Comment Feed for Channel 9 - A look back at Microsoft History http://ecn.channel9.msdn.com/o9/content/on10/blogs/old microsoft photo for real (custom).jpg Channel 9 - A look back at Microsoft History Okay, I'm a total sucker for looking back into anything.  I love VHI's "I love the eighties".  I could spend hours in the Microsoft Visitors Center checking out old photos and Key Events from the 70's.  It just goes to show you how much and how quickly the world changes.  I found these key events from the seventies and if anybody finds this stuff as interesting as I do let me know and I'll bring you the following decade.  1975January 1. The MITS Altair 8800 appears on the cover of Popular Electronics, inspiring Paul Allen and Bill Gates to develop a BASIC language for the Altair.February 1. Bill Gates and Paul Allen sell BASIC, the first computer language program for a personal computer, to Microsoft's first customer, MITS of Albuquerque, NM.March 1. Paul Allen joins MITS as director of software.April 7. "Altair BASIC‑Up and Running," declares the headline of the first edition of MITS Computer Notes.July 1. BASIC officially ships as version 2.0 in both 4K and 8K editions.1976February 3. Bill Gates is one of the first programmers to raise the issue of software piracy. In "An Open Letter to Hobbyists," first published in MITS Computer Notes, Gates accuses hobbyists of stealing software and thus preventing "...good software from being written." He prophetically concludes with the line, "...Nothing would please me more than being able to hire ten programmers and deluge the hobby market with good software."March 27. Bill Gates gives the opening address at the First Annual World Altair Computer Convention, held in Albuquerque.November 1. Paul Allen resigns from MITS to join Microsoft full time.November 26. The trade name Microsoft is registered with the Office of the Secretary of the State of New Mexico.1977February 3. Paul Allen and Bill Gates execute an official partnership agreement.July 1. FORTRAN-80, Microsoft's second language product, is available.1978November 1. Microsoft establishes its first international sales office in Japan, ASCII Microsoft.December 31. Microsoft's year-end sales exceed $1 million.1979January 1. Microsoft moves its offices to Bellevue, WA, from Albuquerque. en Mon, 13 Feb 2012 06:46:35 GMT Mon, 13 Feb 2012 06:46:35 GMT Rev9 Re: A look back at Microsoft History 1979 was a good year...for me to be born!

This was an interesting list.  I knew most of it being a Microsoft geek (since way before joining), but there were a couple things in there I wasn't aware of.  Nice!

posted by Erik Porter

]]> http://channel9.msdn.com/Blogs/Tina/A-look-back-at-Microsoft-History#c633130411670000000 Tue, 24 Apr 2007 19:52:47 GMT http://channel9.msdn.com/Blogs/Tina/A-look-back-at-Microsoft-History#c633130411670000000 Erik Porter Re: A look back at Microsoft History 1979 was a good year...for me to be born!

This was an interesting list.  I knew most of it being a Microsoft geek (since way before joining), but there were a couple things in there I wasn't aware of.  Nice!

posted by HumanCompiler

]]> http://channel9.msdn.com/Blogs/Tina/A-look-back-at-Microsoft-History#c633130411670000000 Tue, 24 Apr 2007 19:52:47 GMT http://channel9.msdn.com/Blogs/Tina/A-look-back-at-Microsoft-History#c633130411670000000 HumanCompiler Re: A look back at Microsoft History The next entry should be "April 1979... TeddyB is born." Who would've thought that the folks in that photo would build something like Microsoft. I wish my parents had put in a few bucks... It's like when you hear about how if you'd invested 4 dollars in Coca Cola at the beginning it would be worth millions today. Amazing.

posted by Ted Bracewell

]]> http://channel9.msdn.com/Blogs/Tina/A-look-back-at-Microsoft-History#c633130435050000000 Tue, 24 Apr 2007 20:31:45 GMT http://channel9.msdn.com/Blogs/Tina/A-look-back-at-Microsoft-History#c633130435050000000 Ted Bracewell Re: A look back at Microsoft History The next entry should be "April 1979... TeddyB is born." Who would've thought that the folks in that photo would build something like Microsoft. I wish my parents had put in a few bucks... It's like when you hear about how if you'd invested 4 dollars in Coca Cola at the beginning it would be worth millions today. Amazing.

