Other 1982: · First Artificial Heart: A permanent artificial heart was implanted in a human for first time. The operation was performed on Dr. Barney B. Clark, 61, at University of Utah Medical Center in Salt Lake City. · Top hits: "I Can't Go for That (No Can Do)" by Daryl Hall and John Oates - "Waiting for a Girl Like You" by Foreigner - "Hooked on Classics" by The Royal Philharmonic Orchestra - "The Sweetest Thing I've Ever Known" by Juice Newton. · Baby Bells Created: American Telephone and Telegraph settled the Justice Department's antitrust lawsuit against it by agreeing to divest itself of the 22 Bell System companies. The ATT Bell System was ordered to be subdivided into 7 Baby Bells by the US government. · Hinckley Found Not Guilty: John W. Hinckley, Jr. was found not guilty because of insanity in shooting of President Reagan. · Israel Invades Lebanon on June 6. The immediate cause cited for the invasion was the attempted assassination of Israel's Ambassador in London. Israel's plan was designed first to create a buffer between Lebanon and Northern Israel. The incursion quickly grew to a full-fledged attempt to destroy the P.L.O. · Good News for Dieters: 1982 gave us the beginnings of Diet Coke and Equal artificial sweetener. · Academy Awards: the 1982 Oscar for Best Movie went to "Gandhi." · New Communist Leader: In Russia Soviet leader Leonid I. Brezhnev died at age 75 and the Kremlin command passed to Yuri Andropov. Brezhnev had suffered from arteriosclerosis of the brain. · Record Breaker: Cal Ripken began playing for the Baltimore Orioles. By Sep 20, 1998 he had played a record 2,632 consecutive games. · Computer is Man of the Year: Less than four months after IBM introduced the PC, Time Magazine named the computer as the man of the year! Never before (or since) had an inanimate object been chosen as the "man of the year". · Tylenol tampering scare: In the fall of 1982, seven people die from taking cyanide-laced Tylenol capsules. The nation panics and Johnson and Johnson quickly recalls over 30 million bottles. · Equal Rights Amendment defeated: The ERA, that would prohibit discrimination by sex, falls short of ratification when the deadline passes. · Newspaper in Technicolor: A new publication called "USA Today" launched in full blown color, a first for a newspaper. · Falkland Islands War: Argentina invades the British-occupied Falklands. After two months, Argentina surrenders to British forces on June 14. · Princess Grace Dies: Princess Grace of Monaco dies from injuries suffered when her car plunged off a mountain road. Her daughter, seventeen-year-old Stephanie, a passenger in the car, suffers bruises and trauma | /Dennis
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| For Microsoft, 1981 means an entrance into the Operating Systems Business, we organize into a privately help organization and revenue jumps to over 17 million bucks. Previous Episodes:
The History of Microsoft – 1975
The History of Microsoft - 1976
The History of Microsoft - 1977
The History of Microsoft – 1978
The History of Microsoft - 1979
The History of Microsoft - 1980 April 9, 1981 First semi-annual company meeting is held in the newly built Bellevue Athletic Club. June 25, 1981 Microsoft reorganizes into a privately held corporation with Bill Gates as president and chairman of the board and Paul Allen as executive vice president. Microsoft becomes Microsoft, Inc., an incorporated business in the state of Washington. August 12, 1981 IBM introduces its Personal Computer (PC), MS-DOS version 1.0, plus BASIC, COBOL, Pascal, and other Microsoft products. This is Microsoft’s entry into the operating systems business. Included in the IBM-compatible list of software is a game newly adapted to the PC, Microsoft Adventure. October 1, 1981
