- January 14
- Intel introduces the 2.4 GHz Pentium 4-M processor for portable computers. Price is US$562 in 1000-unit quantities. [1559]
- Intel introduces the 2 GHz mobile Celeron processor. Price is US$149 in 1000-unit quantities. [1559]
- Intel introduces the 900 and 933 MHz Pentium III-M low-power mobile processors. [1559]
- Intel introduces the 800 and 866 MHz Celeron low-power mobile processors. [1559]
- January 15
- MandrakeSoft of France files for bankruptcy protection. [1559]
- January
- Palm announces it will discontinue its Graffiti handwriting recognition software in favor of Jot technology, which Palm will rename Graffiti 2. Jot software is produced by Communication Intelligence Corporation. [1845.8] [1559]
- January 20
- The Fox Broadcasting Company airs The Fairly Oddparents TV show in the US. Throughout the show, personal computers with keyboard and mouse are used to send email, with windows similar to those of the Mac OS, and the familiar “You’ve got mail” voice message of America Online software. [1933]
- January 21
- U.S. District Judge J. Motz issues a preliminary injunction, ordering Microsoft to distribute Sun Microsystems’ Java with Windows, and to cease distribution of its own implementation. [1559]
- At the LinuxWorld show in New York, SuSE announces the SuSE Linux Office Desktop software, for US$129. It is SuSE Linux 8.1 with CodeWeavers’ CrossOver Win32 API, allowing many Windows applications to run. [1470.26] [1559]
- January 22
- Microsoft releases the DirectX 9.0 graphics library. [1559] [1774.49]
- January 23
- NEC introduces the VersaPro Tablet PC in Japan. It features 10.4-inch screen, Windows XP Tablet PC Edition operating system, 933 MHz Intel Pentium III processor, 256 MN RAM, 20 GB hard drive, 802.11b wireless communications. Weight is 2.2 pounds; size is 0.5 inches thick. Price is 296,000 yen (about US$2500) in Japan. [1559]
- January 25
- The Slammer worm (also called Sapphire or SQL Hell) begins spreading across the Internet, exploiting a flaw in Microsoft SQL Server 2000, infecting personal computers around the world. Within ten minutes, the worm has reached 90 percent of the Internet, infecting over 75,000 machines. Within another thirty minutes, one-fifth of Internet data packets are infected. [1724.26]
- January 27
- The Fox Broadcasting Company airs The Fairly Oddparents TV show in the US.
- A laptop computer is used, with a prominent green pear logo on the case.
- An Internet Web browser is used, called Internet Surfer.
[1934]
- Sony releases the Sony Clié SJ33 handheld computer in Japan and Hong Kong. It features Palm 4.1 OS, 66 MHz Motorola Dragonball Super VZ processor, 16 MB RAM, MP3 player, 65,536-color 320×320 pixel screen, rechargeable battery. Price is about US$318. [1559]
- January 28
- Apple Computer announces a new high-end Power Mac. It features dual 1.42 GHz PowerPC G4 processors, 512 MB RAM, 120 GB hard drive, 4X DVD SuperDrive, ATI Radeon 9000 Pro graphics card, 56 kbps modem, USB 1.1, Ethernet, Mac OS 10.2.3, FireWire 800, and iLife digital media suite. Price is US$2699. [1559]
- Apple Computer announces a new low-end Power Mac. It features 1 GHz PowerPC G4 processor, 256 MB RAM, 60 GB hard drive, CD-RW/DVD drive, 64 MB Nvidia GeForce 4MX graphics card, 56 kbps modem, USB 1.1, Ethernet, Mac OS 10.2.3, FireWire 800, and iLife digital media suite. Price is US$1499. [1559]
- Apple Computer announces a new midrange Power Mac. It features dual 1.25 GHz PowerPC G4 processors, 256 MB RAM, 80 GB hard drive, CD-RW/DVD drive, ATI Radeon 9000 Pro graphics card, 56 kbps modem, USB 1.1, Ethernet, Mac OS 10.2.3, FireWire 800, and iLife digital media suite. Price is US$1999. [1559]
- January (month)
- Top selling computer game in the USA for the month: SimCity 4. [2155]
- February 10