posted by Ted Bracewell

]]> http://channel9.msdn.com/Blogs/Tina/A-look-back-at-Microsoft-History#c633130435050000000 Tue, 24 Apr 2007 20:31:45 GMT http://channel9.msdn.com/Blogs/Tina/A-look-back-at-Microsoft-History#c633130435050000000 Ted Bracewell Re: A look back at Microsoft History

posted by Erik Porter

]]> http://channel9.msdn.com/Blogs/Tina/A-look-back-at-Microsoft-History#c633130438090000000 Tue, 24 Apr 2007 20:36:49 GMT http://channel9.msdn.com/Blogs/Tina/A-look-back-at-Microsoft-History#c633130438090000000 Erik Porter Re: A look back at Microsoft History

posted by HumanCompiler

]]> http://channel9.msdn.com/Blogs/Tina/A-look-back-at-Microsoft-History#c633130438090000000 Tue, 24 Apr 2007 20:36:49 GMT http://channel9.msdn.com/Blogs/Tina/A-look-back-at-Microsoft-History#c633130438090000000 HumanCompiler Re: A look back at Microsoft History posted by Ted Bracewell

]]> http://channel9.msdn.com/Blogs/Tina/A-look-back-at-Microsoft-History#c633130481140000000 Tue, 24 Apr 2007 21:48:34 GMT http://channel9.msdn.com/Blogs/Tina/A-look-back-at-Microsoft-History#c633130481140000000 Ted Bracewell Re: A look back at Microsoft History posted by Ted Bracewell

]]> http://channel9.msdn.com/Blogs/Tina/A-look-back-at-Microsoft-History#c633130481140000000 Tue, 24 Apr 2007 21:48:34 GMT http://channel9.msdn.com/Blogs/Tina/A-look-back-at-Microsoft-History#c633130481140000000 Ted Bracewell Re: A look back at Microsoft History

posted by Erik Porter

]]> http://channel9.msdn.com/Blogs/Tina/A-look-back-at-Microsoft-History#c633130488770000000 Tue, 24 Apr 2007 22:01:17 GMT http://channel9.msdn.com/Blogs/Tina/A-look-back-at-Microsoft-History#c633130488770000000 Erik Porter Re: A look back at Microsoft History

posted by HumanCompiler

]]> http://channel9.msdn.com/Blogs/Tina/A-look-back-at-Microsoft-History#c633130488770000000 Tue, 24 Apr 2007 22:01:17 GMT http://channel9.msdn.com/Blogs/Tina/A-look-back-at-Microsoft-History#c633130488770000000 HumanCompiler Re: A look back at Microsoft History posted by Ted Bracewell

]]> http://channel9.msdn.com/Blogs/Tina/A-look-back-at-Microsoft-History#c633130530800000000 Tue, 24 Apr 2007 23:11:20 GMT http://channel9.msdn.com/Blogs/Tina/A-look-back-at-Microsoft-History#c633130530800000000 Ted Bracewell Re: A look back at Microsoft History posted by Ted Bracewell

]]> http://channel9.msdn.com/Blogs/Tina/A-look-back-at-Microsoft-History#c633130530800000000 Tue, 24 Apr 2007 23:11:20 GMT http://channel9.msdn.com/Blogs/Tina/A-look-back-at-Microsoft-History#c633130530800000000 Ted Bracewell Re: A look back at Microsoft History

posted by Matthew Mushall

]]> http://channel9.msdn.com/Blogs/Tina/A-look-back-at-Microsoft-History#c633130554280000000 Tue, 24 Apr 2007 23:50:28 GMT http://channel9.msdn.com/Blogs/Tina/A-look-back-at-Microsoft-History#c633130554280000000 Matthew Mushall Re: A look back at Microsoft History

posted by Matthew Mushall

]]> http://channel9.msdn.com/Blogs/Tina/A-look-back-at-Microsoft-History#c633130554280000000 Tue, 24 Apr 2007 23:50:28 GMT http://channel9.msdn.com/Blogs/Tina/A-look-back-at-Microsoft-History#c633130554280000000 Matthew Mushall Re: A look back at Microsoft History
Maybe one day we'll be part of on10 history.  :=)

posted by scratchex

]]> http://channel9.msdn.com/Blogs/Tina/A-look-back-at-Microsoft-History#c633130611590000000 Wed, 25 Apr 2007 01:25:59 GMT http://channel9.msdn.com/Blogs/Tina/A-look-back-at-Microsoft-History#c633130611590000000 scratchex Re: A look back at Microsoft History
Maybe one day we'll be part of on10 history.  :=)

posted by scratchex

]]> http://channel9.msdn.com/Blogs/Tina/A-look-back-at-Microsoft-History#c633130611590000000 Wed, 25 Apr 2007 01:25:59 GMT http://channel9.msdn.com/Blogs/Tina/A-look-back-at-Microsoft-History#c633130611590000000 scratchex Re: A look back at Microsoft History wow.. in a few short years you go from a startup with two ppl to making over a mill in a single year!!

im very interested to see how the 80's played out for ms.

ps... not sure when my birthday is.. ive chosen one for myself outta the 4 dates it might be but im pretty sure it was in 1979.

