- January 19
- Apple Computer announces it has shipped the 1 millionth Power Macintosh computer or upgrade. [46] [654.15] [1656.D4]
- January 20
- The third and final court hearing on the Microsoft consent decree is held. [1700.249]
- January 24
- Macromedia completes its acquisition of Altsys, maker of Freehand. [1658.D4]
- January
- U.S. retail market share for personal computers: Apple 13%. [496]
- January 30
- Apple Computer announces availability of the Newton MessagePad 120 in the US. It includes Graffiti hardwriting recognition software by Palm Computing, and Newton OS 1.3. [46] [271.N7]
- (month unknown)
- Apple Computer ships an updated “Houdini” board, the DOS Compatibility Card for the Power Macintosh. For US$740, it gives a 486DX2/66, sound, and 800×600 SVGA graphics. [204.166]
- February 13
- IBM and Motorola announce that test samples have been made of the PowerPC 603e (100 MHz) and PowerPC 602 (66 MHz) microprocessors. [145] [204.211] [265] [669] [1597.86] [1766.37]
- February 14
- US District Court Judge Stanley Sporkin rejects the consent decree settlement worked out between Microsoft and the Department of Justice, regarding Microsoft’s alleged unfair trade practices. He claims the proposed settlement does not go far enough in addressing Microsoft’s licensing practices, and is not in the public interest. [380.31] [382.4] [439.28] [548.349] [775] [785.111] [796.65] [1037.32] [1700.254]
- February
- Apple Computer extends its December 1994 lawsuit against San Francisco Canyon Company to include Microsoft and Intel. Microsoft removes the disputed code from Video for Windows, and releases version 1.1e. [548.362]
- Intel publicly releases its errata list for the Pentium processor. Previously, the list was only available to system makers and some software vendors. [667]
- IBM announces PC DOS 7, with integrated data compression from Stac Electronics (Stacker). [142]
- U.S. Robotics acquires Megahertz Holding Corporation. [235]
- February 15
- In San Francisco, California, the International Solid State Circuits Conference is held, over three days. [936] [821] [664]
- February 16
- At the International Solid State Circuits Conference, Intel formally announces details of the design of the P6 processor. [936] [821] [664]
- February 21
- The US Supreme Court refuses to hear Apple Computer’s “look-and-feel” copyright suit against Microsoft and Hewlett-Packard. [1037.33] [1886.70] [2605.174]
- February 24
- Borland International unveils the Delphi software development tool. [1502.11]
- (month unknown)
- Toshiba, Time Warner, Matsushita, Thomson, Hitachi, Pioneer, MCA, MGM/UA propose a digital video disk (DVD) with the capacity of 10 GB. Pioneer company [1037.33]
- SunSoft releases Wabi 2.0 for Solaris 2 operating system. Wabi supports Windows 3.1 and Windows 3.11 applictions, but not Windows for Workgroups or MS-DOS. [1037.148]
- Intel destroys 1.5 million flawed Pentium chips, at a rough cost of US$475 million. [425.10]
- Compaq Computer, Digital Equipment, IBM, Intel, Microsoft, NEC, and Northern Telecom form the USB Implementers Forum, to develop a universal serial bus for personal computers. [871.189] [641] [1272.104]
- March
- Microsoft and the US Justice Department asks the US Court of Appeals to disqualify Judge Stanley Sporkin from the Microsoft consent decree case, and reassign the case to a new judge. [1700.254]
- March 6
- In San Francisco, California, the IEEE holds its Compcon ’95 computer systems conference. [669]
- March
- Cyrix begins shipping samples of its M1 processor. [664] [466]
- Linus Torvalds releases the Linux kernel version 1.2. [1601.9]
- The Committee to Fight Microsoft announces it would urge Congress to convene public hearings on the government’s investigation of Microsoft. [1037.32]