The Microsoft Building (Northup Building) at 10700 Northup Way, (P.O. Box 97200) Bellevue, Washington, 98004, is leased. December 8, 1981 Microsoft announces that is has signed a letter of intent to enter a second-source agreement with The Santa Cruz Operation, Inc. for the XENIX operating system. The agreement will provide additional services to purchasers of XENIX, especially pre- and post-sale support, maintenance, and documentation. 1981 Revenue/Headcount The 1981 year-end sales total $17,331,000. The 1980 Calendar Year employee headcount totals 129 people. Notable employees hired: Tandy Trower, Jeff Raikes, Chris Peters and 100th employee Ellen Aycock. Chris Larson is hired as an FTE after several summer-long internships. Other 1981: · Osborne Computer introduces the Osborne 1, the first portable microcomputer. · Ronald Reagan takes the oath as 40th President of the United States on January 20. On March 30, he is wounded by a gunman, along with two law-enforcement officers and his Press Secretary James Brady. · US-Iran agreement frees 52 hostages held in Teheran since 1979. · Pope John Paul II is wounded by a gunman on May 14. · President Reagan nominates Sandra Day O'Connor as the first woman on the Supreme Court. · The US Centers for Disease Control publish a report which officially announces the start of the AIDS epidemic. · Oakland defeats Philadelphia to win the Super Bowl (27-10). The LA Dodgers defeat the NY Yankees (4-2) to win the World Series. · Bestselling novels in 1981 include: Midnight's Children by Salman Rushdie, and Rabbit is Rich by John Updike. John Updike wins both a Pulitzer Prize and National Book Award for this novel in 1982. · John Lennon and Yoko Ono win a Grammy Award for Best Album for Double Fantasy. Best Song is Bette Davis Eyes, by songwriters Jackie DeShannon and Donna Weiss. Best New Artist is Sheena Easton. · The top-grossing films: Raiders of the Lost Ark ($115 million), Superman II ($65 million), On Golden Pond ($61 million), Arthur ($42 million), and Stripes ($40 million). · The Academy votes the Best Picture of the year -- Chariots of Fire, and the public votes: the worst movie -- depending who you ask, of course -- Tarzan, the Ape Man, starring Bo Derek and Richard Harris. · Henry Fonda receives the Best Actor Oscar for On Golden Pond; Best Actress goes to Katharine Hepburn also for On Golden Pond. · Egyptian President Anwar Sadat is assassinated at the age of 63 | /Dennis
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| For Microsoft, 1980 means a new decade and new technology. Microsoft introduces the Z-80 SoftCard, Steve Ballmer joins the company and we announce XENIX OS, a portable, UNIX-based operating system for 16-bit microprocessors.
Previous Episodes:
The History of Microsoft – 1975
The History of Microsoft - 1976
The History of Microsoft - 1977
The History of Microsoft - 1978
The History of Microsoft – 1979
January 1, 1980 Microsoft Consumer Products announces its first consumer-oriented application software, Typing Tutor. April 2, 1980 Microsoft introduces the Z-80 SoftCard, a circuit board that plugs into the Apple II computer and allows Apple II users to run CP/M applications with only minor modifications.
June 11, 1980 Steve Ballmer joins Microsoft with responsibility for Operations, including personnel, finance, and legal areas of the business.
August 25, 1980 Microsoft announces XENIX OS, a portable, UNIX-based operating system for 16-bit microprocessors. 1980 Revenue/Headcount The 1980 year-end sales total $8,000,000. The 1980 Calendar Year employee headcount totals 40 people.
Other products released in 1980: Basic Compiler 5.3, TRS-DOS COBOL and Basic, muLISP and muMATH, TRS-80 Editor/Assember, XMacro-86 Cross Assembler, COBOL-80 Compiler 4.0, BASIC Interpreter for Z8000, Olympic Decathlon (game), M/SORT, FORTRAN & COBOL for Apple II, RAMcard (memory expander for the Apple II)
Other 1980: | /Dennis
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| For Microsoft, 1979 is all about Basic when the M6800 version of Microsoft Basic is released, The 8080 version of Microsoft® Basic is the first microprocessor software product to win the ICP Million Dollar Award and we announce the availability of Microsoft BASIC Compiler for 8080 and Z-80 CP/M systems.
Previous Episodes:
The History of Microsoft – 1975
The History of Microsoft - 1976
The History of Microsoft - 1977
The History of Microsoft – 1978
January 1, 1979 Microsoft moves its offices to Bellevue, Washington from Albuquerque, New Mexico. March 12, 1979 A M6800 version of Microsoft Basic is released
April 4, 1979 The 8080 version of Microsoft® Basic is the first microprocessor software product to win the ICP Million Dollar Award.
June 18, 1979 Microsoft BASIC, currently in use in over 200,000 Z80 and 8080 installations has just been released in a new version for the 8086 16-bit microprocessor.
August 1, 1979 Microsoft announces the availability of Microsoft BASIC Compiler for 8080 and Z-80 CP/M systems.