- Advanced Micro Devices releases the 2500+, 2800+, and 3000+ Athlon XP desktop processors. They feature 512 kB level 2 cache, 333 MHz system bus, 0.13-micron process, 101 mm2 die size. Model, speed, and price (in 1000-unit quantities) respectively: 2500+ 1.833 GHz, 2800+ 2.083 GHz, US$375, 3000+ 2.167 GHz US$588. [1470.32] [1559] [1774.32] [1775.8]
- February
- Microsoft acquires Connectix’s Virtual PC software line for the Macintosh and Windows. [1879.25] (Microsoft acquires Connectix [2180.32])
- February 20
- Lindows announces the Lindows Mobile PC portable computer. It features 12.1-inch screen, 933 MHz Via Technologies C3 processor, LindowsOS Linux operating system, 256 MB RAM, 20 GB hard drive, CompactFlash port, USB port, Ethernet, and FireWire ports. Price is US$799. [1559]
- February (month)
- Top selling computer game in the USA for the month: Command & Conquer: Generals. [2156.16]
- (month unknown)
- PC Magazine columnist John Dvorak predicts that Apple Computer will switch the processor of its computers to the Intel Itanium within the next 12-18 months. [1441.57]
- March 2
- The Fox Broadcasting Company airs The Simpsons TV show in the US. A personal computer appears, with integrated monitor and keyboard, and external floppy disk drive. [2104]
- March 6
- ATI announces three new graphics chips, Radeon 9800 (340 and 380 MHz), Radeon 9600, and Radeon 9200. [1559]
- At the Game Developers Conference in San Jose, California, Nvidia announces two new graphics chips, GeForce FX 5600, and GeForce FX 5200. [1559]
- In Utah, Caldera Systems (SCO Group) files a lawsuit against IBM, claiming IBM illegally used licensed Unix technology in its Linux software. SCO seeks US$1 billion in damages. If IBM does not meet SCO’s demands within 100 days, SCO threatens to revoke IBM’s Unix license, disrupting shipments of AIX. [1414.1] [1433.10] [2089.79] [2179.14] (March 7 [1437.4])
- March 9
- The Fox Broadcasting Company airs The Simpsons TV show in the US. A personal computer with system unit, monitor, and keyboard are used at an airport complaint desk. [2105]
- March 10
- Sony announces the Sony Clié PEG-TG50 handheld computer, to be available for sale later this month in the US. It features built-in keyboard, Bluetooth wireless connectivity, voice recorder, Palm OS 5 operating system, 320×320 backlit color screen. Price is about US$400; weight is 6.2 ounces; size is 4.9 x 2.8 x 0.6 inches. [1442.44] [1559]
- Sony announces the Sony Clié PEG-SJ33 Limited Edition handheld computer. It is available in orange or blue case. Price is US$300. [1559]
- Sony announces the Sony Clié PEG-SJ22 handheld computer, similar to and replacing the SJ30. Price is US$200. [1559]
- March 11
- Vector Capital announces it has signed an agreement with Microsoft to buy the company’s 23 million shares in Corel for about US$13 million. (Microsoft bought the shares in 2000 for US$135 million.) [1559]
- Toshiba Computer Systems announces the Pocket PC e750 handheld computer. It features 400 MHz Intel XScale PXA255 processor, 96 MB RAM, CompactFlash II slot, Secure Digital slot, built-in Wi-Fi wireless connectivity, integrated headphone/microphone jack. Price is US$599. [1559]
- March 12
- Intel releases Pentium-M processors based on the Centrino architecture. [1777.91] [2088.46] [2089.24]
- Notebook computer manufacturers announce the availability of models based on Intel’s Pentium-M processor. IBM releases the ThinkPad X31 and ThinkPad T40 portable computers. [1776.87] [2089.24]
- Advanced Micro Devices introduces twelve new Athlon XP-M mobile processors, 25 to 72 watts power usage, up to 2.13 GHz speed. [1442.25] [1777]
- March 13
- The National Broadcasting Company airs the Friends TV show in the USA.
- A laptop computer is used to edit a Web site.
- Someone says “I’m on my way to buy some PhotoShop software…”.
