- January
- IBM reports a year-end loss, of US$4.96 billion, on revenues of US$64.5 billion. This is the highest single-year loss for any American company in history. [50] (February [606.xi])
- Cyrix announces the 486S processor. [540.64]
- Stac Electronics files a lawsuit against Microsoft over inclusion in MS-DOS 6.0 of file compression, which it claims infringes on Stac's patents. [51]
- Novell buys UNIX Systems Laboratories from AT&T, gaining all rights to the UNIX source code, for US$150 million. [392.1] [2179.14] (December 1992 [79]) (December 1993 [219.141]) (US$350 million [760.99])
- January 20
- Market value of Microsoft reaches US$26.78 billion, above IBM at US$26.76 billion for the first time. Microsoft becomes the highest valued computer industry company, 14th among all public companies. [1700.20]
- January 25
- The second annual PenExpo Conference and Exhibition is held at the San Francisco Hyatt in California. [965]
- January 26
- IBM Chairman John Akers submits his resignation as chairman of the company. [1700.22]
- January (month)
- Top selling MS-DOS computer game in the USA during the month: F-15 Strike Eagle III. [1503.144]
- Top selling Amiga computer game in the USA during the month: 688 Attack Sub. [1503.144]
- Top selling Macintosh computer game in the USA during the month: Civilization. [1503.144]
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- (month unknown)
- Microsoft Windows replaces DOS as the best-selling software application. [1700.24]
- Worldwide installed base of desktop database programs on DOS: dBase 6.7 million, Paradox 1,587,032, DataEase 702,560, FoxPro 473,240, Alpha Four 416,550, Q&A 369,274, DataPerfect 110,295. [691.28]
- Worldwide installed base of desktop database programs on Windows: Paradox 900,000, Access 810,000, Approach 411,500, FoxPro 315,270, FileMaker Pro 160,000, Superbase 135,035, Q&A 23,022. [691.28]
- Zeos International introduces the Zeos Contenda notebook computer. It features 2 MB RAM, 80 MB hard drive, 3.5-inch external floppy disk drive, MS-DOS 5, Windows 3.1, Lotus Organizer, 25 MHz Intel 386SL, backlit 7.5-inch screen, 1.75 x 9.75 x 6 inches, 4 pounds weight, for US$1795. [879.42]
- Borland International releases dBASE IV v2.0 for DOS, for US$795. [879.44]
- NEC Technologies introduces the NEC Image 466 desktop computer. It features 4 MB RAM, 170 MB hard drive, NEC Multisync 3FGx monitor, MS-DOS 5.0, Windows 3.1, NEC proprietary 32-bit local bus (ImageVideo), 24-bit color with 1 MB VRAM, SCSI-2 controller, 66 MHz 486DX2, for US$3224. Also introduced is NEC Image 425 (25 MHz 486SX), and NEC Image 433 (33 MHz 486). [879.48]
- AST Research introduces powerExec 4/25SL laptop computer. It features 4 MB RAM, 200 MB hard drive, trackball, DOS 5.0, Windows 3.1, 5.9 pounds weight, two Type II PCMCIA slots, 25 MHz Intel 486SL processor, for US$2999. [879.40]
- Toshiba America Information Systems introduces the T4500C notebook computer. It features a 20 MHz Intel 486SX with 8 kB internal cache, active-matrix color 8.5-inch screen, 2.1 x 11.5 x 8.3 inches, 7.1 pounds weight, Microsoft BallPoint mouse, Type II PCMCIA slot, expansion bus connector for Toshiba Desk Station IV docking station, 4 MB RAM, 120 MB hard disk, internal 1.44 MB floppy drive, MS-DOS 5, Windows 3.1, for US$4399. [879.42]
- Autodesk introduces AutoCAD Release 12 for Windows, for US$3750. [879.37]
- February 5
- The Federal Trade Commission votes on whether to charge Microsoft with unfair trade practices. The vote is a tie. (Another vote will be taken in following months.) [59] [128] [548.348] [775] [1299.463] [1700.31.46]
- February
- Pinnacle Micro introduces the RCD-202 recordable CD-ROM drive for the Macintosh. [633.73]
- Apple Computer makes its largest product announcement in its history, and makes it in Japan: the Macintosh Color Classic, Macintosh LC III, Macintosh Centris 610 and 650, Macintosh Quadra 800, and PowerBook 165c. [46] [53] [75]
