References are numbered in [brackets], which are listed here. A number after the dot gives the page in the source.

Last updated: 2023 October 25.

1994

July

• IBM reports that it has shipped 1 million PowerPC 601 processors in the first 10 months of production. [87] [206.149] [504.44] [824] [856]

July 11

• Gary Kildall dies in a bar brawl, at age 52. He was a microcomputer industry visionary and pioneer, most well-known for creating the CP/M operating system. [649.336] [894]

July 15

• Microsoft reaches a settlement with the US Department of Justice regarding alleged monopolistic operating system licensing practices. A similar agreement is also struck with the European Commission, giving it the right to monitor Microsoft's compliance for six-and-a-half years. Microsoft agrees to change some of its practices of how it sells its operating systems to vendors in the United States and Europe. The Department of Justice begins the formal process of receiving court approval of the consent decree. (Judge Stanley Sporkin rejects the decree in February, but Judge Thomas Jackson approves it in August 1995.) [128] [382.4] [548.349] [765.14] [775] [929.48] [1462.94] [1564.264] [1559] [1627.5] [1700.187,245]

July

• IBM makes available sample quantities of the PowerPC 603 processor. High quantity pricing is US$165 for the 66 MHz chip, and US$195 for the 80 MHz version. [87] (June [212.191])
• IBM produces the first test version of the PowerPC 620 processor. [856]
• IBM announces that it will shut down the US operations of its Ambra subsidiary in October. [89] [504.44]
• Microsoft ships the 500,000th copy of Windows NT 3.1. [878.217]

(month unknown)

• Aldus releases Aldus PageMaker 5.0a for Power Macintosh. [589.57]
• Apple Computer introduces the Macintosh PowerBook 540c. Code-name during development was Blackbird. It features a 9.5-inch diagonal active-matrix 640c480 LCD panel, 320 MB hard drive, 33 MHz 68LC040 processor. [589.54]
• AT&T closes subsidiary Eo, ending life for the Hobbit processor, and the PenPoint operating system. [895]

August

• Borland International ships dBase for Windows. [548.159]
• DayStar announces entry-level PowerPC 601 upgrade boards for Macintosh computers. [592.180]
• IBM shuts down its Ambra PC division. [239.155]

August 24

• Folk singer Bob Dylan files suit in US Central District Court of California in Los Angeles for trademark infringement of Apple Computer's Dylan programming language. pple quickly settles out of court, licensing use of the trademark name. [2605.196]

August 31

• Radius acquires the SuperMac company. [1241.33]

August (month)

• Top selling computer game in the USA for the month: Doom. [2230.54]
  vvv advertisement vvv
  
  ^^^ advertisement ^^^
  

(month unknown)

• Hewlett-Packard ships its first color laser printer, the HP Color LaserJet. It features 300-dpi black, up to 11x17-inch paper, up to 10-ppm black text print speed, parallel port, optional PostScript Level 2, PCL 5, 8 MB RAM, ten TrueType fonts, 35 Intellifont type faces. Price is US$7295. [1241.39]

September 7

• Apple Computer announces its intention to license the Macintosh operating system in 1995. A Mac OS logo is announced, which will be used to identify Mac application programs and Mac-compatible systems. [861.31] [881.81] [936] [1241.34] [1886.69] (November [184.102])

September

• Palm Computing releases the Graffiti handwriting recognition software. Price is US$79. [1241.33]
• Adobe Systems and Aldus finalize their merger, under the name Adobe Systems. [1241.33]
• Advanced Micro Devices ships its Am486DX2-80 40/80 MHz processor. Price is US$266 in 1000 unit quantities. [91] [898]
• At the InterOp Conference in Las Vegas, Nevada, Mosaic Communications announces its first product, the Netscape web browser software. [1423.147]
• The Interactive Digital Software Association forms the Entertainment Software Rating Board (ESRB), and develops a game rating system. [1232.12]
• Microsoft ships Microsoft Excel for Power Macintosh. [592.180]
• Microsoft ships Microsoft FoxPro for Power Macintosh. [592.180]
• Microsoft ships Microsoft Word for Power Macintosh. [592.180]
• Microsoft ships Microsoft PowerPoint for Power Macintosh. [592.180]
• The International Telecommunications Union ratifies the 28.8Kbps V.34 modem standard. [426.90]
• Microsoft ships its first keyboard, the Microsoft Natural Keyboard. [91]
• An appeals court agrees with the June 1993 ruling against Apple Computer in its March 1988 suit against Microsoft and Hewlett-Packard. [548.338]
• NexGen introduces its Nx586 microprocessor. With the processor comes a new naming scheme, with s suffix indicating the equivalent Pentium clock speed. Names, speeds, and prices (in 10,000 unit quantities) are: Nx586-P75, 70 MHz, US$404; Nx586-P80, 75 MHz, US$477; Nx586-P90, 84 MHz, US$539; Nx586-P100, 93 MHz, US$777. [177.103] [505.37] [557.135] [979]
• Alaris introduces the first PC with a NexGen Nx586 processor. [206.30]
• Microsoft announces and ships Windows NT Workstation 3.5 and Windows NT Server 3.5. The software comprises 10 million lines of code. [94] [505.37] [567.132] [778.114] [1182.166] [1648.52] [1701.145] [1897.130] (August [1037.34])
• Microsoft announces the name of its upcoming Windows upgrade: Windows 95. [92] [123] [389.29] [858.7]
• Microsoft ships Microsoft Word 6.0 for the Macintosh. [548.159]
• Apple Computer files an appeal of its suit versus Microsoft with the US Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit. [2605.173]
• IBM introduces the Aptiva line, to replace the PS/1 line, aimed at the home PC market. [93] [505.38]

