Computer history - 1987
Major computer events in 1987
IBM introduced the PS/2 personal computer with improved graphics, a 3.5-inch diskette drive, a proprietary bus to help prevent clones, and a bidirectional 8-bit port.
CompuServe introduced the GIF (graphics interchange format) standard and images in 1987.
Development of ImageMagick began in 1987.
IBM introduced VGA (video graphics adapter) in 1987. The newer standard would replace EGA (enhanced graphics adapter).
Texas Instruments developed Digital Light Processing in 1987.
New computer products and services introduced in 1987
The AdLib sound card and the first mass-market PC (personal computer) sound card were released in 1987.
Hypercard was introduced by Apple in 1987.
Microsoft introduced Microsoft Works in 1987.
Microsoft released Word 3 for Mac in 1987.
The ISO 9000 set of standards was introduced in 1987.
Apple introduced the Newton platform in 1987.
Dolby AC-1 was introduced in 1987.
Microsoft and IBM released OS/2 1.0 in 1987.
IBM released a new expert systems development package called KnowledgeTool.
IBM introduced the IBM 4732 Personal Banking Machine, which replaced IBM's previous generation automated teller machine.
IBM announced the IBM 3892 document processor.
The Mac SE was introduced at $2,900 in 1987.
The first version of Adobe Illustrator was released for the Apple Macintosh in January 1987.
MS-DOS 3.3 was released in April 1987.
Leisure Suit Larry was released for the PC on July 5, 1987. The game was geared towards a more mature audience, because it centers around a character that attempts to seduce attractive women. The game's popularity and success resulted in seven games being released between 1987 and 1996, despite its questionable content and objectives.
John McAfee created VirusScan, one of the first antivirus programs, and later helped create the McAfee company.
IBM developed a suite of antivirus tools. The effort led to establishing of IBM's HICL (High Integrity Computing Laboratory). HICL went on to pioneer the science of theoretical and observational computer virus epidemiology.
IBM introduced MCA (Micro Channel Architecture) in 1987.
IBM released the IBM 3090 Model 600E, a new top-of-the-line processor. It features six processing units and can deliver up to 60 percent more computing power than the company's largest previous model.
IBM introduced Systems Application Architecture, designed to make application programs look and work the same across the entire range of the company's computing systems.
OLED (organic light-emitting diode) was introduced.
The SPARC (Scalar Processor Architecture) processor was introduced by Sun in 1987.
Andrew Tanenbaum released the MINIX operating system in 1987.
Microsoft introduced Windows 2.0 on December 9, 1987.
The first Final Fantasy role-playing video game was released on December 18, 1987, by Square Enix. Originally released for the Nintendo gaming console, a sequel was later released for the PC and PlayStation 2 in 2002. The Final Fantasy game franchise became very successful and popular, selling over 100 million copies between the original and all sequels. Its success earned it seven records in the Guinness World Records Gamer's Edition 2008.
Larry Wall released the first version of Perl on December 18, 1987, version 1.0.
Intel released the 80387DX mathematical coprocessor.
Computer and technology-related events in 1987
Steve Wozniak ended his employment with Apple on February 6, 1987.
Robert Noyce was awarded the National Medal of Technology.
The first SXSW (South by Southwest) festival was held in March.
The first version of Microsoft Excel - version 2.0 for Microsoft Windows was released in 1987.
The first ARM (Advanced RISC Machine) processor computer, the Acorn Archimedes, was released.
The first e-mail from China was sent to its connection in Germany on September 20, 1987.
On November 22, 1987, a Chicago PBS affiliate WTTW-11 TV broadcast got hacked by a person wearing a Max Headroom mask.
The Intel 80387dx was released in 1987, two years after the first i386 processors.
The LPX (low profile extension) motherboard form factor was developed by Western Digital in 1987.
The Oberon System multitasking operating system was released in 1987.
Trident Microsystems was founded in 1987.
VHDL (VHSIC Hardware Description Language) was used to develop and verify hardware and was adopted as IEEE (Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers) 1076 standard in 1987.
Computer companies and organizations founded in 1987
Realtek was founded in October 1987.
A4Tech was founded in 1987.
ALi was founded in 1987.
Apogee was founded in 1987. Apogee was well known for its computer games and the company that introduced shareware.
Avid was established in 1987.
Brodxent was founded in 1987.
CMD Technology was founded in 1987.
CNetUSA was founded in 1987.
Elitegroup Computer Systems was established in 1987.
Huawei was founded in 1987.
Kingston was founded in 1987.
Konexx was founded in 1987.
Maxdata was founded in 1987.
Mecer was founded in 1987.
Minicom Advanced Systems was founded in 1987.
Oak Technology was founded in 1987.
Right Hemisphere was formed in 1987 in Auckland, New Zealand.
The company Serif was founded in 1987.
Silicom was founded in 1987 by Avi Eizenman.
Silicon Integrated Systems was founded in 1987.
SiS was founded in 1987.
Sonic Solutions was founded in 1987.
STMicroelectronics was founded in 1987.
Techsmith was founded in 1987.
The non-profit international network CompuMentor was founded in 1987. The organization was later renamed to TechSoup.
TSMC was founded in 1987.
VIA Technologies was founded in 1987.
ViewSonic was founded in 1987.
Computer company events in 1987
AMD and Monolithic Memories Inc. agreed to merge in April 1987.
IBM sends clone manufacturers letters demanding retroactive licensing fees.
Microsoft acquired Forethought on June 29, 1987, the developer of what we know today as Microsoft PowerPoint.
Microsoft transferred its ownership of the Xenix operating system to SCO in 1987.
Microsoft shares hit $100 per share in 1987.
Centronics was purchased by Genicom in 1987.
Novell acquired Softcraft Inc., the developers of Btrieve, in 1987.
Internet domains that came online in 1987
The domain apple.com came online on February 19, 1987.
The domain cisco.com came online on May 14, 1987.
Computer-related TV shows and movies released in 1987
Star Trek: The Next Generation TV show premiers for the first time on September 28, 1987.
Computer pioneers born in 1987
Alan Schaaf was born on October 21, 1987.
Computer pioneer deaths in 1987
Russel Ohl passed away in March 1987 (Age: 89).
Walter Brattain passed away on October 13, 1987 (Age: 85).