[2345]
- March
- Intel announces availability of the PXA255 processor, at 400 MHz speed, 200 MHz bus, 1.3-volt operation. [1777.90]
- March 16
- The Fox Broadcasting Company airs The Simpsons TV show in the US. A personal computer with a camera mounted on the monitor replaces a person at the dinner table. [2106]
- March 18
- Apple Computer removes the original CRT-based iMac from its main online store, effectively discontinuing the product. [1559]
- March 24
- Intel begins providing samples of 200-400 MHz XScale processors to handheld device makers. The processors incorporate StrataFlash memory, allowing smaller handheld computers with improved battery life. [1559]
- March 30
- The Fox Broadcasting Company airs The Simpsons TV show in the US.
- A portable laptop computer is used to access the Internet.
- A character, while watching a meteor shower at night, comments: “This is even better than our screen saver”.
[2107]
- March (month)
- Top selling computer game in the USA for the month: Shadowbane. [2216.20]
- January-March
- Shipments of handheld computers worldwide during January to March: 2.46 million. [1559]
- Total unit sales of notebook computers in Europe from January to March: 2.6 million. [2109.54]
- Total shipments of personal computers worldwide during January to March: 34.6 million. [1716.26]
- Market share of Intel-compatible microprocessors during January-March: Advanced Micro Devices 16.6%. [1559]
- (month unknown)
- Apple Computer releases another iMac model. It features 1 GHz PowerPC G4 processor, 1 GB DDR266 SDRAM, 80 GB hard drive, CD-R/RW and DVD-R/RW SuperDrive, modem, Ethernet, 1440×900 resolution 17-inch widescreen display, Mac OS X v10.2, Nvidia GeForce4 MX graphics processor with 64 MB DDR RAM. Price is US$1799. [1777.25]
- April 1
- Intel releases the 2.3 and 2.4 GHz Celeron processor, for low-price computers. Prices are US$117 and US$127, respectively, in 1000-unit quantities. [1559]
- April
- Palm introduces the Tungsten C handheld computer. It features integrated Wi-Fi (802.11b), 64 MB RAM, 400 MHz Intel processor, 320×320 transflective TFT display, Palm OS 5.2.1, and integrated business applications. Price is about CDN$749 in Canada. [1559] [1848.21]
- Apple Computer releases Mac OS X 10.2.5 operating system, with several minor updates and additions. It is available as a free download, or for US$19.95 on CD-ROM. [1559]
- April 16
- Corel releases the WordPerfect Office 11 software suite. It includes WordPerfect word processing, Quattro spreadsheet, and Presentations slide-show software. Price is US$299, or US$149 for an upgrade from a previous version. [1442.38] [1559] [1725.60]
- Intel releases the 2.5 GHz Pentium 4-M processor, for portable computers. Price is US$562 in 1000-unit quantities. [1559]
- Intel releases the 2.2 GHz Celeron processor, for low-price computers. Price is US$149 in 1000-unit quantities. [1559]
- Intel releases the 1.26 GHz Celeron processor, for mininotebook computers. Price is US$107 in 1000-unit quantities. [1559]
- April 18
- Intel halts the release of the 3 GHz Pentium 4 with 800 MHz bus, due to an anomoly. [1777.7]
- April 21
- Intel releases the 3 GHz Pentium 4 processor with 800 MHz front-side bus. Price is US$417 in 1000-unit quantities. The previously discovered problem is resolved by a software patch. [1599.8]
- April 22
- Apple Computer releases updated iBook computers. They feature 800 or 900 MHz G3 processor, 12.1- or 14.1-inch LCD screen, 30 or 40 GB hard drive. [1908.200]
- Advanced Micro Devices releases the Opteron processor. It features 32-bit and 64-bit instruction operation, without requiring 32-bit code to be re-written. [1559] (April 21 [1695.20]) (March [2321.34])
- Advanced Micro Devices releases the Athlon XP 2500+ processor. Price is US$124 in 1000-unit quantities. [1599.8]
- April 27
- The Fox Broadcasting Company airs The Simpsons TV show in the US. A character takes a laptop computer to a dude ranch, and asks if there is an Internet connection. [2108]