November 29, 1979 Service to the European market is expanded with the addition of a new representative, Vector Microsoft, located in Haasrode, Belgium.
December 1, 1979 Level III BASIC, the most powerful BASIC written for the TRS-80, has been introduced by Microsoft Consumer Products, the new consumer software development and marketing division of Microsoft December 3, 1979 Microsoft distributes the first CODASYL-compatible database management system for microcomputers.
1978 Revenue/Headcount The 1979 year-end sales total $2,390,145. There are 28 employees.
Other 1979: · VisiCalc, the first electronic spreadsheet program, debuts at the West Coast Computer Faire. · The first compact discs are created by Philips in the Netherlands and Sony in Japan, with joint licensing. · Margaret Thatcher is the first woman to be elected prime minister of Great Britain. · Sony introduces the first Walkman and teaches the world that technology can be sophisticated and portable. | /Dennis
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| For Microsoft, 1978 begins with the announcement of the Microsoft COBOL-80, which conforms to the 1974 ANSI standards for 8080, Z80, and 8085 microprocessor systems. We establish our first international sales office and fiscal year sales for the first time exceed one million dollars . Oh and of course, it was the year of Andy Gibb. 
Previous Episodes:
The History of Microsoft – 1975
The History of Microsoft - 1976
The History of Microsoft – 1977
April 11, 1978 Microsoft COBOL-80, which conforms to the 1974 ANSI standards for 8080, Z80, and 8085 microprocessor systems, is announced. November 1, 1978 Microsoft establishes its first international sales office in Japan, ASCII Microsoft. November 6, 1978 Microsoft announces the availability of Microsoft EDIT-80, a random access, line oriented text editor for 8080 and Z-80 systems. EDIT-80 is the first microcomputer editor with random line access to floppy disk files. December 1, 1978 Microsoft announces Microsoft Macro-80 for 8080; Z-80. The 14K assembler is the fastest macro assembler currently on the microcomputer market, assembling over 1000 lines per minute. December 1, 1978 Microsoft announces the availability of Microsoft FORTRAN-80 Compiler for TRS-80. December 31, 1978 Microsoft's year-end sales exceed $1 million at $1,355,655. There are 13 employees. The Albuquerque office's Coca Cola bill for Calendar Year 1978 totals $566.50.
Other 1978 -
Intel introduces the 8086 chip, the start of the 16-bit microprocessor family. -
Senator Al Gore of Tennessee coins the phrase “information highway” in a meeting with computer industry officials. -
Louise Brown, the first baby to be conceived outside the human body, is born to British parents. -
The United States bans chlorofluorocarbons as spray propellants because they damage the ozone layer. -
Shadow Dancing, by Andy Gibb, tops the Billboard charts for the year. | /Dennis
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| For Microsoft, 1977 marks the beginning of an official partnership between Paul Allen and Bill Gates, we hire our first official employee and the FORTRAN-80, Microsoft's second language product finally becomes available. Previous Episodes:
The History of Microsoft – 1975
The History of Microsoft – 1976 February 3, 1977 An official partnership agreement between Paul Allen and Bill Gates is executed. July 1, 1977 FORTRAN-80, Microsoft’s second language product, is available at the prices of $500 for an individual license. OEM licenses are available. September 13, 1977 Microsoft receives new computers from Commodore, Radio Shack and Texas Instruments. September 26, 1977 The Albuquerque facilities are expanded by three new offices in the same building. November 18, 1977 Microsoft terminates an exclusive license to MITS for Microsoft's BASIC product and announces availability of versions for the 8080 and Z-80 microprocessors. 1977 Revenue/Headcount
The 1977 Calendar Year revenue totals $381,715, headcount is 9. Other 1977: · Tandy Corporation announces the TRS-80® Model 1 microcomputer, which retails for $600 with 4K memory. · Commodore Business Machines introduces the Personal Electronic Transactor (PET) computer. · Elvis Presley, the king of rock ‘n’ roll, dies. Star Wars, a blockbuster high-tech movie directed by George Lucas, costars robots R2-D2 and C3PO.
*note, the archive footage from Bill Gates was filmed November 30 and December 1st of 1993 not 1994. It has been corrected in this episode and will be for 1975 and 1976 as well. | /Dennis
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