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Adler Horst |
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[Home] [Links] [Guest book] [Photos] |
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I am interested in tracking the history of development of software, especially the ones which we use on a day-to-day basis. Windows NT/2000 Timeline |
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[1970 & earlier] [1980s] [1990s] |
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| 1970s and earlier | ||
| 1858:
First cable laid across the Atlantic ocean. It remained in service
for several days. A successful cable was laid in 1866 that stayed
in service nearly 100 years.
1876: Alexander G. Bell exhibits the telephone. 1958: President Eisenhower forms the Advanced Research Projects Agency (ARPA), within the Department of Defense (DoD) in response to the Soviet launching of Sputnik. 1961-4: The Internet is invented when Leonard Kleinrock and Lawrence Roberts of MIT design a network that will let different computers communicate. (note: AlGore was 13 years old at the time). 1962-4: Paul Baran is commissioned with the RAND Corporation to report on how the US Air Force could best retain control and communication after a bombing. He finally proposed a packet switched network. 1964: Gordon Moore from Intel introduces Moore's Law: Computing power will double every year. It is later revised to every 18-24 months. 1968: Intel founded by Gordon Moore and Robert Noyce. 1968: BBN (Bolt, Berenek & Newman) awarded contract from ARPA to build ARPANET using a Honeywell minicomputer. 1969: Stanford Research Institute, University of California at Santa Barbara, and the University of Utah are connected with the first Internet "backbone" with 50Kbps connections provided by AT&T. 1970: Intel produces the 4004, the first microprocessor.2 1971: Journalist Don Hoefler coins the term "Silicon Valley." 1971: Intel releases the 4004 Processor. 1972: Intel releases the 8008. 1972: The @ symbol is chosen as the locating symbol for email addresses. 1972: ARPA renamed DARPA (Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency). 1972: Intel releases the 8008 Processor. 1973: Development of TCP/IP begins within DARPA. 1973: University College of London and Royal Radar Establishment connect to ARPANET. 1974: Intel releases the 8080 Processor. 1975: Microsoft founded. 1976: Queen Elizabeth II sends the first royal email. 1978: Ward Christiansen writes a software program called modulator-demodulator (MODEM). 1978: Intel releases the 8086 & 8088 Processor. 1979: On MsgGroup, the first Arpanet mailing list, Kevin MacKenzie first uses the emoticon )-: |
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| 1980s: | ||
| 1981:
The Xerox Star 8010 is unveiled. It costs $16,000 and includes a
mouse and a graphical user interface.
1982: Intel introduces the 286. 1983: Internet Activities Board (IAB) created. 1983: Domain Name System (DNS) created at the University of Wisconsin. 1984: The term "cyberspace" is coined in William Gibson's Neuromancer. 1985: Intel introduces the 386. 1986: The Internet Engineering Task Force (IETF) created. 1988: Self-replicating bug shuts down the Internet. October, 1988: David Cutler, recently acquired from DEC along with other developers, begins work on NT in building 2 at Microsoft. November, 1988: Microsoft formally announces that Cutler and other Digital employees have been hired to work on an advanced version of OS/2. June, 1989: A team lead by Chuck Whitmer begins work on NT's graphics. Initially, the team tried to write the code in C++, but later moved some of it to C for performance reasons. July, 1989: The first chunks of NT are run on a system built by the NT development team based on the Intel i860 processor. October, 1989: The first estimate of when NT will ship given as March 1991 (this prediction was 2.5 years off). 1989: Intel introduces the 486 Processor. |
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| 1990s: | ||
| February,1990:
Windows NT
development team is formed.