September 19

• Apple Computer announces it would initially sign up a maximum of six Mac licensees, with no restrictions imposed on them. [2605.252]

September 29

• The first court hearing on the Microsoft consent decree is held. [1700.247]

July-September

• Personal computer shipments in the US for the past three months: Apple Computer 641,000, Compaq Computer 617,000, Packard Bell 575,000, IBM 470,000, Gateway 2000 230,000. [1528.34]

(month unknown)

• Apple Computer officially names its Macintosh operating system "MacOS". [724.31]
• Texas Instruments abandons its Rio Grande project to create an integrated 486SX processor with memory controller and PCI interface. [1021]
• The Software Toolworks changes its name to Mindscape. [1537.28]

October

• In Dallas, Texas, the Recreational Software Advisory Council is launched. The group proposes rating game software on a scale of 0 to 4 in three categories: violence, language, and nudity/sexual content. [1537.14]

October 11

• IBM announces that the release name of the next OS/2 version will be "OS/2 Warp". [858.7]

October 13

• Microsoft announces plans to buy Intuit (maker of Quicken) for US$1.5 billion stock swap. [95] [128] [775] [939.64] [1700.191] (US$2 billion [785.109,111])

October 14

• Mosaic Communications makes available the first 0.9 beta test version of the Mosaic Navigator Web browser software as a file download on the Internet. Versions are available for Microsoft Windows, Apple Macintosh, and X Window environments. The software is free for personal use, or US$99 for commercial use. [1298.191] [1423.4,152] [1559] [1700.193] [1897.130]

