Computer history - 1983
Major computer events in 1983
Apple released the Lisa computer on January 19, 1983, the first commercial computer with a GUI (graphical user interface).
Bjarne Stroustrup released the C++ programming language.
The video game crash started in 1983 and resulted in a 97% drop in game sales until 1985.
Fred Cohen in 1983 coined the term virus in a 1984 research paper as "a computer program that can affect other computer programs by modifying them in such a way as to include a (possibly evolved) copy of itself."
New computer products and services introduced in 1983
Lotus introduced Lotus 1-2-3, a spreadsheet program derived from VisiCalc, on January 26, 1983.
Compaq introduced the first 100% IBM-compatible computer, the "Compaq Portable" in March 1983.
The Famicom home computer and video game console was released by Nintendo in Japan on July 15, 1983.
AT&T released its first version of System V.
The first version of Microsoft Word, Word 1.0, was released.
Wang Laboratories created the SIMM (single inline memory module).
Apple introduced the ImageWriter printer in December 1983.
Franklin Computer released its Franklin Ace 1200 computer.
GW-BASIC was created in 1983.
BSD (Berkeley Software Distribution) 4.2 was released and introduced pseudo terminals.
Bubble memory was first used in the Sharp PC-5000, a PC-compatible laptop released in 1983.
IBM announced the IBM System/36, a business computer with data and word processing, business color graphics, and office management functions.
Iomega introduced the Bernoulli drive in 1983.
Novell introduced Netware, the first NOS (network operating system).
The Apple IIe was introduced. The computer contains 64 kilobytes of RAM (random-access memory), one megahertz 6502 processor, included Applesoft BASIC, and sold for $1,400.
Tandy, Epson, and NEC all sell notebook computers. However, only the Tandys model 100 became popular because of its low price of $499.
MS-DOS 2.0 was released in March 1983 with utilities like fdisk.
Sega released its first home console, the SG-1000 in Japan on July 15, 1983.
Quicken was released in 1983.
1983 marked the introduction of the first 3.5-inch hard drive, developed by Rodime. It had a storage capacity of 10 MB.
True BASIC was created and is a compiled, structured language. It doesn't require line numbers, as the original BASIC did, and includes the advanced control structures necessary for structured programming.
A new IBM research technique, scanning tunneling microscopy, a three-dimensional images of the atomic surfaces of silicon, gold, nickel, and other solids for the first time.
IBM introduced the 3430 magnetic tape subsystem.
RS-485 was introduced in 1983.
IBM released the 3290 gas panel display station.
IBM announced the 5550 small business computer for Japan.
IBM released the 4370 Personal Banking Machine, which cashes checks, dispenses exact change, and accepts check deposits without deposit slips or envelopes.
IBM introduced two new models of the 4300 computer series, the 4361 and 4381.
IBM released the DB2 (Database 2), a versatile software system.
Computer and technology-related events in 1983
ARPANET (Advanced Research Projects Agency Network) standardized TCP/IP after transitioning from NCP (network control protocol) to TCP (transmission control protocol) on January 1, 1983. The completed NCP/TCP transition plan was first documented in November 1981 in RFC801 by Jon Postel.
Apple released the Apple IIe with a 1.023 MHz processor, 64 KB of memory, and the ProDOS operating system in January 1983.
The IBM XT was introduced on March 8, 1983.
The first Apple WWDC (Worldwide Developer Conference) was held.
Paul Mockapetris and Jon Postel introduced DNS (domain name system). The original specifications for DNS were in RFC 882 and RFC 883, published in November 1983.
Lian Li was founded in 1983.
Paul Allen left Microsoft in 1983.
Phoenix developed its first commercial BIOS (basic input/output system) in 1983.
The 414s, a group of hackers, were caught by the FBI in 1983.
Shuttle Inc. was founded in 1983.
THX was established in 1983.
More than 10 million computers were used in the United States in 1983.
The first edition of the PC World Magazine appeared in newsstands in March 1983 and covered everything dealing with the PC (personal computer).
In 1983, the QIC (quarter-inch cartridge) standard became the first tape drive standard.
Microsoft announced the MSX computer architecture on June 16, 1983.
Soviet jets shot down a Korean civilian airlines flight 007 flying from New York to Seoul and killed all 269 passengers and crew on September 1, 1983. As a result of this mistake, U.S. President Ronald Reagan ordered the U.S. military to make GPS (Global Positioning System) available for civilian use.
Richard Stallman first announced GNU (GNU's Not Unix) on September 27, 1983.
IBM announced the PCjr (PC junior) computer on November 1, 1983.
MILNET (military network) was split from the ARPANET in 1983, leaving the ARPANET to be used for academic research and public use.
Microsoft Windows was announced on November 10, 1983.
The largest BBS (bulletin board system) Exec-PC went online on November 28, 1983.
The TIME magazine nominated the personal computer as the "Machine of the Year" on December 26, 1982, the first non-human ever nominated.
Michael Muuss released the ping utility.
Motorola released the DynaTAC 8000x cell phone in 1983, the first cell phone available on the commercial market. It provided 30 minutes of talk time and cost $3,995.
Borland released the Turbo Pascal programming language.
IBM VSE/SP version 1 was released in 1983.
Computer companies and organizations founded in 1983
Wacom was founded on July 12, 1983.
AT&T was founded on October 5, 1983.
Infogrames Entertainment was founded in 1983.
Belkin was founded in 1983.
Borland was founded in 1983.
Cabletron Systems was founded in 1983.
Canopus was founded in 1983.
Chicony was founded in 1983.
Clevo was founded in 1983.
Enterasys was founded in March 1983.
Envision was founded in 1983.
Everex was founded in 1983.
Genius was founded on November 3, 1983.
IAB (Internet Activities Board) was founded in 1983.
Intuit was founded by Scott Cook and Tom Proulx in 1983.
Interplay was founded in 1983.
Jabra was founded in 1983.
Jaton was founded in 1983.
KTI Networks was founded in 1983.
Lattice Semiconductor was founded in 1983.
Macrovision was founded in 1983.
Mindscape was founded in 1983.
Planar Systems, Inc. was founded in 1983.
Targus was founded in 1983.
Tseng Labs was founded in 1983 by Jack Hsiao Nan Tseng.
Ultima Electronics Corp. (Artec) was founded in 1983.
Zoran was founded in 1983.
Computer company events in 1983
John Scully became Apple's CEO (chief executive officer) on April 8, 1983.
Novell Data Systems was incorporated in 1983 as Novell Inc.
Computer-related TV shows and movies released in 1983
Star Wars Episode VI: Return of the Jedi was released on May 25, 1983.
The movie WarGames, about a fictional high schooler who hacks into a military supercomputer using a wardialer, was released on June 3, 1983.
Computer pioneers born in 1983
Daniel Ek was born on February 21, 1983.
Drew Houston was born on March 4, 1983.
Alexis Ohanian was born on April 24, 1983.
Edward Snowden was born on June 21, 1983.
Hector Monsegur was born on October 13, 1983.
Justin Kan was born in 1983.
Computer pioneer deaths in 1983
Laszlo Kozma passed away on November 9, 1983 (Age: 80).