February 23,1990: Paul Mauritz challenges the development team to have 4 applications (OS/2 Presentation Manager applications) running in time for Fall Comdex. May,1990: Windows 3.0 released. May 30,1990: Bill Gates criticizes the Windows NT development team for making NT "too big and too slow." August,1990: Decision is made to switch from OS/2 NT to Windows NT - a different interface and API. Plans begin for the move to Windows. December 17,1990: Meeting at Microsoft with developers and other third-parties to review Win32 API. January,1991: Microsoft and IBM have a falling out, after it is learned that Microsoft is focusing on Windows NT development over OS/2.May,1991: The first DOS application is run on Windows NT (pre-release) - Reversi. June,1991: Microsoft Word is run on Windows NT (pre-release). October,1991: Microsoft displays Windows NT at Comdex. July,1992: Windows NT is demonstrated at the Microsoft Professional Developers Conference (PDC) in San Francisco.October 12,1992: Beta 1 of Windows NT 3.1 ships. November,1992: Win32 Software Development Kit is released. Date Unknown,1992: World Wide Web released by CERN. March 8,1993: Windows NT 3.1 Beta 2 ships.June 9,1993: Final Beta of Windows NT 3.1 ships. July 26,1993: Windows NT 3.1 released to manufacturing. August,1993: Windows NT 3.1 - the first version of NT - is released. Lines of code: 6 million. October,1993: Service Pack 1 for Windows NT 3.1 released. December,1993: Motorola and Microsoft announce they will begin developing Windows NT for the PowerPC platform. December,1993: Microsoft announces that it has shipped 300,000 copies of NT in 1993. December 21,1993: SNA Server 2.0 released. Date Unknown,1993: Intel introduces the Pentium processor August,1994: 32-bit version of Office (Word & Excel) for NT ships.September 6,1994: Windows NT 3.5 is released. First upgrade to NT weighing in at 9 million lines of code. October,1994: DEC demonstrates clustering solutions for Windows NT. October 6,1994: SNA Server 2.1 released. December 16,1994: Windows NT 3.5 Resource Kit released. February,1995: Windows NT 3.51 Beta released.February,1995: PowerPC's ship with Windows NT. April,1995: Microsoft announces that installed Windows NT systems surpass 1 million. May 30,1995: Windows NT 3.51 released. June 14,1995: SQL Server 6.0 released. June 28,1995: SNA Server 2.11 released. July 25,1995: SMS 1.1 released. August,1995: Microsoft Mail Server 3.5 released. October,1995: Microsoft announces that installed Windows NT base surpassed 2 million. December,1995: Microsoft announces that Windows NT Server shipped 393,000 copies. Date Unknown,1995: Intel introduces the Pentium Pro processor. Date Unknown,1995: Earthlink offers first "unlimited" internet service for $19.95 per month. Date Unknown,1995: Netscape IPO - 3rd largest in Nasdaq history. January,1996: Windows NT 4.0 Beta 1 released.February,1996: Microsoft announces that the installed base for Windows NT is over 4 million. February 1,1996: IIS 1.0 released. March,1996: Windows NT 4.0 Beta 2 released. April 8,1996: SQL Server 6.5 released. April 25,1996: Microsoft BackOffice Server 2.0 released. May 13,1996: Exchange Server 1.0 released. July 29,1996: Windows NT 4.0 released to manufacturing. July 29,1996: SMS 1.2 released. August,1996: Windows NT 4.0 released. Final code count: 16 million lines. October 16,1996: Microsoft drops NT support for MIPS architecture. October 20,1996: SNA Server 3.0 released. October 23,1996: Merchant Server 1.0 released. October 28,1996: Index Server 1.1 released. December,1996: Microsoft announces that 732,000 copies of NT Server 4.0 sold in 1996 December 6,1996: Transaction Server 1.0 released. December 10,1996: Internet Information Server (IIS) 3.0 released. January 3,1997: Microsoft released Wolfpack beta (clustering software for NT).January 3,1997: Exchange Server 5.0 final beta released. January 6,1997: "Memphis" (Windows 97?) enters testing with "Developers Release." January 13,1997: Microsoft releases Service Pack 2 for NT 4. January 19,1997: Office 97 Ships. February,1997: Intel releases 233 MHz Pentium Pro. February 5,1997: Information and Interactive Services Report says 