- Apple Computer introduces the Macintosh Color Classic, replacing the Macintosh Classic II. It features a Sony Trinitron 10-inch built-in color display (512x384 pixels), 4 MB RAM, 80 MB hard drive, 16 MHz 68030, 256 kB video RAM, LC Processor Direct Slot, math coprocessor slot, for US$1389. [579.94] [718.100] [916.21]
- Apple Computer introduces the Macintosh LC III. It features a 25 MHz 68030, 80 MB hard drive, 4 MB RAM, 512 kB video RAM, System 7.1, and 14-inch monitor, for US$1349. [581.94] [579.102] [718.100] [916.21]
- Apple Computer introduces the Macintosh Centris 610. It features a 20 MHz 68LC040, 80 MB hard drive (optional 230 MB), 4 MB RAM (optional 8 MB), 512 kB video RAM (optional 1 MB), System 7.1, for US$1859. [581.94] [579.106] [718.106] [916.21]
- Apple Computer introduces the Macintosh Centris 650. It features a 25 MHz 68LC040 (optional 68040 with math coprocessor), 80 MB hard drive (optional 230 MB or 500 MB), 4 MB RAM (optional 8 MB or 24 MB), 512 kB video RAM (optional 1 MB), and three NuBus slots for US$2699. [579.106] [916.21] (base model includes full 68040 [718.106])
- Apple Computer introduces the Macintosh Quadra 800. It features a 33 MHz 68040, 230 MB hard drive (optional 500 MB or 1 GB), 8 MB RAM (optional 24 MB), 512 kB video RAM (optional 1 MB), and three NuBus slots, for US$4679. [579.114] [718.106] [916.21]
- Apple Computer introduces the Macintosh PowerBook 165c. It features a 33 MHz 68030, 68882 math coprocessor, 80 MB hard drive (optional 160 MB), 8.9-inch (diagonal) color passive-matrix LCD screen, 4 MB RAM (optional 14 MB), 512 kB video RAM, floppy disk drive, System 7.1, for US$3399. It weighs 7 pounds. [579.120] [78.114] [916.21]
- Apple Computer discontinues the Macintosh IIci and the Quadra 700. [75]
- Apple Computer ships the 10-millionth Macintosh computer, a Mac Color Classic. [46] [75] [1559] [2605.130]
- Intel releases the final specifications for the PCI standard, for card and socket connectors. Throughput is up to 133 MBps. [698.29] [1609.51]
- NeXT announces that it will drop its hardware line, to focus on becoming a larger player in the object-oriented software industry. Approximately 50,000 NeXT machines were built in total. It will lay off 330 of its 500 employees. [53] [206.289] [734.4] [746.40] [928.12] [1559] [2024] [2044.73] [2605.212]
- February (month)
- Top selling MS-DOS computer game in the USA during the month: Space Quest V. [1504.160]
- Top selling Amiga computer game in the USA during the month: 688 Attack Sub. [1504.160]
- Top selling Macintosh computer game in the USA during the month: Prince of Persia. [1504.160]
- (month unknown)
- The Software Publishers Association holds its annual Excellence in Software awards ceremony. Best Simulation: Sim Life by Maxis. Best Strategy Program: A-Train by Maxis. Best Fantasy Role-Playing/Adventure Game: DarkSeed by Cyberdreams. Best Sports Program: Links 386 Pro by Access. Best Action/Arcade Program: Wolfenstein 3-D by id Software. Critics Choice Award for Best Consumer Product: Stunt Island by Walt Disney Software. [1503.146]
- March 12
- Mauritius issues a postage stamp for the 25th anniversary of National Day, depicting a computer showing gross domestic product. [2465.835]
- March
- At Microsoft's Windows Hardware Engineering Conference, the Plug and Play initiative is unveiled. Compaq Computer, Intel, Microsoft, and Phoenix Technologies are initial supporters. [694.80] [981] [969] [1432.27] (April [122])
- IBM ships the 2 millionth copy of OS/2 2.0. [734.347] [1312]
- Texas Instruments and Dell settle their lawsuit, with Dell paying cash royalties to Texas Instruments. [548.368]
