For Microsoft, 1985 brings the announcement of the release of Microsoft MacEnhancer expansion system, the Microsoft Mouse is quarantined in Canada and Microsoft celebrates its 10th Anniversary. There's some great footage of the 1985 Roast in this episode.
January 23, 1985
Microsoft announces the release of Microsoft MacEnhancer expansion system, a new hardware product designed to open up the Apple Macintosh computer to a wide range of IBM compatible peripherals.
February 1, 1985
Ida Cole is named the new Vice President of Applications, responsible for planning, development, and marketing for the application software product line. She will report to Jon Shirley, President. She was previously with Apple Computer, Inc.
May 3, 1985
Microsoft Mouse Quarantined in Canada
Rich MacIntosh, General Manager of Microsoft Canada, Inc., was recently called to the Canadian Department of Agriculture to retrieve his Microsoft "Mouse" after four weeks of quarantine.
August 9, 1985
Microsoft announces that Wright Runstad & Company breaks ground today on a new Microsoft World Headquarters in Redmond scheduled for completion by mid-1986. The $25 million facility will be located in the southeast quadrant of Evergreen Place Office Park, in a heavily wooded, 29-acre campus setting.
August 12, 1985
Microsoft celebrates its 10th anniversary with sales figures of $140 million for the fiscal year of 1985.
August 22, 1985
Microsoft signs an agreement with IBM for joint development of operating systems and other systems software products.
September 3, 1985
Microsoft selects the Republic of Ireland as the site of its first production facility outside the U.S. for software products to be sold in the European market.
September 30, 1985
Microsoft announces the shipment to retail stores of Excel for the Macintosh, a powerful, full-featured microcomputer spreadsheet that combines business graphics with an on-sheet database.
November 20, 1985
Microsoft ships the retail version of Windows, an operating system that extends the features of the MS-DOS.
Other products released in 1985:
MS-DOS 3.2
Chart for Macintosh
Microsoft Access 1.0 (business communication app, not database)
Cobol 2.1
MacEnhancer 2.0
Basic 2.1 Interpreter for the Mac
Chart 2.0 for DOS
Word for Networks
QuickBasic Compiler
LOGO for the Mac
Notable New Hires:
Jeremy Butler - Former Senior Vice President, International and OEM.
Tony Dirksen - Former Senior Manager, Investor Relations
Ralf Harteneck - Former Vice President, Communication and Meeting Services Group
Min S. Yee - Former Vice President and Publisher of Microsoft Press