18 million people were using the Internet by the end of 1996. February 7,1997: Microsoft quits developing NT for the PowerPC. February 17,1997: Exchange Server 5.0 released. February 24,1997: Microsoft released IE 4.0. March 25,1997: IE 3.02 released. April 25,1997: Wolfpack Beta 2 released. April 28,1997: NetMeeting 2.0 ships. April 29,1997: Business Week reports that 40 million people are "surfin the 'Net. May 5,1997: Pentium II floating point error reported. May 12,1997: Microsoft announces that it is developing thin client support for Windows NT with the help of Citrix Systems, Inc. June 27,1997: Microsoft releases Beta of Internet Information Server 4.0. July,1997: Site Server 2.0 ships. July 14,1997: Microsoft releases Beta of Proxy Server 2.0. August 4,1997: DirectX 5.0 ships. August 6,1997: Microsoft releases Office 97 Service Release 1. September,1997: Microsoft unveils Beta 1 of Windows NT 5.0 at the Professional Developers Conference. September 16,1997: Windows NT Server 4.0 Enterprise Edition released to manufacturing. October,1997: Windows NT 4.0, Enterprise Version ships. October 3,1997: IE 4.0 released - 1 million downloads reported in first 24 hours. October 8,1997: Proxy Server 2.0 ships. October 14,1997: Windows CE 2.0 ships. October 22,1997: Small Business Server ships. November 5,1997: NetMeeting 2.1 released. November 17,1997: Exchange Server 5.5 is released. November 17,1997: Windows NT 4.0 Workstation sales hit 11 million. November 21,1997: Beta 1 of "Hydra" (Terminal Services for NT 4) released. December 1,1997: SNA Server 4.0 is released. December 2,1997: IE 4.01 released. December 2,1997: Windows NT Server 4.0 Option Pack is released. December 9,1997: Microsoft BackOffice Server 4.0 is released. December 11,1997: Service Pack 3 for SMS 1.2 released. December 15,1997: Beta 2 of Windows 98 released. December 19,1997: Service Pack 4 for SQL Server 6.5 released. December,1997: Microsoft announces it has shipped 1.3 million copies of NT Server. Date Unknown,1997: Intel introduces the Pentium II processor. [ 1998 data is currently unavailable] All these events occurred on 1999January 11: Microsoft releases Beta 1 of Small Business Server 4.5. January: Intel announces the Pentium III - which will ship with a unique processor serial number (PSN) that causes a stir in the privacy and security arenas. January 12: Microsoft releases BackOffice Server 4.5. January 20: Microsoft recovers 55,000 illegal counterfeit copies of Office 97 In Berkshire, England.2 February 3: Microsoft ships DirectX 6.1. February 22: Microsoft releases Beta 1 of Windows NT 4.0 Embedded version. February: Microsoft announces that it is reorganizing into four main groups: Consumer, Enterprise, Development, and Knowledge (Office). March 3: Windows NT Workstation 4.0 sales reach 28 million.2 March 18: Microsoft releases IE 5.0. March 25: Microsoft releases Office 98 Macintosh Edition March 29: Microsoft Office 2000 released to manufacturing. March 30: Microsoft combines Site Builder Network and MSDN Online web sites and membership programs. March: The British Army announces that the new GNK Westland WAH-64 Apache helicopter will run NT on networked Lynwood Pentium Pro systems. March: Over a 12 day period, astronauts in the space shuttle Endeavor exchange about 600 messages with a Microsoft Exchange Server in Houston.1 April 29: Microsoft releases Beta 3 of Windows 2000. April: The Search for Extraterrestrial Intelligence Institute begins to enlist volunteers to use their home PCs to run SETI@home software to help search for extraterrestrial life. May 5: Windows 98 Second Edition released to manufacturing. May 24: Microsoft releases Small Business Server 4.5. June 3: Microsoft releases Active Directory Services Interfaces (ADSI) 2.5. June 14: Microsoft unveils Commercial Internet System (MCIS) 2.5. June 14: Melissa virus hits - first large-scale "worm" to take advantage of Outlook features. July 7: Microsoft releases Release Candidate 1 (RC1) of Windows 2000. July 21: Microsoft releases Intellimouse Explorer at MACWorld Expo in New York. July 21: Microsoft releases MSN Messenger Service, free for download. July 26: Microsoft