- Intel introduces details of the Pentium processor. It uses 32-bit registers, with a 64-bit (60 MHz) data bus, giving it an address space of 4 GB. It incorporates 3.1 million transistors, using 0.8-micron BiCMOS technology. Speeds are 60 MHz (100 MIPS) and 66 MHz (112 MIPS). Prices are US$878 (60 MHz) and US$964 (66 MHz). [54] [75] [177.103] [212.191] [220.6] [376.29] [540.64] [62] [557.134] [575.147] [620.131] [690.94] [691.191] [755.308] [900] [940.106] [947.102] [980] [1279.39] [1635.52] [1897.130]
- The Software Publishers Association reports that MS-Windows applications are outselling MS-DOS programs for the first time. [479.128] [1629.34]
- Amstrad begins shipping the Amstrad Pen Pad PDA600 Personal Digital Assistant (PDA) in England. It is the first PDA to be shipped. The Pen Pad weighs under a pound, is 1 inch thick, and features a 240x320 resolution 3x4 inch screen. It uses a 20 MHz Zilog Z8S180 microprocessor, and can run for 40 hours on three AA batteries. It includes 128 kB RAM, with a PCMCIA expansion slot for memory expansion to 2 MB. [1811.143]
- Apple Computer cancels project Tesseract, which was working on a RISC-based Macintosh. Project Cognac continues, which is working on an alternative RISC design. [584.173]
- Microsoft introduces the MS-DOS 6.0 Upgrade, including DoubleSpace disk compression. Price is US$49.99 for the first 60 days, then US$129.99. (1 million copies of the new and upgrade versions are sold through retail channels within the first 40 days.) [55] [123] [210.37] [388.6] [389.29] [1526.86] [1571.46] (December [1897.130])
- Microsoft ships Microsoft Encarta Multimedia Encyclopedia on CD-ROM for Windows 3.1. It includes 14,000 media elements, with 5000 photos, 100 animations, seven hours of 16-bit sound. Code-name during development was Gandalf. Price is US$395. [123] [1487.27] [1559] [1571.55] [1701.338]
- The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences gives a Scientific and Technical Academy Award to seven computer scientists for their development of Pixar's RenderMan 3D computer graphics technology. [928.11]
- March 30
- AT&T Graphics Software Labs closes. It had made PC and Macintosh graphics software such as Topas, Rio, StudioMaster, Panorama, and Comet CG. [916.15]
- March (month)
- Top selling MS-DOS computer game in the USA during the month: X-Wing. [1505.160]
- Top selling Amiga computer game in the USA during the month: 688 Attack Sub. [1505.160]
- Top selling Macintosh computer game in the USA during the month: Prince of Persia. [1505.160]
- January-March
- From January to March, Advanced Micro Devices ships 3.15 million 386 processor chips. [981]
- April 1
- Lou Gerstner replaces John Akers as chairman and CEO of IBM. [464.14] [1312]
- April
- Motorola begins shipping its PowerPC 601 processors, in 50 MHz and 66 MHz speeds. The processors feature 32 kB cache, and incorporate 2.8 million transistors in a 0.65-micron CMOS process. Pricing is about US$350 and US$470, respectively, in 1000 unit quantities. [57] [428.209] [981] [1597.86]
- Microsoft releases the OLE 2.0 specification for Windows development. [479.129] [687.120]
- At the Apple Worldwide Developers' Conference, Apple Computer gives its first public demonstration of a PowerPC Macintosh system, running a PowerPC601 processor at 80 MHz. [46] [985]
- IBM releases PC-DOS 6.0 operating system. [1639.123]
- Microsoft reports that there are 25 million licensed users of Microsoft Windows. [123] [389.29] [1559] [1897.130]
- Gateway 2000 ships its 1 millionth PC. [183]
- Novell ships NetWare 4.0. [548.159]
- John Sculley (CEO and Chairman of Apple Computer) quote: "I can see the day when Apple won't be in the personal computer business.". (Later in the year, John Sculley is no longer a CEO or Chairman of a company in the personal computer business.) [958.43]