- At the Game Developers Conference, Microsoft announces the DirectX application programming interface, with the release of a beta test version. [1687.14]
- A U.S. Appeals Court overturns the Lotus Development win against Borland International, allowing emulation of Lotus 1-2-3 commands in Quattro Pro. The reversal of the prior court ruling saves Borland International US$100 million that it might have been required to pay. [103] [453.4] [548.343]
- Iomega begins shipping its Zip drive. [485.7] [1559]
- IBM releases the ThinkPad 701C. It features an automatically expanding full-sized keyboard, dubbed the Butterfly, 10.4-inch thin-film transistor active-matrix color display, 50 MHz Intel 486DX2, 14.4 kbps fax/modem, 360 or 540 MB hd, 4 or 8 MB RAM, two Type II PCMCIA slots, infrared port, audio in/out port, video port, TrackPoint III pointing device, external 3.5-in disk drive, PC DOS 6.3, Win 3.11. The nickel cadmium battery provides power for about 1.2 hours. Weight is 4.3 pounds; size is 11.5 x 5.7 x 2 inches. [439.32] [471.35] [1559] [1586.110]
- Apple Computer signs a licensing agreement with DayStar Digital, allowing the company to produce Macintosh compatible computers. [653.65]
- Intel introduces the 120 MHz Pentium processor, produced using a 0.35 micron process. Performance is rated at 203 MIPS, and 140 SPECint92. It incorporates 3.2 million transistors. Pricing is US$935 each in quantities of 1000. Code-name during development was P54CQS. [62] [189.1] [265] [557.135] [943.180] [664]
- Microsoft releases the first open beta test version of Windows 95. Nearly 1 million copies are given out. [909.236]
- March 16
- Acclaim releases the Mortal Kombat II video game for personal computers in the US. [1806]
- March 20
- In San Francisco, California, the Windows Hardware Engineering Conference (WinHEC) is held, over three days. [669]
- March
- At the Windows Hardware Engineering Conference, the Universal Serial Bus (USB) is formally debuted. It is being designed to provide a single interface for input/output devices such as keyboard, mouse, modem, speaker, microphone, CD-ROM, scanner, joystick, etc. [641]
- March 31
- Microsoft ships Microsoft Bob for Windows. Price is US$99. One of the helper characters is Java the dinosaur. [226.12] [1654.D3] [1655.C6] [1897.130]
- April
- Netscape Communications releases Netscape Navigator 1.1 web browser. [919] [1423.202]
- IBM ships the 110 MHz PowerPC 601 processor. [557.135]
- IBM ships the 120 MHz PowerPC 601 processor. [1597.86]
- Apple Computer announces the Power Macintosh 5200/75 LC for the education market, using the 75 MHz PowerPC 603 processor. [46] [104]
- IBM releases PC DOS 7. [105]
- Apple Europe introduces the Power Mac 6200 series in Europe. [178.33]
- Wang Laboratories and Microsoft settle their lawsuit regarding OLE. Microsoft buys US$90 million of Wang stock for a license to Wang Laboratories’ patents as part of the settlement. [548.367]
- Lotus Development renames Ami Pro to Word Pro. [439.28]
- Apple Computer introduces the new Apple CD 6003 quad-speed CD-ROM player. [46]
- IBM and Motorola re-establish volume production of the 100 MHz PowerPC 604 processor, after fixing problems and moving the design from a 0.65 micron process to 0.5 micron. This also allowed a speed upgrade to 133 MHz. [622]
- Palm Computing introduces the Pilot 1000 ($299) and Pilot 5000 ($369) handheld computers. [2605.199]
- At an auction in New York, ESCOM buys all rights, properties, and technologies of Commodore International. [186] [187] [491.52] [547.6]
- Micron Electronics buys Zeos Computer. [608.30]
- April 24
- In Atlanta, Georgia, the Comdex/Spring show is held, over four days. The Windows World ’95 conference is also held. [664]