posted by 39cents

]]> http://channel9.msdn.com/Blogs/Tina/A-look-back-at-Microsoft-History#c633130760630000000 Wed, 25 Apr 2007 05:34:23 GMT http://channel9.msdn.com/Blogs/Tina/A-look-back-at-Microsoft-History#c633130760630000000 39cents Re: A look back at Microsoft History wow.. in a few short years you go from a startup with two ppl to making over a mill in a single year!!

im very interested to see how the 80's played out for ms.

ps... not sure when my birthday is.. ive chosen one for myself outta the 4 dates it might be but im pretty sure it was in 1979.

posted by 39cents

]]> http://channel9.msdn.com/Blogs/Tina/A-look-back-at-Microsoft-History#c633130760630000000 Wed, 25 Apr 2007 05:34:23 GMT http://channel9.msdn.com/Blogs/Tina/A-look-back-at-Microsoft-History#c633130760630000000 39cents Re: A look back at Microsoft History posted by Flashbak

]]> http://channel9.msdn.com/Blogs/Tina/A-look-back-at-Microsoft-History#c633130927500000000 Wed, 25 Apr 2007 10:12:30 GMT http://channel9.msdn.com/Blogs/Tina/A-look-back-at-Microsoft-History#c633130927500000000 Flashbak Re: A look back at Microsoft History posted by Flashbak

]]> http://channel9.msdn.com/Blogs/Tina/A-look-back-at-Microsoft-History#c633130927500000000 Wed, 25 Apr 2007 10:12:30 GMT http://channel9.msdn.com/Blogs/Tina/A-look-back-at-Microsoft-History#c633130927500000000 Flashbak Re: A look back at Microsoft History  He prophetically concludes with the line, "...Nothing would please me more than being able to hire ten programmers and deluge the hobby market with good software."

That was 1976, I'm still waiting... and yes, I do actually remember 1976.

And I love "I love the 80s" and cringe at how much of it I remember/did.

posted by Dengin

]]> http://channel9.msdn.com/Blogs/Tina/A-look-back-at-Microsoft-History#c633131003010000000 Wed, 25 Apr 2007 12:18:21 GMT http://channel9.msdn.com/Blogs/Tina/A-look-back-at-Microsoft-History#c633131003010000000 Dengin Re: A look back at Microsoft History  He prophetically concludes with the line, "...Nothing would please me more than being able to hire ten programmers and deluge the hobby market with good software."

That was 1976, I'm still waiting... and yes, I do actually remember 1976.

And I love "I love the 80s" and cringe at how much of it I remember/did.

posted by Dengin

]]> http://channel9.msdn.com/Blogs/Tina/A-look-back-at-Microsoft-History#c633131003010000000 Wed, 25 Apr 2007 12:18:21 GMT http://channel9.msdn.com/Blogs/Tina/A-look-back-at-Microsoft-History#c633131003010000000 Dengin Re: A look back at Microsoft History posted by Chris Arnold

]]> http://channel9.msdn.com/Blogs/Tina/A-look-back-at-Microsoft-History#c633131198150000000 Wed, 25 Apr 2007 17:43:35 GMT http://channel9.msdn.com/Blogs/Tina/A-look-back-at-Microsoft-History#c633131198150000000 Chris Arnold Re: A look back at Microsoft History posted by Chris Arnold

]]> http://channel9.msdn.com/Blogs/Tina/A-look-back-at-Microsoft-History#c633131198150000000 Wed, 25 Apr 2007 17:43:35 GMT http://channel9.msdn.com/Blogs/Tina/A-look-back-at-Microsoft-History#c633131198150000000 Chris Arnold Re: A look back at Microsoft History flashbak brings up a good question.. is the center open to visitors? also.. im very interested in what happens in the 80's. i didnt realize how quick ms took off. in just a couple of years they go from a start up to a million dollar a year company.

ps.. i was also born in '79!! .. but sadly thats all i can confidently say. i dont know what my birthday REALLY is. i decided on one. but there could be any of about 4 days.

posted by 39cents

]]> http://channel9.msdn.com/Blogs/Tina/A-look-back-at-Microsoft-History#c633131643370000000 Thu, 26 Apr 2007 06:05:37 GMT http://channel9.msdn.com/Blogs/Tina/A-look-back-at-Microsoft-History#c633131643370000000 39cents Re: A look back at Microsoft History flashbak brings up a good question.. is the center open to visitors? also.. im very interested in what happens in the 80's. i didnt realize how quick ms took off. in just a couple of years they go from a start up to a million dollar a year company.

ps.. i was also born in '79!! .. but sadly thats all i can confidently say. i dont know what my birthday REALLY is. i decided on one. but there could be any of about 4 days.

posted by 39cents

]]> http://channel9.msdn.com/Blogs/Tina/A-look-back-at-Microsoft-History#c633131643370000000 Thu, 26 Apr 2007 06:05:37 GMT http://channel9.msdn.com/Blogs/Tina/A-look-back-at-Microsoft-History#c633131643370000000 39cents