Key Events in Microsoft History

Colin Dunstan · 11-15-2004, 01:44 PM

"1975: January 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..."

If you were ever interested in what has made one the richest man in the world - you can download the full Wordfile from here.

Bob Russell · 11-15-2004, 03:05 PM

That brings back memories. I was still in grade school, and I was fascinated to no end by that issue. If I remember right, the article even showed examples of machine code using the toggle switches. I remember trying to figure out how to program with pencil and paper based on information about that early micro.

I'd have to say that in a way, that one article in a magazine from my school library was a big factor in setting my interests and the course of my life! Then lots of machine and assembler and BASIC code later, I got to play with things like (with a Z-80 - my second favorite processor from the old days) TRS-80 Model I with cassette for permanent storage, and Model III with character graphics, Apple II (Motorola processors I think), one of the first HP programmable calculators, CDC mainframes, PDP-11 (my absolute favorite processor because of the really nice arrangement and flexibility of the internal registers), etc etc. All that before the Macintosh got popular! Yes I got one of those also. And a Mac Plus. I remember my awesome 20meg hard drive that probabaly cost something like $600!

Who knew that by 2004 thru PDAs it would be commonplace to have all that computer power and more right in the palm of your hand! And you don't even have to use mini punch cards!!!!

Team7 · 11-16-2004, 01:03 PM

Sorry Bob but I think I understood probably about 20% of what you are talking about

Thats pretty amazing that you had those type of interests at that age. Thanks for the link to that article morph.

11-15-2004, 01:44 PM	#1
Colin Dunstan Is papyrophobic! Posts: 1,926 Karma: 1009999 Join Date: Aug 2003 Location: USA Device: Dell Axim	Key Events in Microsoft History "1975: January 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..." If you were ever interested in what has made one the richest man in the world - you can download the full Wordfile from here.

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11-15-2004, 03:05 PM	#2
Bob Russell Recovering Gadget Addict Posts: 5,381 Karma: 676161 Join Date: May 2004 Location: Pittsburgh, PA Device: iPad	That brings back memories. I was still in grade school, and I was fascinated to no end by that issue. If I remember right, the article even showed examples of machine code using the toggle switches. I remember trying to figure out how to program with pencil and paper based on information about that early micro. I'd have to say that in a way, that one article in a magazine from my school library was a big factor in setting my interests and the course of my life! Then lots of machine and assembler and BASIC code later, I got to play with things like (with a Z-80 - my second favorite processor from the old days) TRS-80 Model I with cassette for permanent storage, and Model III with character graphics, Apple II (Motorola processors I think), one of the first HP programmable calculators, CDC mainframes, PDP-11 (my absolute favorite processor because of the really nice arrangement and flexibility of the internal registers), etc etc. All that before the Macintosh got popular! Yes I got one of those also. And a Mac Plus. I remember my awesome 20meg hard drive that probabaly cost something like $600! Who knew that by 2004 thru PDAs it would be commonplace to have all that computer power and more right in the palm of your hand! And you don't even have to use mini punch cards!!!!

11-16-2004, 01:03 PM	#3
Team7 Zealot Posts: 102 Karma: 257 Join Date: Sep 2004 Location: Greencastle IN Device: Toshiba e755,Samsung i730	Sorry Bob but I think I understood probably about 20% of what you are talking about Thats pretty amazing that you had those type of interests at that age. Thanks for the link to that article morph.

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