- April 27
- The US Department of Justice files a lawsuit to block the merger of Intuit and Microsoft. [128] [382.4] [775] [785.111] [1564.264] [1627.5] [1700.262]
- April (month)
- Top selling computer game in the USA for the month: Dark Forces. [1768.22]
- May
- Apple Computer and DayStar Digital announce joint development of the Apple MP API for multiprocessing Apple Macintosh applications. [1034.59]
- Interplay releases the Descent game for personal computers in the USA. [2160.49]
- Apple Computer unveils the next generation of its Mac OS at its Worldwide Developers Conference. [46]
- Power Computing, the first company to license Apple Computer’s Power Mac technology, begins shipping its first Power Mac clones. [178.35] [764.30] [639] [1597.86] (August [454.32])
- Intel releases a 90 MHz Pentium processor designed for portable computers. Price is US$427 in 1000 unit quantities. [439.32] [639]
- ESCOM announces the creation of a subsidiary company, Amiga Technologies, in Germany. [187]
- IBM unveils its new IBM PC 300 desktop systems, with 75 MHz and 90 MHz Pentium CPUs. Complete systems start at US$2000. [127]
- Apple Computer ships System 7.5.2 for the Macintosh, with PCI bus support. [392.45]
- Intel introduces the P6 processor. [439.12]
- May 20
- Microsoft and Intuit announce the termination of their planned merger. Microsoft pays Intuit US$46.25 million in compensation for terminating the deal. [123] [128] [382.4] [389.29] [439.28] [1559] [1700.263] (postponed in late February [1037.33])
- May 23
- At the Sun World conference in San Francisco, California, Sun Microsystems introduces the Java interactive programming language. Code-name during development was Oak. [948.102] [1570.2] [1700.267]
- May 26
- Microsoft chairman Bill Gates issues an internal memo “The Internet Tidal Wave”, saying he believes the Internet to be the single most important development in the computer industry since the IBM Personal Computer. He gives the highest level of importance to the Internet, calling it “critical to every part of our business”. [1700.8]
- May (month)
- Top selling computer game in the USA for the month: Myst. [1768.22]
- June
- IBM and Motorola announce that test samples have been made of the PowerPC 604 microprocessor at 120 MHz and 133 MHz. [145] [265] [557.135] [1597.86]
- Apple Computer introduces its first PowerMac system using Intel’s PCI bus, the Power Macintosh 9500, available with a 120 MHz or 132 MHz PowerPC 604 CPU. The 9500/120 with a 1 GB hard drive costs US$5000. The 9500/132 with 2 GB drive costs US$5800. Code-name during development was Tsunami. [125] [145] [622] [1034.59] [1597.86] (August [673.24])
- Intel announces the immediate availability of the 133 MHz Pentium processor. It uses 3.2 million transistors, employing 0.35 micron BiCMOS technology. Speed is 218.9 MIPS. Price is US$935 each in quantities of 1000. [62] [124] [126] [265] [376.6] [383.4] [557.135] [622] (April [439.28])
- Advanced Micro Devices announces sample availability of the clock-tripled 120 MHz Am486 DX4 processor, as well as 75 MHz and 100 MHz versions. The processors incorporate an 8 kB cache, and System Management Mode. [141] [265] [622] [191.31]
- Texas Instruments introduces its first 486DX2 processor, based on the Cyrix 486 core. Prices are US$66 for 66 MHz, and US$80 for 80 MHz, in 1000 unit quantities. [622]
- IBM buys Lotus Development for US$3.5 billion in cash. [124] [142] [376.1] [376.100] [383.1] [439.12] [464.15] [517.14] (July [1312])
- Microsoft asks Netscape Communications to agree to not develop Netscape Navigator for Windows 95 and successors. Netscape refuses. [784.32,34] [929.51] (May [765])
- Intel ceases shipments of the 60 and 66 MHz Pentium processors. [383.4]