- Advanced Micro Devices ships its first Am486 processors, the 40 MHz Am486DX, and the 25/50 MHz Am486DX2. [141] [540.64] [981] [1199.76]
- April (month)
- Top selling MS-DOS computer game in the USA during the month: X-Wing. [2308.144]
- Top selling Amiga computer game in the USA during the month: 688 Attack Sub. [2308.144]
- Top selling Macintosh computer game in the USA during the month: Prince of Persia. [2308.144]
- (month unknown)
- In Japan, Intel announces the 486SXJ processor. It is like a 486SX only with a 16 bit bus instead of 32 bit. [367]
- Judge Ingram rules that the issue of microcode copyright infringement by Advanced Micro Devices against Intel should be retried, due to evidence withheld in the original trial that ruled in Intel's favor. [981]
- May
- The PCI Special Interest Group releases PCI specification version 2.0. This adds support for 3.3 volt and 5.0 volt system boards and expansion cards. [981] [545.359] [549.201] (April [750.177])
- May 11
- Microsoft chairman Bill Gates approves a plan by product manager Russ Siegelman to create an online service and include it as part of the next Windows release. Code-name for the product is Marvel. (It will emerge as the Microsoft Network in August 1995.) [1700.26]
- May
- SunSelect announces the Windows Application Binary Interface (WABI). This interface would allow software written for Microsoft Windows to run on Unix systems. [746.62]
- May 19
- Steve Wozniak presents an Apple PowerBook to Poland's President Lech Walesa. [2605.2]
- May 20
- Intel announces availability of the Pentium processor. Prices are US$878 for 60 MHz, and US$965 for 66 MHz. [1100] [1107] [985]
- May 24
- The Spring Comdex and Windows World conferences are held in Atlanta, Georgia, over four days. [986] [1108] [1571.71]
- At the COMDEX show, Microsoft formally launches the Windows NT operating system. Initial version is 3.1. Price is US$495, or US$295 as an upgrade from a previous Windows operating system. The software comprises over 4 million lines of code. [123] [374.4] [909.236] [985] [1271.36] [1559] [1639.124] [1648.52] (July [548.159] [721.156]) (July 1992 [387.98] [479.129])
- May
- Cyrix announces and ships the Cx486S/33 and Cx486S/40 processors. The processors are based on the Cx486SLC/DLC 486-compatible core, with 486SX pinout, 2 kB cache, and power-management features. Prices are US$139 (33 MHz), and US$179 (40 MHz) in 1000 unit quantities. Code-name during development was M6. [985]
- Cyrix announces the Cx486S2/40 and Cx486S2/50 clock-doubled processors. Prices are US$179 (40 MHz), and US$199 (50 MHz) in 1000 unit quantities. [985]
- Cyrix announces the Cx486SV/25 and Cx486SV/33 3.3 volt processors. Prices are US$139 (25 MHz), and US$159 (33 MHz) in 1000 unit quantities. [985]
- Apple Computer holds a developers conference, inviting software companies to test their applications on the PowerPC-based Macintosh. None of the applications tested break the 680x0 emulator. [584.174]
- NeXT ships NeXTSTEP v3.1 for Intel-based PCs. [206.289] [746.40]
- Motorola announces availability of 40 MHz 68040 processor. price is US$393 in 1000 unit quantities. [985]
- (month unknown)
- John Sculley (CEO and Chairman of Apple Computer) quote: "The personal computer business as we have known it is not very attractive for the Nineties." [958.2]
- Apple Computer announces that future PowerPC Macintosh systems will incorporate the PCI expansion bus. [986]
- June 1
- U.S. District Court Judge Vaughn Walker rules against Apple Computer in its 63-month legal suit against Microsoft and Hewlett-Packard. The judge rules that ninety percent of the elements in Windows are covered by Microsoft's 1985 license from Apple Computer. Apple Computer files an appeal. [61] [75] [123] [389.29] [548.338] [580.191] [1299.463]
- June 3
