(Microsoft Corporation, Redmond, WA, www.microsoft.com) The most successful and influential software company. Microsoft's software and Intel's hardware pioneered the PC and revolutionized the computer industry. Founded in 1975 by Bill Gates and Paul Allen, its Windows operating systems are the de facto standards on the desktop and major contenders in the server arena. Microsoft Office is the most successful application suite in history. The company also has a thriving business in programming languages, which are its roots, as well as in numerous other software categories.
Gates and Allen were two college students when they wrote the first BASIC interpreter for the Intel 8080 microprocessor. MBASIC was licensed to Micro Instrumentation and Telemetry Systems to accompany its Altair 8800 kit. By the end of 1976, more than 10,000 Altairs were sold, and versions were licensed to Radio Shack, Apple and others. Although the company became a leader in microcomputer programming languages, its outstanding success was caused by fitting IBM PCs with DOS in 1981 and non-IBM PCs with MS-DOS. In 1990, Windows 3.0, its third version of Windows, was enormously popular. Later, Windows 95 and Windows NT cemented Microsoft's leadership.
After the explosion of the Web, Microsoft worked feverishly to gain a foothold. By giving away its Internet Explorer browser and then integrating it into Windows 98, Internet Explorer became the leading on-ramp to the Internet. The Microsoft Network (MSN) ISP division is also a growing part of the company, and although many do not think of it as such, Microsoft is a very large hardware company. Its 2003 revenues for mice, keyboards, Xboxes and other devices exceeded five billion dollars. See Microsoft trial, Microsoft and IBM, Windows, DOS, Microsoft Office, Internet Explorer, Microsoftie and Altair.
William H. Gates, III
Bill Gates has become the most widely known business entrepreneur in the world, regardless of industry. (Image courtesy of Microsoft Corporation.)
The Microsoft Campus
This is the main building of the sprawling Microsoft campus. (Image courtesy of Microsoft Corporation.)
Gates and Allen were two college students when they wrote the first BASIC interpreter for the Intel 8080 microprocessor. MBASIC was licensed to Micro Instrumentation and Telemetry Systems to accompany its Altair 8800 kit. By the end of 1976, more than 10,000 Altairs were sold, and versions were licensed to Radio Shack, Apple and others. Although the company became a leader in microcomputer programming languages, its outstanding success was caused by fitting IBM PCs with DOS in 1981 and non-IBM PCs with MS-DOS. In 1990, Windows 3.0, its third version of Windows, was enormously popular. Later, Windows 95 and Windows NT cemented Microsoft's leadership.
After the explosion of the Web, Microsoft worked feverishly to gain a foothold. By giving away its Internet Explorer browser and then integrating it into Windows 98, Internet Explorer became the leading on-ramp to the Internet. The Microsoft Network (MSN) ISP division is also a growing part of the company, and although many do not think of it as such, Microsoft is a very large hardware company. Its 2003 revenues for mice, keyboards, Xboxes and other devices exceeded five billion dollars. See Microsoft trial, Microsoft and IBM, Windows, DOS, Microsoft Office, Internet Explorer, Microsoftie and Altair.
William H. Gates, III
Bill Gates has become the most widely known business entrepreneur in the world, regardless of industry. (Image courtesy of Microsoft Corporation.)
The Microsoft Campus
This is the main building of the sprawling Microsoft campus. (Image courtesy of Microsoft Corporation.)
 | Reproduced with permission from Computer Desktop Encyclopedia. Copyright (c) 1981-2009 The Computer Language Company Inc. All rights reserved. |
Additional Resources
- Will Microsoft's Silverlight dampen the appeal of Google's Chrome OS?
- MS is the past Google is the future so NopeGoogle is the old MS, MS is the old IBM. PC_DOS never made it, MS_DOS did. The driving factor was openness and innovation.Today and in the near future, Google has bothToday MS sees profit only and based on thatdrives...
- Discussion threads 2009-11-20
- Microsoft designs laptop for developer giveaway
- Great idea !!!Finally something new and exciting from Microsoft. It maybe won't change the market anytime soon, but at least, these will set a benchmark by which other will have to measure. It's also a nice way to demonstrate the best Windows has to offer.And it's nice to see Microsoft...
- Discussion threads 2009-11-19
- Chrome OS will give Microsoft a run for their money
- SilverLight draws circles around Google's gimmickCompare SL's demo w/ that of ChromeOS and see it for yourself the truth: The former completely owns the latter.RE: Chrome OS will give Microsoft a run for their moneyWhat kool aid are you drinking? NOTHING is secure, and Google wants to take over everything....
- Discussion threads 2009-11-19
- Microsoft still working on an Adobe Lightroom competitor, but with a social twist
- Maybe MS needs myLife instead of focusing on cloud everything.I've been a Windows user since Windows 1.0 on MS-DOS. I used Multiplan and Word with a mouse before Windows even existed. Over the years I've purchased so many copies of MS Office, OS upgrades, mice, keyboards, joysticks, development environments (MASM,...
- Discussion threads 2009-11-19
- Microsoft finds security hole in Google Chrome Frame
- HAHA! Way to go Microsoft! They basically just told Google to suck it! The best part is they were right the whole time. Yet people blindly defended Google. It would seem Google has more software issues than anyone else.RE: Microsoft finds security hole in Google Chrome FrameI'm not...