- April (month)
- Top selling computer game in the USA for the month: Shadowbane. [2216.20]
- (month unknown)
- Microsoft begins the Windows CE Shared Source Premium Licensing Program, allowing developers to view, tweak, improve, and market their changes to all of the source code. Previously only about half of the source code was available, and they could not release their changes. [1777.9]
- Palm announces the Zire 71 handheld computer. It features 144 MHz ARM processor, 16 MB RAM, 65,000-color 320×320 pixel screen, digital camera, audio player, Secure Digital slot, Palm OS 5.2.1 operating system. Price is about US$300; weight is 5.2 ounces. [1716.48]
- May 6
- Apple Computer releases updated eMac computers. They feature 800 – 1 GHz G4 processor, 40 or 80 GB hard drive, 17-inch monitor. [1908.200]
- May 11
- The Fox Broadcasting Company airs The Simpsons TV show in the US. A personal computer appears in an electronics store. [2147]
- May 13
- Advanced Micro Devices releases the Athlon XP 3200+ desktop processor. It features 400 MHz system bus. Price is US$464 in 1000-unit quantities. [1559] (May 26 [1599.8])
- May
- Corel announces it is dropping support for the Bryce graphics software. [2226.18]
- Apple Computer launches the Power Macintosh G5 desktop computer. It features IBM PowerPC 970 processor, and Mac OS X operating system. [1863.18]
- Infogrames Entertainment changes its name to Atari. [1559] [2605.5]
- May 19
- Microsoft agrees to license SCO Group’s Unix technology. [2091.31]
- May 21
- SCO Group officially drops its old name Caldera International. [1559]
- Intel releases the 2.4, 2.6, and 2.8 GHz Pentium 4 processor with 800 MHz front-side bus. Prices are US$180, US$228, and US$278 respectively in 1000-unit quantities. [1599.8] [1788.8]
- May 26
- Palm announces it has sold 1 million Zire handheld computers. [1559]
- Advanced Micro Devices releases the Athlon XP 3200+ processor. It features 333 MHz front-side bus. Price is US$464 in 1000-unit quantities. [1788.8]
- Advanced Micro Devices releases the Athlon XP 3000+ desktop processor. It features 400 MHz system bus. Price is US$280 in 1000-unit quantities. [1599.8]
- May
- At the Windows Hardware Engineering Conference, Microsoft demonstrates a prototype computer code-named Athens, designed for voice, video, and text-messaging applications. [1549.23]
- May 29
- Microsoft and America Online settle their private antitrust lawsuit, with Microsoft paying US$750 million and granting a royalty-free seven-year license to use Internet Explorer with America Online’s client software. [1433.3] [1788.9] [2648.40]
- (month unknown)
- Palm releases the Tungsten W handheld computer. It features phone, wireless Web browsing, keyboard, Palm OS 4.1, 33 MHz Motorola Dragonball VZ processor, 16 MB RAM, SecureDigital slot, email client, 320×320 TFT color display. Price is US$549; size is 4.8 x 3.07 x 0.65 inches; weight is 6.4 ounces. [1788.36]
- Palm releases the Zire 71 handheld computer. It features 640×480 resolution camera, media player, Palm OS 5.2.1, 320×320 color display, 144 MHz processor, Graffiti 2 software. Price is US$299; size is 4.5 x 2.9 x 0.67 inches; weight is 5.3 ounces. [1788.36]
- June 4
- Palm announces it will acquire Handspring. [1559]
- June
- The IEEE ratifies the 802.11g specification. [1788.88]
- June 6
- Corel announces it has agreed to be acquired by Vector Capital, for about US$98 million. [1559]
- June 11
- MacSoft / Destineer releases the Unreal Tournament 2003 game for the Macintosh in the USA. Price is US$49.99. [2214.38]
- Intel releases 2.4, 2.66, 2.8, and 3.06 GHz mobile Pentium 4 processors. Each features SpeedStep battery-saving technology, and 533 MHz system bus. Prices range from US$186 to US$417 in 1000-unit quantities. [1559]
- Intel releases 2.2, 2.3, and 2.4 GHz mobile Celeron processors. Prices range from US$74 to US$84 in 1000-unit quantities. [1559]