- Installed base of Microsoft customers’ desktop operating systems: DOS 39%, Windows 3.x 55%, Windows NT 1%, other 5%. [554.54]
- An appeals court rules that Judge Sporkin had no authority to reject the consent decree between the US Department of Justice and Microsoft in February. [389.29] [775] [939.64] (April [785.111])
- Apple Computer introduces its first color laser printer, the Color Laser Printer 12/600PS. The 600×600 dpi printer comes with 12 MB of RAM, uses a Canon-based engine, and costs about US$7,000. [124]
- Iomega introduces an internal version of its 100 MB removable cartridge Zip drive. [377.37]
- Iomega introduces the Jaz line of high-capacity removable cartridge drives. The 3.5-inch wide cartridges hold 540 MB or 1 GB. Transfer rate of the drive is 5 MBps, or up to 10 MBps with Fast SCSI-2 50-pin connection. The unit is available in internal model (US$500), or external (US$600). Cartridges cost about US$70 (540 MB) to US$125 (1 GB). [376.29] [377.37] [384.2] [827.19] [887.30] [1245.48]
- IBM adds the 133 MHz Pentium to its IBM PC 700 line. [142]
- Boca Research signs a letter of intent to buy Hayes Microcomputer Products for US$72 million, choosing to use the Hayes name for the merged company. [129.3] [238.3] [321.12] [378.74] [451.A8]
- Shipments of Apple Computer Power Mac computers and upgrade cards to date: 2 million. [179.33]
- Compaq Computer introduces the 120 MHz Pentium-based Compaq Deskpro XL, starting at US$3950. [113]
- Microsoft releases Windows NT v3.51. [237.45] [323.20]
- Microsoft releases Windows NT v3.51 for the PowerPC. [428.209]
- Apple Computer demonstrates the user interface of its Copland operating system. [1721.29]
- The Software Publishers Association Multimedia PC Working Group releases the MPC Level 3 specification. Minimum requirements: 75 MHz Pentium or equivalent, 8 MB RAM, 540 MB hard drive, 4X CD-ROM drive, video accelerator card for MPEG support, 16-bit sound card with wavetable MIDI. [823] [1208.41]
- June 20
- In New York City, New York, the PC Expo trade show is held, over three days. [639] [1766.31]
- June
- At the PC Expo show, IBM debuts the Power Series 830 workstations with the PowerPC 604 microprocessor (100-133 MHz), and the ThinkPad Power Series 820 and 850 with a 100 MHz PowerPC 603e. [142] [377.6] [125] [128] [145] [212.191] [397.12] [622] [411] (Power Series 850 [385.14])
- June 21
- Microsoft representatives meet with Netscape Communications representatives, requesting that Netscape not compete with Microsoft in areas of the Web browser market. Microsoft offers to invest in Netscape and receive a seat on the board of directors. Jim Clark refuses, and calls lawyer Gary Reback, who then contacts Joel Klein, lawyer in the antitrust division of the Department of Justice. [1423.236] [1559] [1564.264,294] [1711.40]
- (month unknown)
- Cyrix begins full-scale production of its M1 processor. [664]
- Hayes Microcomputer Products files for bankruptcy protection. [1559]
- Symantec releases the Symantec C++ 8.0 compiler for Power Macintosh, for US$499. [887.49]
- Microsoft releases FoxPro 3.0 for Windows, with OLE support. [494.6]
- SRAM memory manufacturer IDT Technologies creates Centaur Technologies as a subsidiary, to develop a high performance CPU. [907.70]
- Intel files lawsuits against United Microelectronics in Singapore, Hong Kong, Germany, and the United Kingdom. Intel claims the 486SX processor of the Taiwanese company infringes on its x86 and 486 patents. [621]
- The first macro virus program for Windows appears, called Concept. The virus operates in Microsoft Word for Windows or the Macintosh. [1230.56] [1260.193]
- David Ditzel founds Transmeta. [1464.94]
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