Microsoft History
Background
The beginning of Microsoft Inc. started with Bill Gates and Paul Allen writing computer program code for local businesses and municipalities. In 1975 they were inspired by an issue of Popular Electronics that showed the new Altair microcomputer kit, manufactured by MITS Computer. Bill Gates and Paul Allen wrote a version of BASIC, a computer programming language, for the machine. Later that year Bill Gates left Harvard University to work full time developing programming languages for the Altair, and he and Paul Allen relocated to Albuquerque, New Mexico, to be near MITS Computer, where Paul Allen took a position as director of software development. Bill Gates and Paul Allen named their partnership Micro-soft (Microsoft Company History, 2008).
Microsoft 's big break came in 1980 as IBM began developing its Personal Computer, or PC. While IBM contracted Microsoft to develop languages for the PC, Microsoft was not their first choice. Instead IBM 's first choice to provide an operating system was a company called, Digital Research, a leader in the field at the time (Microsoft Company History, 2008). However, IBM and Digital Research were unable to agree on terms, so the contract for the operating system was awarded to Microsoft (Microsoft Company History, 2008).
In 1981 the company was incorporated as Microsoft, Inc., with Bill Gates as president and chairman and Paul Allen as executive vice-president. The company ended their first year with 128 employees and revenues of $16 million (Microsoft Company History, 2008).
Trends
Every January the Consumer Electronic Show (CES) takes place and everyone is waiting to see what Microsoft has been developing. Microsoft 's presentation was somewhat calm compared to previous years. This year they are focusing on integrating the Xbox 360, Windows Mobile and Windows Vista into a fully integrated streamlined system (Thomas, Brett, 2008).
The big news of the day at the CES included NBC and Disney
The beginning of Microsoft Inc. started with Bill Gates and Paul Allen writing computer program code for local businesses and municipalities. In 1975 they were inspired by an issue of Popular Electronics that showed the new Altair microcomputer kit, manufactured by MITS Computer. Bill Gates and Paul Allen wrote a version of BASIC, a computer programming language, for the machine. Later that year Bill Gates left Harvard University to work full time developing programming languages for the Altair, and he and Paul Allen relocated to Albuquerque, New Mexico, to be near MITS Computer, where Paul Allen took a position as director of software development. Bill Gates and Paul Allen named their partnership Micro-soft (Microsoft Company History, 2008).
Microsoft 's big break came in 1980 as IBM began developing its Personal Computer, or PC. While IBM contracted Microsoft to develop languages for the PC, Microsoft was not their first choice. Instead IBM 's first choice to provide an operating system was a company called, Digital Research, a leader in the field at the time (Microsoft Company History, 2008). However, IBM and Digital Research were unable to agree on terms, so the contract for the operating system was awarded to Microsoft (Microsoft Company History, 2008).
In 1981 the company was incorporated as Microsoft, Inc., with Bill Gates as president and chairman and Paul Allen as executive vice-president. The company ended their first year with 128 employees and revenues of $16 million (Microsoft Company History, 2008).
Trends
Every January the Consumer Electronic Show (CES) takes place and everyone is waiting to see what Microsoft has been developing. Microsoft 's presentation was somewhat calm compared to previous years. This year they are focusing on integrating the Xbox 360, Windows Mobile and Windows Vista into a fully integrated streamlined system (Thomas, Brett, 2008).
The big news of the day at the CES included NBC and Disney
References: Microsoft Careers-United States (n.d.) Retrieved June 09, 2008 from https://members.microsoft.com/careers/mslife/benefits/default.mspx Microsoft Company Website (n.d) Retrieved June 09, 2008 from https://microsoft.com Microsoft Corporation—Company History (n.d.) Retrieved June 09, 2008 from http://www. Microsoft.resesarch/Microsoft/Corporation/Company/History.html Regan, Tom, (2008), Six tech trends to watch for in 08. Retrieved June 17, 2008. http://www.csmonitor/tech.com Thomas, Brett, (2008) CES 08 – Gates Keynote high on fun, low on fact. Retrieved June 09 2008 from http://www.bit-tech.net/ces08.