Microsoft - Revision history

Larsbrinkhoff: Photos from Microsoft's office in 1979.

2025-07-23T18:22:48Z

Photos from Microsoft's office in 1979.

← Older revision		Revision as of 18:22, 23 July 2025
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	{{semi-stub}}		{{semi-stub}}

			== External links ==

			* [https://web.archive.org/web/20200815021031/http://www.sound-photo.com/microsoft/microsoft.htm Photos from Microsoft's office in 1979]

	[[Category: Software Manufacturers]]		[[Category: Software Manufacturers]]
	[[Category: PDP-10 Users]]		[[Category: PDP-10 Users]]

Jnc: Later business areas

2025-07-23T14:19:36Z

Later business areas

← Older revision		Revision as of 14:19, 23 July 2025
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	[[Image:early microsoft logo.jpg\|thumb\|200px\|right\|Early Microsoft Logo]]		[[Image:early microsoft logo.jpg\|thumb\|200px\|right\|Early Microsoft Logo]]

	'''Microsoft''' is a [[software]] company which has long been one of the world's most valuable companies. It was founded in 1975 (then 'Micro-Soft') as a [[programming language]] company. Their flagship product was embedded [[read-only memory\|ROM]] [[BASIC]]s for various [[MOS Technology 6502\|6502]]/[[Intel 8080\|8080]] [[Central Processing Unit\|CPUs]]. The company's first major product was a BASIC [[interpreter]] for the [[Altair 8800]] [[microcomputer]]. They then started to expand into [[compiler\|compiled]] BASIC, and some limited games.		'''Microsoft''' is a [[software]] company which has long been one of the world's most valuable companies. It was founded in 1975 (then 'Micro-Soft') by [[Bill Gates]] and [[Paul Allen]] as a [[programming language]] company. Their flagship product was embedded [[read-only memory\|ROM]] [[BASIC]]s for various [[MOS Technology 6502\|6502]]/[[Intel 8080\|8080]] [[Central Processing Unit\|CPUs]]. The company's first major product was a BASIC [[interpreter]] for the [[Altair 8800]] [[microcomputer]]. They then started to expand into [[compiler\|compiled]] BASIC, and some limited games.

	Their big break was with [[International Business Machines\|IBM]] and the [[IBM PC]]. While they were working on the embedded BASIC for the [[Intel 8086\|8086]] CPU, they learned that negotiations with [[DRI]] over [[CP/M]] were breaking down. They then took the lead to tell IBM that they had been working on a CP/M 'like' [[operating system]], and would sell it to IBM very cheaply on the condition that they could also sell MS-DOS to any other [[Original Equipment Manufacturer\|OEM]] which might be interested. IBM was still in its monopoly trial, so they figured this would make the platform 'open' and they wouldn't be harassed by any lawsuits over the IBM PC.		Their big break was with [[International Business Machines\|IBM]] and the [[IBM PC]]. While they were working on the embedded BASIC for the [[Intel 8086\|8086]] CPU, they learned that negotiations with [[DRI]] over [[CP/M]] were breaking down. They then took the lead to tell IBM that they had been working on a CP/M 'like' [[operating system]], and would sell it to IBM very cheaply on the condition that they could also sell MS-DOS to any other [[Original Equipment Manufacturer\|OEM]] which might be interested. IBM was still in its monopoly trial, so they figured this would make the platform 'open' and they wouldn't be harassed by any lawsuits over the IBM PC.

	Microsoft famously found [[86-DOS]], bought the rights and had it ported to the IBM PC as [[MS-DOS]].		Microsoft famously found [[86-DOS]], bought the rights and had it ported to the IBM PC as [[MS-DOS]].

			They have since expanded into many other areas, including [[application]]s.

	== Products ==		== Products ==

Jnc: Improve intro; add links

2025-07-23T14:14:28Z

Improve intro; add links

← Older revision		Revision as of 14:14, 23 July 2025
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	[[Image:early microsoft logo.jpg\|thumb\|200px\|right\|Early Microsoft Logo]]		[[Image:early microsoft logo.jpg\|thumb\|200px\|right\|Early Microsoft Logo]]

	'''Microsoft''' was founded in 1975 (then Micro-Soft) as a programming language company. Their flagship product was embedded [[ROM]] [[BASIC]]s for various 6502/8080 [[~~CPU~~]]s. The company's first major product was a BASIC [[interpreter]] for the [[Altair 8800]] [[microcomputer]]. They then started to expand into a [[compiler\|compiled]] BASIC, and some limited games.		'''Microsoft''' is a [[software]] company which has long been one of the world's most valuable companies. It was founded in 1975 (then 'Micro-Soft') as a [[programming language]] company. Their flagship product was embedded [[read-only memory\|ROM]] [[BASIC]]s for various [[MOS Technology 6502\|6502]]/[[Intel 8080\|8080]] [[Central Processing Unit\|CPUs]]. The company's first major product was a BASIC [[interpreter]] for the [[Altair 8800]] [[microcomputer]]. They then started to expand into [[compiler\|compiled]] BASIC, and some limited games.