- Casio introduces the Zoomer personal digital assistant, developed jointly with Tandy. It features 7.4 MHz 8086-compatible processor, 4 MB ROM, 1 MB RAM, GeoWorks Geos operating system, PCMCIA flash memory cards. The system operates for about 100 hours on three AA batteries. Price is US$900. [987] [1054] [2605.194]
- June
- Intel begins production of the SL-Enhanced Intel 486 CPU line, adding power management features to all Intel 486 processors for no additional cost. Code-name during development was S-Series. [746.38] [986]
- Intel adds more 3.3 volt 486 processors to its line: 33 MHz i486SX (US$171), 33 MHz i486DX (US$324), and 20/40 MHz i486DX2 (US$406). Prices are in quantities of 1000. [986]
- IBM releases OS/2 2.1, now including Win-OS/2 3.1 Windows 3.1 support. Code-name during development was Borg. [60] [479.129] [858.71] [689.231] [1312]
- Hewlett-Packard introduces the LaserJet 4ML laser printer. [723.46]
- Microsoft announces its AtWork strategy for integrating PCs and office equipment. [695.149] [750.184]
- Lotus Development acquires Approach Software. [687.169]
- Patrick Volkerding releases Slackware, the first standalone commerical Linux distribution. [1648.52]
- The United States Environmental Protection Agency officially launches the Energy Star program. Together with 50 major PC manufacturers, the Energy Star guidelines are designed to reduce idle power use of computer system components. [600.26]
- Apple Computer expands its PowerBook line with the PowerBook 180c and 145B. [46]
- Total sales of Apple Macintosh PowerBook Duo systems reaches 100,000. [581.217]
- The California Court of Appeals overturns Advanced Micro Devices' 1992 win against Intel, claiming that the arbitrator had exceeded his jurisdiction. Advanced Micro Devices loses its license to Intel's 386 processor technology. [141] [986]
- June 18
- John Sculley steps down as CEO of Apple Computer, remaining as chairman. [63] [71] [75] [634.33] [958.42] [2605.161,194]
- The Apple Computer board of directors appoints Michael Spindler as CEO of the company. [75] [634.33] [958.43] [1886.69] [2605.161,194]
- June (month)
- Top selling MS-DOS computer game in the USA during the month: X-Wing. [2309.176]
- Top selling Amiga computer game in the USA during the month: 688 Attack Sub. [2309.176]
- Top selling Macintosh computer game in the USA during the month: Prince of Persia. [2309.176]
- (month unknown)
- Hewlett-Packard introduces the OmniBook portable computer. It features 20 MHz Am386SXLV processor, Microsoft Windows and various applications in ROM, PCMCIA slots, pop-out mouse. Weight is 3 pounds; size is 11 x 6.5 inches; price is US$1515. The system can operate for about 10 hours on two AA batteries. This is the first system running Windows in ROM. [987]
- Wang Laboratories sues Microsoft, claiming that Microsoft's OLE technology infringes on Wang Laboratories technology. [548.367]
- Commodore International stops producing personal computers based on Intel processors. [600.21]
- Stephen Kahng founds Power Computing, in anticipation of Apple Computer licensing the Macintosh OS. [764.30]
- IBM launches IBM Personal Dictation System for OS/2, the first packaged speech recognition product. [1158.134]
- Apple Computer ships PlainTalk speech recognition and synthesis extensions for the Macintosh. [1158.137]
- Lotus Development ships Lotus 1-2-3 Release 5.0. [212.182]
- IPC Corporation of Singapore acquires Austin Computer Systems. [504.44]
- WordStar International buys ZSoft. [548.433]
- Canon introduces its first piezo-electric black 360-dpi printer. [1228.49]
- Microsoft releases FoxPro 2.5 for Windows. [494.6] [1360.39]
- Work begins on SCSI-3. [543]
- Zilog introduces the 32-bit Z380 processor in Japan. [824]
- Toshiba introduces the T3400 portable computer, the first notebook-size computer with a lithium-ion battery. [1280.49]
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