October

• IBM formally launches OS/2 Warp version 3. [95] [142] [188.1] [858.71]
• IBM reduces its lines of personal computer from nine to four, introduces some new models, and resurrects the IBM Personal Computer brand name. [1657.D17]
• Bryan Sparks founds Caldera International. [570.22] [1194.110]
• Apple Computer expands its Macintosh Performa 6100 line with five new computers based on the PowerPC. [46] [207.34]
• IBM and Motorola begin shipping samples of the 100 MHz PowerPC 601 processor. Price is US$399 from IBM, and US$439 from Motorola, both in 1000 unit quantities. The processor is produced using a 0.33 micron process. [95.39] [557.135] [1021] [621]
• IBM and Motorola begin sample shipping the PowerPC 604 processor. IBM's price is US$549 for the 100 MHz chip. Motorola's pricing is US$599 for 100 MHz, and US$499 for 90 MHz. All prices are in 1000 unit quantities. [94.39] [211.78] [1021]
• The Microprocessor Forum conference is held. [1021]
• At the Microprocessor Forum, Advanced Micro Devices unveils details of the K86 family, with the first chip being code named K5. The processor is projected to be 30% faster than Pentium with same closk rate, and 2.5 times the 486. Volume production is expected for mid-1995. [188.3] [211.78] [1021]
• IBM and Motorola announce the 64-bit PowerPC 620 processor, to operate at 133 MHz. Performance is expected to be 225 SPECint92, and 300 SPECfp92. Virtual address space is 1 heptabyte (2^80 bytes). [95.39] [207.33] [211.78] [1021]
• Intel introduces the 75 MHz Pentium processor, with 50 MHz memory bus. Performance is 126.5 MIPS. It uses 3.2 million transistors, employing 0.6-micron BiCMOS technology. [265] [62] [557.135] [968]
• At the Microprocessor Forum, Intel pre-announces the Pentium OverDrive processor. Code-name of the part is P24T. It is designed to be plugged into 486 systems which have an OverDrive socket. Speeds to be available are 83.3 MHz for 33 MHz systems, and 63.25 MHz for 50 MHz systems. [968]
• Toshiba announces the T4900CT. It features 75 MHz Pentium processor, 772 MB hard drive, 104-inch active-matrix color display. Price is US$7500. It is the first system announced to use Intel's 75 MHz Pentium processor. [968]
• Gateway 2000 sells the first PC powered by Intel's 75 MHz Pentium. [97]
• Virginia math professor Dr. Nicely reports his discovery of the Pentium floating point divide instruction flaw to Intel, and his report is made public on CompuServe. [265] [1529.258]
• Seagate Technology announces the first disc drive and interface achieving a transfer rate of 100 MB per second. [227]
• Motorola announces availability of the PowerPC 603 processor, at US$175 for the 66 MHz chip, and US$199 for the 80 MHz version. [145]
• Motorola announces availability of the PowerPC 601 processor, at US$189 for the 66 MHz chip, and US$299 for the 80 MHz version. [145]
• Intuit ships Quicken 5.0 for the Macintosh. Price is US$49.95. [1241.132]
• IBM introduces the 66 MHz and 80 MHz PowerPC 603 processors. [95.39]
• IBM drops the PS/2, PS/1, Ambra, and ValuePoint lines, and XGA graphics, in favor of industry standards for its new PC line, the Series 300 and Series 700. [95] [96]
• Apple Computer ships System 7.5 operating system for the Macintosh. [392.45] [592.106]
• Intel produces the first test samples of the P6 processor. (The processor will be introduced as the Pentium Pro.) [936]

October 24

• Uruguay issues a 2-peso postage stamp for the 50th anniversary of the Uruguayan Press Association, showing a personal computer. [2529.854]

(month unknown)

• Intel announces the Write-Back Enhanced IntelDX2 processor, a 486DX2 with support of write-back cache operation, making it feasible to implement in systems without a second level cache. Prices are US$149 for 50 MHz and US$199 for 66 MHz, in 1000 unit quantities. [968]
• Intel announces and ships the DX4 OverDrive processor. Prices are US$549 for 75 MHz (for 486DX-25 systems), and US$699 for 100 MHz (for 486DX-33 systems), for single chips. [968]
• Number Nine Computer Corp. ships the first PC video board using a 128-bit accelerator chip. [239.42]
• Iomega introduces its Zip drive and Zip disks, floppy disk sized removable storage in sizes of 25 MB or 100 MB. [239.68] [1280.41]
• NEC Technologies introduces the NEC Versa M portable computer. It features VersaVision TrueColor 24-bit 9.5-inch TFT LCD display, 16-bit audio, 75 MHz Intel DX4 processor, 8 MB RAM, 340 MB hard drive, floppy drive, Windows 3.1. Price is US$4899. The floppy drive is exchangeable with other components. This is the first notebook screen showing full 24-bit color. [1431.46]

November 1

• Mosaic Communications files a lawsuit against Spyglass and the University of Illinois, seeking a declaration of whether or not Mosaic Netscape software infringes on browser code developed at the university and licensed through Spyglass. (The lawsuit is served fourty days later.) [1423.175]

November 2

• The second court hearing on the Microsoft consent decree is held. [1700.249]

November 7

• Apple Computer, Motorola, and IBM announce that they will create a computer platform to run all major operating systems, except the Intel x86-based Microsoft Windows 3.1 and successors. Apple Computer will port the Mac OS to this platform, and license other vendors to create Mac-compatible computers. IBM will port OS/2 and AIX, SunSoft will port Solaris, Motorola will port Windows NT, and Novell will port NetWare. [184.102] [397.12] [881.76,81] [739.128] [936] [2605.252]

November 11

• Jim Clark announces to Mosaic Communications employees the new company name: Netscape Communications Corporation. [1423.180]

November 13

• The Fox Broadcasting Company airs The Simpsons TV show in the US. A character writes "Beat up Martin." on a "Newton" handheld computer (with green apple and worm logo), which interprets the writing as "Eat up Martha.". [1801]

November 14

• New Caledonia issues a 95-franc postage stamp marking the 50th anniversary of ORSTOM, depicting a personal computer. [2465.1288]