delivers "Developer Preview" pre-beta version of Windows ME to small group of partners and beta testers. August 9: Microsoft releases Windows NT Embedded 4.0. August: Microsoft and the University of Hertfordshire in Hatfield, England, conducted an experiment to see if human beings can survive with nothing but a connected computer and a credit card. Four volunteers were locked in a room for five days, each armed with only a credit card with an $800 limit and a PC connected to the Internet. September 1: Microsoft releases Cordless Mouse. September 15: Announced that Microsoft will acquire Visio Corporation. September 20: Microsoft announces new MCSE 2000 certification track. September 21: eBook or Open eBook Publication Structure Specification finalized. September 22: Microsoft Ships final release of DirectX 7.0. September 29: Microsoft releases Beta 1 of Windows ME. October 4: Microsoft releases Beta 3 of Exchange Server 2000. December 15: Windows 2000 released to manufacturing. Date Unknown: Intel introduces the Celeron processor. Date Unknown: Intel introduces the Pentium III and Pentium III Xeon processors. Year 2000 January 1: The world survives the rollover to 00.January 5: Microsoft unveils IE 5 for the Mac at Macworld Expo in San Francisco. January 14: US Federal Government relaxed encryption export law, allowing exportation of software using 128-bit encryption. February 17: Windows 2000 is officially launched in Professional, Server, and Advanced Server versions. February 22: Microsoft offers Release Candidate 1 of Exchange Server 2000, and also announces Exchange 2000 Conferencing Server. March 2: Microsoft releases Windows-Based Terminal (WBT) Standard 1.5. March 14: Over 1 million copies of Windows 2000 sold. March 15: Microsoft announces IPv6 Technical Preview for Windows 2000. March 27: Microsoft announces Windows Media Player 7.0. April 3: Microsoft releases Windows Services for UNIX 2.0. April 4: Microsoft releases Visio 2000, Service Release 1. April 11: Microsoft begins availability of TechNet on DVD. April 24: Microsoft releases Beta 2 of SQL Server 2000. April 25: Microsoft Announces Windows CE 3.0 and New Development Tools At WinHEC 2000. May 15: Microsoft unveils IE for Mac OS X May 23: Microsoft releases Beta 2 of Windows 2000 Datacenter Server. June 6: Public Beta for Internet Security and Acceleration Server 2000 (ISA Server 2000) begins. June 19: Windows Millennium Edition (Windows ME) released to Manufacturing. June 20: SMS 2.0 Service Pack 2 released. June 22: Microsoft announces "Windows .NET" June 27: Windows 2000 sales hit 3 million. June 28: Microsoft releases Beta of Commerce Server 2000. June 28: Microsoft Releases Windows 2000 Terminal Services Advanced Client. July 6: Windows Services for Netware version 5.0 (SFN5) released. July 12: IE 5.5 released. July 14: Small Business Server 2000 enters Beta 1. July 17: Compaq becomes first systems manufacturer to be certified for Windows 2000 Datacenter Program for Windows 2000 Datacenter Server. July 19: Microsoft Unveils Office 2001 for Mac. July 20: MSN Messenger 3.0 released. July 31: Service Pack 1 for Windows 2000 released. August 2: Application Center 2000 enters Beta 2. August 7: SQL Server 2000 released to manufacturing. August 11: Microsoft Ships Windows 2000 Datacenter Server to Program Partners. August 14: Microsoft announces Beta 1 of Biztalk Server 2000. August 31: MSN announces Preview 2 of MSN Explorer (a competitor to IE?). September 14: Windows ME available. October 9: MSN Explorer browser released. October 11: Exchange Server 2000 launches. October 31: Beta 1 of "Whistler" (next version after Windows 2000) released. November 2: Service Pack 1 for IE 5.5 released. November 9: Microsoft releases DirectX version 8.0. November 20: Intel introduces the Pentium IV processor. December 12: BizTalk Server 2000 Released to Manufacturing. December 15: Microsoft extends deadline for completing NT 4.0 exams through the end of February. December 18: Microsoft Announces Release of "Whistler Embedded" Beta 1. December 21: Microsoft to acquire Great Plains Software, Inc. 2001 till date
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