	Their big break was with [[IBM]] and the [[IBM PC]]. While they were working on the embedded BASIC for the 8086 ~~cpu~~, they learned that negotiations with [[DRI]] over [[CP/M]] were breaking down. They then took the lead to tell IBM that they had been working on a CP/M 'like' ~~Operating~~ system, and would sell it to IBM very cheaply on the condition that they could also sell MS-DOS to any other OEM ~~that may~~ be interested. IBM was still in its monopoly trial, so they figured this would make the platform 'open' and they wouldn't be harassed by any lawsuits over the IBM PC.		Their big break was with [[International Business Machines\|IBM]] and the [[IBM PC]]. While they were working on the embedded BASIC for the [[Intel 8086\|8086]] CPU, they learned that negotiations with [[DRI]] over [[CP/M]] were breaking down. They then took the lead to tell IBM that they had been working on a CP/M 'like' [[operating system]], and would sell it to IBM very cheaply on the condition that they could also sell MS-DOS to any other [[Original Equipment Manufacturer\|OEM]] which might be interested. IBM was still in its monopoly trial, so they figured this would make the platform 'open' and they wouldn't be harassed by any lawsuits over the IBM PC.

	Microsoft famously found [[86-DOS]], bought the rights and had it ported to the IBM PC as [[MS-DOS]].		Microsoft famously found [[86-DOS]], bought the rights and had it ported to the IBM PC as [[MS-DOS]].
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	=== Languages ===		=== Languages ===
	Microsoft's first products were programming languages including:		Microsoft's first products were programming languages including:
	*~~Basic~~		* BASIC
	*Pascal		* [[Pascal]]
	*~~Fortran~~		* [[FORTRAN]]
	*~~Cobol~~		* [[COBOL]]
	*C		* [[C programming language\|C]]

	=== Operating Environments ===		=== Operating Environments ===

Larsbrinkhoff: Used a PDP-10 at some point...

2024-01-10T08:24:18Z

Used a PDP-10 at some point...

← Older revision		Revision as of 08:24, 10 January 2024
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	[[Category: Software Manufacturers]]		[[Category: Software Manufacturers]]
			[[Category: PDP-10 Users]]

Jnc: avoid redir

2023-10-21T17:31:08Z

avoid redir

← Older revision		Revision as of 17:31, 21 October 2023
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	=== Operating Systems ===		=== Operating Systems ===
	*[[~~Xenix~~]]
			*[[XENIX]]
	*[[MS-DOS]]		*[[MS-DOS]]
	*[[OS/2]]		*[[OS/2]]
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	{{semi-stub}}		{{semi-stub}}

	[[Category:Software Manufacturers]]		[[Category: Software Manufacturers]]

Jnc: Proper cat

2018-10-20T00:17:13Z

Proper cat

← Older revision		Revision as of 00:17, 20 October 2018
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	[[Image:early microsoft logo.jpg\|thumb\|200px\|right\|Early Microsoft Logo]]		[[Image:early microsoft logo.jpg\|thumb\|200px\|right\|Early Microsoft Logo]]

	Microsoft was founded in 1975 (then Micro-Soft) as a programming language company. Their flagship product was embedded ROM [[BASIC~~\|BASICs~~]] for various 6502/8080 ~~CPUs~~. The company's first major product was a BASIC interpreter for the [[Altair 8800]] microcomputer. They then started to expand into a compiled BASIC, and some limited games.		'''Microsoft''' was founded in 1975 (then Micro-Soft) as a programming language company. Their flagship product was embedded [[ROM]] [[BASIC]]s for various 6502/8080 [[CPU]]s. The company's first major product was a BASIC [[interpreter]] for the [[Altair 8800]] [[microcomputer]]. They then started to expand into a [[compiler\|compiled]] BASIC, and some limited games.

	Their big break was with [[IBM]] and the [[IBM PC]]. While they were working on the embedded BASIC for the 8086 cpu, they learned that negotiations with [[DRI]] over [[CP/M]] were breaking down. They then took the lead to tell IBM that they had been working on a CP/M 'like' Operating system, and would sell it to IBM very cheaply on the condition that they could also sell MS-DOS to any other OEM that may be interested. IBM was still in its monopoly trial, so they figured this would make the platform 'open' and they wouldn't be harassed by any lawsuits over the IBM PC.		Their big break was with [[IBM]] and the [[IBM PC]]. While they were working on the embedded BASIC for the 8086 cpu, they learned that negotiations with [[DRI]] over [[CP/M]] were breaking down. They then took the lead to tell IBM that they had been working on a CP/M 'like' Operating system, and would sell it to IBM very cheaply on the condition that they could also sell MS-DOS to any other OEM that may be interested. IBM was still in its monopoly trial, so they figured this would make the platform 'open' and they wouldn't be harassed by any lawsuits over the IBM PC.