November

• The MPEG-2 motion picture standard is approved. [1788.48]
• Advanced Micro Devices creates the first test version of the K5 processor. [936]
• IBM and Motorola begin production of the PowerPC 601+ processor. [810.35]
• Reply Corporation begins shipping the DOS on Mac PC coprocessor card for the Macintosh. The technology is licensed from Apple Computer. [592.39]
• Digital Equipment launches the Starion line of home-targeted personal computer systems. [455.32]
• Hayes Microcomputer Products files for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection. [237.37] [325.18] [451.A8] [1228.106] [1528.34] (October [129]) (April 1996 [604.75])
• Apple Computer debuts the Power Macintosh 8100/100, the industry's fastest, most powerful personal computer. [46] [1886.69] (8100/110 [98] [140])
• One month after introduction of OS/2 Warp, 800,000 copies have been shipped worldwide. [1312]
• IBM ships the 100 MHz PowerPC 601 processors. [211.78]
• IBM ships the 66 MHz and 80 MHz PowerPC 603 processors. [211.78]
• Apple Computer delivers QuickTime 2.0 for Windows. [46]
• Apple Computer ships the Power Macintosh Upgrade Card for Entry-Level Macintosh for US$599. [592.96,179]
• DayStar ships the PowerCard 601 for 68040-based Macintosh computers. Price if US$699. [592.96,180]
• Intel confirms that about 2 million Pentium processor chips have been shipped with a defective floating-point unit. [100]
• The name of Mosaic Communications company is changed to Netscape Communications. [1700.201]

(month unknown)

• IBM temporarily suspends shipments of Pentium-based systems, pending a review of the chip's floating-point divide bug. [856]
• The Federal Trade Commission begins investigating Intel for alleged practices of illegally withholding CPU sales to PC makers who buy competitor's products. [942.58]
• IBM begins shipping its Blue Lightning 486DX2 processor. The chip is a repackaged Cyrix 486DX2, manufactured by IBM. [821]
• Novell removes DR-DOS operating system from the market. [1559]
• Microsoft cancels the WinPad developers program. [1528.40]
• Sharp Electronics ships the Zaurus ZR-5000 handheld computer. It features Type II PCMCIA slot, built-in software. The system runs on two AA batteries. Price is about US$600. [1528.40]

December 10

• Netscape Communications serves notice of its lawsuit against Spyglass and the University of Illinois. (The suit is settled out of court later in the month.) [1423.189]

December 13

• Apple Computer licenses PowerMac technology to Bandai. [2605.252]

December

• The California Supreme Court upholds a 1992 decision that awarded Advanced Micro Devices technology rights in its suit against Intel. [141]
• IBM and Motorola begin production of the PowerPC 604 processor, but soon halt production, due to several problems. [211.78] [557.135] [810.35] [622]
• Netscape Communications releases Netscape Communicator 1.0. [919] [1423.234]
• Apple Computer sues San Francisco Canyon Company claiming unauthorized use of Apple Computer's QuickTime code to speed up Microsoft's Video for Windows product. [548.362] [652.28]
• Apple Computer demonstrates a PCI-based Power Macintosh using a 120 MHz PowerPC 604 processor. [265] (November [592.35])
• Disney Interactive ships Disney's Animated Storybook: The Lion King v1.0 for personal computers. (The game crashes on thousands of new Compaq Presario computers, due to use of the WinG graphics API in Windows.) [796.38] [1518.51] [1788.13]
• NexGen announces sample availability of its 133 MHz Nx586 microprocessor. [211.78]
• Novell ships UNIXWare 2.0. [225]
• Novell ships PerfectOffice 3.0 for Windows. [225] (1995 January [439.28])

December 16

• Apple Computer signs a licensing agreement with Power Computing, allowing the company to produce Macintosh-compatible computers. [764.31] [821] [2605.252] (March 1995 [653.65]) (September [764.30] [1597.86])

December

• Apple Computer signs a licensing agreement with Radius, allowing the company to produce Macintosh compatible computers. [764.31] [821] (January 5, 1995 [2605.253]) (September 1994 [764.30] [1597.86]) (March 1995 [653.65])

December 19

• Apple Computer files a write of certiorari with the US Supreme Court asking justices to review the case of Microsoft copyright infringement in Windows. [2605.173]
• Kaleida Labs releases Media Player and ScriptX language. [2605.70]

December 23

• Netscape Communications, Spyglass, and the University of Illinois settle their web browser lawsuit out of court. Netscape pays US$2.2 million in damages, and will pay up to US$1.4 million in licensing deals with other companies. [1423.190] [1700.201]

