2. FIRST HARD DISK DRIVE
(1980)
Seagate technology created the first hard
disk drive for microcomputers, the ST506 .
The disk held 5 megabytes of data, five
times as much as a standard floppy disk,
and fit in the space of a floppy disk drive.
The hard disk drive itself is a rigid metallic
platter coated on both sides with a thin
layer of magnetic material that stores
digital data.
Seagate quickly drew such big-name
customers as Apple Computer and IBM.
With in a few years had sold 4 million
units.
3. MS-DOS
(1981)
The MS-DOS ( Microsoft
Disk Operating System)
basic software for the newly
released IBM PC,
established a long
partnership between IBM
and Microsoft, which Bill
Gates and Paul Allen had
founded only six years
earlier.
4. Commodore 64
(1982)
Commodore introduces the
Commodore 64.
The C64, as it was better
known, sold for $595 came with
64kb of RAM and featured
impressive graphics. Thousands
of software titles were released
over the lifespan of the C64.
6. Apple Macintosh
(1984)
Apple Computer launched the
Macintosh, the first successful
mouse-driven computer with a
graphical user interface with a
single $1.5 million commercial
during the 1984 Super Bowl.
Based on the Motorola 68000
microprocessor, the Macintosh
included many features at an
affordable price of $2,500.
8. Pixar
(1986)
Pixar is founded Pixar was
originally called the Special
Effects Computer Group at
Lucasfilm (launched in 1979).
In 1986, Apple Computer co-
founder Steve Jobs paid 10
million dollars to Lucasfilm to
purchase the Group and
renamed it Pixar. Over the next
decade, Pixar made highly
successful (and Oscar-winning)
animated films. It was bought by
Disney in 2006.
10. First Computer
Virus
(1988)
Robert Morris worm flooded the
ARPANET.
23-year old Morris, the son of a computer
security expert for the National Security
Agency, sent a nondestructive worm
through internet causing problem for
about 6,000 of the 60,000 hosts linked to
the network.
Morris was sentenced to three years of
probation, 400 hours of community
service, and a fine of $10,050.
11. First Simulator Game
(1989)
Maxis released SimCity, a video game
that helped launch of series of
simulators.
Maxis co-founder Will Wright built on his
childhood interest in plastic models of
ships and airplanes, eventually starting
up a company with Jeff Braun and
designing a computer program that
allowed the user to create his own city.
A number of other Sims followed in the
series, including SimEarth, simAnt and
SimLife.
