The word "Microsoft" consists of "microcomputer" and "software" The source of "micro" is microcomputer, and "soft" is the abbreviation of software. It was named by Bill Gates.
A brief history of Microsoft's development in the United States
1975 Bill Gates dropped out of Harvard University at the age of 19, and together with his high school alumnus paul allen, he sold Basic (beginner's universal symbol instruction code) and translation training. Peggy, which means "all-round symbolic instruction code for beginners", is a programming language specially designed for beginners. When Gates was still studying at Harvard University, they compiled a language for MITS Altair. Later, Gates and Allen moved to Albuquerque and founded Microsoft in a local hotel room. From 65438 to 0977, Microsoft moved to Bellevue, where it developed PC programming software. 1979, MITS went bankrupt, and Microsoft continued to develop mainly by modifying its basic procedures. At the beginning of the company, it mainly sold basic interpreters. Computer enthusiasts at that time often developed small BASIC interpreters themselves and distributed them for free. However, because Microsoft is one of the few commercial BASIC interpreters, many home computer manufacturers use Microsoft BASIC interpreters in their systems. With the rapid growth of Microsoft BASIC interpreter, manufacturers began to adopt the syntax and other functions of Microsoft BASIC to ensure compatibility with existing Microsoft products. It is precisely because of this cycle that Microsoft BASIC has gradually become a recognized market standard, and the company has gradually occupied the whole market. Since then, they have tried to enter the home computer market by designing the MSX home computer standard (but failed). 1980, IBM chose Microsoft to write key operating system software for its new PC, which was a major turning point in the company's development. Due to the tight time and complicated program, Microsoft bought the right to use an operating system QDOS from Seattle programmer Tim Patterson for $50,000, and provided it to IBM after partial rewriting, and named it Microsoft DOS (Disk Operating System). The popularity of IBM-PC makes MS-DOS a great success, because other PC manufacturers want to be compatible with IBM. MS-DOS was authorized by many companies, so it became the standard operating system of PC in 1980s. 1983, Microsoft signed a contract with IBM to provide a basic interpreter and an operating system for IBM PC. By 1984, Microsoft's sales exceeded 1 billion dollars. Subsequently, Microsoft continued to develop software for computers of IBM, Apple and Radio Equipment Company. But with the growing strength of Microsoft, Microsoft and IBM have become competitors in many ways. 199 1 year, due to the conflict of interests, IBM and Apple dissolved their cooperation with Microsoft, but the cooperation between IBM and Microsoft never stopped, and the two companies maintained a complex relationship of competition and cooperation. Microsoft's products include file system software [MS-DOS and Xenix:Xenix is a personal computer version of Unix operating system, which was developed by Microsoft for Intel processor in 1979, and can also be executed on DEPDP-11+0 or Apple Lisa computer. XENIX inherits the characteristics of UNIX, has a multi-person and multi-task working environment, and conforms to the interface specification (SVID) of UNIX System V, operating environment software (windows series of Windows system), application software MS-Office, multimedia and computer games, books about computers and CDROM products. 1992, the company acquired Fox Company and entered the database software market. From 65438 to 0983, paul allen left Microsoft because of Hodgkin's disease, and later set up his own company. Allen owns 65,438+05% shares in Microsoft and still attends the board meeting. 1986, the company went public. Gates kept 45% of the company's shares, which made him the first billionaire in 1987 personal computer industry. In 1996, his total personal assets have exceeded1800 million dollars. 1997 reached $34 billion. 1998 broke through the 50 billion mark and became the richest man in the world. Windows operating system (translated as "Windows" in Chinese) is the most famous product of Microsoft, occupying the desktop of almost all personal computers in the world.
In the late 1980s and early 1990s, Microsoft introduced Windows 3.x system based on its MS-DOS operating system, and made a favorable attempt. 1995, Microsoft launched Windows 95 operating system independent of DOS system, which quickly occupied the global PC market. 1998, Microsoft introduced the Windows 98 operating system, which is one of the most successful operating systems in its history. On this basis, Microsoft launched the second version (SE version) and the Millennium version (ME version) of Windows 98, followed by Windows 2000, Windows XP, Windows Vista, Windows 7 and the latest version of Windows 8 launched by Microsoft.
In the field of server application, Microsoft first introduced Windows NT series operating system, and then introduced Windows 2000 series operating system, Windows server 2003 series operating system and the latest Windows server 2008 series operating system.
In 200 1 year, Microsoft combined the advantages of Windows 98 and Windows 2000 series to launch the Windows XP operating system, which means "experience". XP system emphasizes security and stability, and integrates Microsoft's own firewall products in Windows operating system for the first time. It also extends the functions of multimedia applications. XP system mainly includes home edition and professional edition, in which the professional edition retains the security features such as user management and group policy in Windows 2000, making it easier to use. Windows XP has once again become a classic in the history of software development.
In 2007, Microsoft officially launched the Windows Vista operating system, and "Vista" means "prospect". Vista system introduces new security measures for user account control, including three-dimensional desktop and sidebar. , make the interface more gorgeous. Practical functions such as parental control are also added. Vista has seven versions. However, because Vista takes up too many system resources, the market response is not good after its launch. The main users are concentrated in the OEM field, and most people are still willing to use the classic XP system.
In order to save the market, Microsoft is brewing a new generation of Windows 7 system, and the official version has been listed, which will be Microsoft's "life-saving straw"!
In the field of professional applications, following Windows 2000, Microsoft introduced WindowsServer 2003 and Windows Server 2008.
There is a saying in the IT software industry: "Never do what Microsoft wants to do". Visible Microsoft's great potential has penetrated into all aspects of the software industry, pervasive and invincible.
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