December

• Microsoft licenses web browsing technology from Spyglass, royalty-free, for use in Windows 95. [1423.116,190]
• Intel President Andy Grove admits the company mishandled the Pentium processor division problem, and apologizes for the resulting situation. [265] [1529.258]

December 31

• Shipments of Windows NT to date: 1 million. [1701.145]
• Shipments of Windows to date: 50-60 million. [214] [1431.62]
• Shipments of OS/2 2.0 (and higher) to date: nearly 10 million. [858.17]

Year

• Shipments of optical drives worldwide during the year: 194.7 million. [1587.42]
• Global software piracy rates: Canada 46%. [1434.1]
• Shipments of NexGen Nx586 processors during the year: 4000. [821]
• Shipments of Advanced Micro Devices 486 processors during the year: 4.8 million. [821]
• Shipments of handheld computers for the year: 390,000. [782.36]
• Worldwide shipment of CD-ROM drives for the year: 20.6 million. [909.236]
• US shipments of color ink-jet printers for the year: 5 million. [515.91]
• Shipments of magneto-optical disks for the year: 2.14 million. [823.21]
• Estimated worldwide software industry losses to piracy for the year: US$12.0 billion. [886.53]
• Estimated world-wide shipments of personal computers for the year: 46.5 million. [143]
• Shipments of Pentium systems for the year: 1.9 million. [220.6]
• Worldwide shipments of PCMCIA flash memory cards for the year: 492,000. [909.42]
• Worldwide shipments of PCMCIA rigid disk drives for the year: 156,000. [909.42]
• Worldwide shipments of rigid disk cartridge drives for the year: 468,000. [909.42]
• Worldwide shipments of small optical disk drives for the year: 483,000. [909.42]
• Worldwide shipments of high capacity flexible disk drives for the year: 204,000. [909.42]
• Worldwide shipments of low capacity flexible disk drives for the year: 75,514,000. [909.42]
• Shipments of personal computers to the Middle East and Africa for the year: 1.3 million units. [223]
• Percent of households with a personal computer: US: 33-37%, Germany: 28%, UK: 24%, France: 15%, Japan: less than 10%. [223] [1559] [1897.130]
• Market share of PC LAN operating systems: Novell: 66%, Microsoft: 9%. [223]
• US shipments of personal computers for the year: 18.7 million. [453.6]
• Market share of home personal computers in the US for the year: Packard Bell 32.4%, Apple Computer 14.7%, Compaq Computer 11.5%, IBM 6.1%, Gateway 5.5%, other 29.8%. [1748.108]
• Desktop computer market share: Apple Computer: 12%, Packard Bell: 12%, Compaq Computer: 11%, IBM: 9%, Dell: 6%, Gateway 2000: 5%, Hewlett-Packard: 3%, Digital: 2%, AST: 2%, Acer: 2%, Other: 36%. [284.104]
• Market share of personal computers worldwide during the year: Compaq Computer 10.3%, Apple Computer 9.4%, IBM 8.5%. [1659.D7]
• Worldwide shipments of multimedia computers: over 10 million. [884.33]
• World market share of multimedia computers: Apple Computer 22.9%. [884.33]
• US shipments of Compaq Computer personal computers for the year: 2,335,000. [585.47]
• US shipments of Packard Bell personal computers for the year: 2,130,000. [585.47]
• US shipments of Apple Computer personal computers for the year: 1,165,000. [585.47]
• Shipments of PowerPC systems for the year: 800,000. [856] [411]
• US shipments of IBM personal computers for the year: 1,669,000. [585.47]
• US shipments of Gateway 2000 personal computers for the year: 960,000. [585.47]
• US shipments of Dell Computer personal computers for the year: 790,000. [585.47]
• US shipments of Hewlett-Packard personal computers for the year: 443,000. [585.47]
• US shipments of Acer America personal computers for the year: 455,000. [585.47]
• US shipments of Toshiba personal computers for the year: 676,000. [585.47]
• US shipments of AST Research personal computers for the year: 720,000. [585.47]
• US market share of personal computers: Compaq Computer 12.5%, Packard Bell 11.4%, Apple Computer 11.6%, IBM 9.0%, Gateway 2000 5.2%, Dell Computer 4.2%, Hewlett-Packard 2.4%, Acer America 2.4%, Toshiba 3.6%, AST Research 3.9%, others 33.7%. [585.47]
• During the year, 30% of retail software sales are made via CD-ROM. [453.8]
• Shipments of OS/2 for the year: 2.9 million. [521.10]

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