	Microsoft famously found [[86-DOS]], bought the rights and had it ported to the IBM PC as [[MS-DOS]].		Microsoft famously found [[86-DOS]], bought the rights and had it ported to the IBM PC as [[MS-DOS]].
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	*[[Windows NT]]		*[[Windows NT]]

	{{stub}}		{{semi-stub}}

	[[Category:Software Manufacturers]]		[[Category:Software Manufacturers]]

Tor: Reworded slightly

2015-12-18T21:56:15Z

Reworded slightly

← Older revision		Revision as of 21:56, 18 December 2015
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	=== Languages ===		=== Languages ===
	Microsoft's first products were ~~language~~ including:		Microsoft's first products were programming languages including:
	*Basic		*Basic
	*Pascal		*Pascal

Neozeed: add a category

2014-04-25T00:59:21Z

add a category

← Older revision		Revision as of 00:59, 25 April 2014
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	{{stub}}		{{stub}}
			[[Category:Software Manufacturers]]

Tor: Changed 'language' to 'programming language'

2013-01-18T12:50:00Z

Changed 'language' to 'programming language'

← Older revision		Revision as of 12:50, 18 January 2013
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	[[Image:early microsoft logo.jpg\|thumb\|200px\|right\|Early Microsoft Logo]]		[[Image:early microsoft logo.jpg\|thumb\|200px\|right\|Early Microsoft Logo]]

	Microsoft was founded in 1975 (then Micro-Soft) as a language company. Their flagship product was embedded ROM [[BASIC\|BASICs]] for various 6502/8080 CPUs. The company's first major product was a BASIC interpreter for the [[Altair 8800]] microcomputer. They then started to expand into a compiled BASIC, and some limited games.		Microsoft was founded in 1975 (then Micro-Soft) as a programming language company. Their flagship product was embedded ROM [[BASIC\|BASICs]] for various 6502/8080 CPUs. The company's first major product was a BASIC interpreter for the [[Altair 8800]] microcomputer. They then started to expand into a compiled BASIC, and some limited games.

	Their big break was with [[IBM]] and the [[IBM PC]]. While they were working on the embedded BASIC for the 8086 cpu, they learned that negotiations with [[DRI]] over [[CP/M]] were breaking down. They then took the lead to tell IBM that they had been working on a CP/M 'like' Operating system, and would sell it to IBM very cheaply on the condition that they could also sell MS-DOS to any other OEM that may be interested. IBM was still in its monopoly trial, so they figured this would make the platform 'open' and they wouldn't be harassed by any lawsuits over the IBM PC.		Their big break was with [[IBM]] and the [[IBM PC]]. While they were working on the embedded BASIC for the 8086 cpu, they learned that negotiations with [[DRI]] over [[CP/M]] were breaking down. They then took the lead to tell IBM that they had been working on a CP/M 'like' Operating system, and would sell it to IBM very cheaply on the condition that they could also sell MS-DOS to any other OEM that may be interested. IBM was still in its monopoly trial, so they figured this would make the platform 'open' and they wouldn't be harassed by any lawsuits over the IBM PC.

Tor: Fix year (1975 not 1977), add some info, fix some typos

2012-11-21T12:21:45Z

Fix year (1975 not 1977), add some info, fix some typos

← Older revision		Revision as of 12:21, 21 November 2012
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	[[Image:early microsoft logo.jpg\|thumb\|200px\|right\|Early Microsoft Logo]]		[[Image:early microsoft logo.jpg\|thumb\|200px\|right\|Early Microsoft Logo]]

	Microsoft was founded in ~~1977~~ as a language company. Their flagship product was ~~embeded~~ ROM ~~basics~~ for various 6502/8080 ~~cpu~~'s. They then started to expand into a compiled ~~basic~~, and some limited games.		Microsoft was founded in 1975 (then Micro-Soft) as a language company. Their flagship product was embedded ROM [[BASIC\|BASICs]] for various 6502/8080 CPUs. The company's first major product was a BASIC interpreter for the [[Altair 8800]] microcomputer. They then started to expand into a compiled BASIC, and some limited games.

	Their big break was with [[IBM]] and the [[IBM PC]]. While they were working on the ~~embeded basic~~ for the 8086 cpu, they learned that negotiations with [[DRI]] over [[CP/M]] were breaking down. They then took the lead to tell IBM that they had been working on a CP/M 'like' Operating system, and would sell it to IBM very cheaply on the condition that they could also sell MS-DOS to any other OEM that may be interested. IBM was still in its monopoly trial, so they figured this would make the platform 'open' and they wouldn't be harassed by any lawsuits over the IBM PC.		Their big break was with [[IBM]] and the [[IBM PC]]. While they were working on the embedded BASIC for the 8086 cpu, they learned that negotiations with [[DRI]] over [[CP/M]] were breaking down. They then took the lead to tell IBM that they had been working on a CP/M 'like' Operating system, and would sell it to IBM very cheaply on the condition that they could also sell MS-DOS to any other OEM that may be interested. IBM was still in its monopoly trial, so they figured this would make the platform 'open' and they wouldn't be harassed by any lawsuits over the IBM PC.

	Microsoft famously found [[86-DOS]], bought the rights and had it ported to the IBM PC as [[MS-DOS]].		Microsoft famously found [[86-DOS]], bought the rights and had it ported to the IBM PC as [[MS-DOS]].