- Intel releases the 2.6 GHz Pentium 4-M processor. Price is US$562 in 1000-unit quantities. [1559]
- Intel releases the 2.4 GHz low power mobile Celeron processor. Price is US$149 in 1000-unit quantities. [1559]
- June 13
- Linus Torvalds announces the release of the kernel of Linux 2.4.21. New features include support for the Advanced Micro Devices Opteron processor. [1559]
- June
- Microsoft announces that it is ending support for Internet Explorer on the Macintosh. [1559]
- Quark releases the QuarkXPress 6.0 software for the Mac OS X. [2180.15]
- June 16
- Sony Electronics introduces the Clie PEG-NX80V handheld computer. It features Palm OS 5.0, 200 MHz processor, digital audio player, keyboard, 32 MB RAM, 1.3 mega-pixel camera, and 320×480 pixel color screen. Price is US$599.99. [1559]
- Sony Electronics introduces the Clie PEG-NX73V handheld computer. It feature Palm OS 5.0, 200 MHz processor, digital audio player, keyboard, 16 MB RAM, 0.31 mega-pixel camera, and 320×480 pixel color screen. Price is US$499.99. [1559]
- June
- Palm and Handspring announce plans for Palm Solutions Group to acquire Handspring, after Palm spins off PalmSource. [1788.88]
- June 23
- Microsoft announces the new name for its mobile computing operating system: Windows Mobile 2003. [1846.10] [1847.4] [1559]
- Intel releases the 3.2 GHz Pentium 4 processor. It features Hyper-Threading, and system bus up to 800 MHz. Price is US$637 in 1000 unit quantities. [1559] [1599.8] [1788.8]
- In San Jose, California, Apple Computer holds its Worldwide Developers’ Conference, over five days. Apple Computer announces new Power Mac G5 computers with Power PC 970 processors operating at up to 2 GHz. The computers are scheduled to be available in August. Steve Jobs also shows a new version of the Mac OS X 10.3, code-named Panther. [1559] [1879.24] [1880.20] [1885.22] [1903.23] [2092.38] [2180.20] [2181.71] [2605.303]
- June 25
- Intel releases 2.5 and 2.6 GHz Celeron processors. They feature 218 kB cache, and 400 MHz system bus. Prices are US$89 (2.5 GHz) and US$103 (2.6 GHz) in 1000-unit quantities. [1559]
- June 26
- Apple Computer releases updated Power Mac G4 computers. They feature single or dual 1.25 GHz G4 processors, single 80 GB to dual 160 GB hard drives. [1908.200]
- Microsoft releases Windows 2000 Service Pack 4. New features include support for USB 2.0 and wireless Internet connections. [1435.16] [1559]
- June (month)
- Top selling computer game in the USA for the month: Flight Simulator 2004: Century of Flight. [1567.188]
- April-June
- Market share of PC processor shipments during April to June: Intel 82.6%. [1559]
- Total unit sales of notebook computers in Europe from April to June: 2.6 million. [2109.54]
- Market share of personal computer shipments worldwide during April to June: Dell 17.2%, Hewlett-Packard 15.7%. [1559]
- (month unknown)
- The Industrial Designers Society of America announces its Industrial Design Excellence Awards for 2003. Bronze award: Hewlett-Packard for the Compaq TC 1000 computer, a desktop computer that transforms into a notebook. [2092.68]
- IBM releases the ThinkPad T41 notebook computer. It features Windows XP Professional, 1.4-1.7 GHz Pentium M processor, 30-60 GB hard drive, 256 MB to 1 GB RAM, CD-RW/DVD drive, 14.1-inch LCD display. The hard drive incorporates Active Protection System to quickly park the read-write head when a fall is detected. Weight is 4.5-5.4 pounds; price is US$1700-3700. [1602.39]
- IBM releases the ThinkPad R50 notebook computer. It features Windows XP Professional, 1.4-1.7 GHz Pentium M processor, 30-60 GB hard drive, 256-512 MB RAM, CD-RW/DVD drive, 14.1- to 15.1-inch LCD display. The hard drive incorporates Active Protection System to quickly park the read-write head when a fall is detected. Weight is 6.3-6.8 pounds; price is US$1900-2800. [1602.39]
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