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.
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.
1984 Revenue/Headcount
The 1984 Fiscal year-end sales total $97,479,000. The 1984 fiscal Year employee headcount totals 860 people.
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