bill gates

microsoft timeline

Period: Jan 1, 1954 to Dec 31, 2007

microsoft

Oct 28, 1955

Born on Oct. 28, 1955, Gates grew up in Seattle with his two sisters. Their father, William H. Gates II, is a Seattle attorney. Their late mother, Mary Gates, was a schoolteacher, University of Washington regent, and chairwoman of United Way International. Gates attended public elementary school and the private Lakeside School. There, he discovered his interest in software and began programming computers at age 13. In 1973, Gates entered Harvard University as a freshman, where he lived down the

microsoft

Jan 1, 1979

Microsoft moves from Albuquerque, N.M., to the Seattle area.

microsoft

Aug 12, 1981

IBM introduces the PC, running on MS-DOS

microsoft

Nov 19, 1985

Microsoft ships its first version of Windows.

microsoft

Mar 13, 1986

Microsoft’s stock goes public.

microsoft

Jul 22, 1994

U.S. and European antitrust investigations settled; Microsoft agrees to change contracts with PC makers. Settlement is rejected in federal court, then reinstated in 1995.

microsoft

Nov 27, 1995

Microsoft releases Internet Explorer 2.0, challenging Netscape’s Navigator Web browser.

mirosoft

Jan 13, 2000

Gates steps aside as CEO, giving the post to Ballmer, remains chairman and becomes chief software architect.

microsoft

Jun 23, 2003

Microsoft announces Windows Mobile for handheld computers and phones.

microsoft

May 12, 2005

Microsoft shows off new Xbox 360; console hits shelves in November.

micrsoft

Nov 14, 2006

Microsoft introduces Zune music player.