- Discussion threads 2009-11-19
- NComputing announces new Microsoft partnership
- I've featured NComputing a few times in this blog, largely focusing on their solutions that turn a single workstation into as many as 10 workstations using thin client technologies. In particular, I wrote about NComputing's successful bid beating out Intel and OLPC to provide thin-client computers to as many...
- Blog posts 2009-11-18
- Microsoft shares a few tidbits on IE9 and (lots) more on Silverlight 4
- Safari? What Safari ? :-)http://www.tgdaily.com/software-features/39495-safari-4-beta-first-browser-to-hit-100-score-in-acid3-testI know, Steve doesn't like Apple but you're supposed to be a journalist? ;-)Google chrome?IE like Microsoft is stumbling around in a new ecosystem in which spending thousands of dollars is not an option.Plus, it locks you into a insecure OS platform with...
- Discussion threads 2009-11-18
- Microsoft Office 2010, SharePoint 2010 public betas now available for download
- Microsoft still firmly planted in the LAST century.NTLinux Kernel speaks?Hmmm, I'd fear for the future of Linux if this is what comes out of it. You'd think the "many eyes" would have caught such silly logic in the kernel years ago...and looking ready to dominate this oneas well.Google is...
- Discussion threads 2009-11-18
- So where's Microsoft's Live Mesh?
- Project name changedIt's Microsoft Live Mess now under Ballmer's leadership.RE: So where's Microsoft's Live Mesh?i hope they don't get rid of or just leave it alone because i really like it. Actually, it works very well.It might be stuck in some pre-release limbo but whats already available to use does...
- Discussion threads 2009-11-18
- So where's Microsoft's Live Mesh?
- One noticeable no-show at this week's Microsoft Professional Developers Conference is Live Mesh. Live Mesh, Microsoft's synchronization service that is the pet project of Chief Software Architect Ray Ozzie, was one of the main attractions at previous Microsoft developers' conferences. I asked Ozzie for an update on it this...
- Blog posts 2009-11-18
- What's next for Microsoft's Azure cloud platform?
- So MS is going cloud...Well, well, isn't this interesting. Does MS concede that the era of packaged client software is over? Again, MS is the follower and not the leader, and again, MS is following Google to the clouds. My prediction is that this will be a field day...
- Discussion threads 2009-11-18
- Google-Microsoft rivalry on with ChromeOS launch
- This will usher in an era of intense competition and innovation, as well aslower prices.This will be good for all concerned. Windows users will get lower prices and faster innovation. The Windows users should be Google's biggest fans here.Chorme OS could get 10% or more of the netbook market. That...
- Discussion threads 2009-11-18
- Microsoft Office Professional 2010 beta (Windows)
- Microsoft Office helps you work faster, easier, and more intuitively, whether you're in the office, on the road, working solo, or part of a team. The 2010 Microsoft Office system has evolved from a suite of personal productivity products to a more comprehensive and integrated system. Building on the familiar...
- Software downloads 2009-11-18
- Microsoft may have blown opportunities, but all hope is not lost
- Time to let it goThe erosion has started, it cannot be stopped and the longer you try to hold on to something that fleecing away the more you lose.Game over.Android wins.:)Blown OpportunitiesThis reminds me of MS failing to see the internet coming and allowing Netscape to dominate the market. They...
- Discussion threads 2009-11-17
- Three new codenames and how they fit into Microsoft's cloud vision
- Any Microsoft Professional Developers Conference PDC wouldn't be complete without a few new codenames. On November 17, Microsoft introduced three new ones that all are related to Microsoft's evolving cloud-computing vision and infrastructure. by Mary Jo Foley
- Blog posts 2009-11-17
- Microsoft, former employee settle over spying claims
- So, if a hacker patents a hack ... MS can't do anything about it unless they license the hack?Sounds a bit deceptiveSo they guy knows his company is working on this patent, applies at MS while not telling them he's still working at the other company, then pitches this idea...
- Discussion threads 2009-11-17
- Microsoft to share some details on IE 9 at PDC show this week
- Tabs that dont hang and,1. HTML 5 standards compliance ahead of Chrome and FF2. Better plugins3. CSS 3 compliance4. FASTER!Trying to develop for IE8 is still a pain!Addon supportFor things like AdBlock Plus.Also, an x64 version of silverlight.Grow upso do not read this blog - OK? Prefer Firefox but...
- Discussion threads 2009-11-17
- Dance Microsoft Store employees, dance!
- RE: Dance Microsoft Store employees, dance!I for one am proud to see Microsoft employees that love their job. They are really enjoying themselves which not only makes for a better environment but also makes for better customer service. This is exactly the kind of thing the Microsoft store should...
- Discussion threads 2009-11-17
- Live Webcast: Saving 70% with Google Apps over Microsoft Exchange with MattsonTechnology
- Matthew Hough, Global Director of IT for Mattson Technology, made the switch from Microsoft Exchange to Google Apps for his 500-person company. With offices on 3 continents, Mattson Technology designs,manufactures, and markets the semiconductor wafer processing equipment used to make integrated circuits. Google Apps has changed the way Mattson...
- Webcasts 2009-11-17
- Microsoft search share continues its slow upward crawl
- Google is impossible to beatAt this point, unless something absolutely traumatic was to happen to Google, I dont see any change from the status quo for a while.It will certainly take much more than a Yahoo/MSFT combo thats for sure...Onuorahttp://www.windows7update.comhttp://www.windows8update.comMS is grasping at straws & patentsOnce they lose patents it...
- Discussion threads 2009-11-16
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