Computer history - 1984

Updated: 05/06/2024 by Computer Hope

Major computer events in 1984

The famous Apple "1984" commercial aired during Super Bowl XVIII on January 22, 1984. It introduced the Apple Macintosh computer, which utilizes a graphical user interface instead of needing to type in commands. In six months sales of the computer reached 100,000.

The 3.5-inch floppy diskette was introduced and became an industry standard.

Chuck Hull invented the 3D printer in 1984.

Common Lisp was introduced in 1984.

Gene Dolgoff created the first digital projector in 1984.

Fujio Masuoka invented flash memory, which was released by Toshiba in 1984.

The first desktop laser printer, the HP (Hewlett-Packard) LaserJet, was introduced in May 1984 for $3,500. The printer popularized laser printers by making them more affordable.

New computer products and services introduced in 1984

Docutel/Olivetti introduced the Olivetti PC (personal computer), compatible with the IBM PC, on January 3, 1984.

Tom Jennings started FidoNet in 1984.

Charles W. Hull developed the first 3D printer in 1984.

Hitachi announced it had developed the first memory chip capable of holding 1 MB on January 5th.

IBM's AT (Advanced Technology) computer was introduced in 1984.

DEC (Digital Equipment Corporation) introduced ULTRIX in 1984.

IBM PCD (PC Division) introduced its first portable computer, the IBM Portable, weighing 30 pounds.

IBM announced the fabrication of experimental one-million-bit memory chips. Two years later, the chips entered IBM's product lineup as part of the IBM 3090.

The APPN (Advanced Peer-To-Peer Networking) architecture, soon to be widely used by mid-range systems, was developed by IBM researchers. It allows individual computers to talk to one another without a central server.

The game Tetris was released in the USSR on June 6, 1984.

Fox Software FoxBASE was introduced in 1984.

Apple AppleTalk networking protocol was introduced in 1984.

Dhrystone was developed in 1984.

Hewlett-Packard released PCL (Printer Command Language) with the ThinkJet 2225 inkjet printer in 1984.

The first version of the HP-UX (Hewlett-Packard Unix) operating system was introduced in 1984.

The IBM Full AT motherboard was introduced in August 1984.

Microsoft introduced MS-DOS 3.0 for the IBM PC AT and MS-DOS 3.1 for networks in 1984.

The Tandy 1000 personal computer was introduced and became the best-selling IBM-compatible computer of the year.

IBM introduced the EGA (Enhanced Graphics Adapter) video card with higher resolution, more colors, and a quicker response than previous video cards.

IBM announced the 3480 Magnetic Tape Subsystem, which doubles the speed at which tape units transfer data. The industry's most advanced magnetic tape system, the 3480, introduced a new generation of tape drives that replace the familiar tape reel with an easy-to-handle cartridge.

IBM announced the 4248 impact printer, the fastest to date.

IBM introduced the IBM Office Systems Family, complementary programs for IBM personal computers.

The KoalaPad, the first graphics tablet for home computers, was released in 1984.

Sierra released the beginning of the greatest adventure computer gaming series, Kings Quest 1: Quest for the Crown, to the public in 1984.

MMS (Multimedia Message Service) was invented in 1984.

X Window System began development in 1984.

Computer and technology-related events in 1984

On January 4, 1984, Netherlands Antilles issued a 45-cent postage stamp of a computer making a newspaper.

Cult of the Dead Cow was formed in Lubbock, Texas.

The MUD (Multi-User Dungeon) MAD became the first global MUD in 1984 and runs across BITNET (Because It's Time NETwork).

Bill Gates was featured on the cover of TIME magazine.

ASN.1 was first defined in 1984.

The Computer Museum, sometimes called the Boston Computer Museum, opened in downtown Boston.

University of Southern California professor Fred Cohen created alarm when he warned the public about computer viruses in his Computer Virus - Theory and Experiments paper.

The term cyberspace was first used and coined by William Gibson in his book Neuromancer.

Steve Jobs and Steve Wozniak were awarded the National Medal of Technology.

The Yellow Book of CD-ROM (Compact Disc Read-Only Memory) standards were written.

The United States introduced the Comprehensive Crime Control Act on October 12, 1984. This act was amended several times to help prevent and protect users against computer fraud.

ISA (Industry Standard Architecture) was expanded to 16-bit capability in 1984.

ULSI (Ultra-Large-Scale Integration) chips began being developed.

The first IOCCC (Internet Obfuscated C Code Contest) was held in 1984.

IBM introduced the Token Ring in 1984.

The first wireless mouse was named the Logitech Metaphor, invented in 1984.

X.400 was originally published in 1984 by CCITT and later re-written in 1988 jointly by ISO and CCITT.

Computer companies and organizations founded in 1984

Dell Computers was founded on May 3, 1984, in Austin, Texas.

SETI (Search for ExtraTerrestrial Intelligence) was founded on November 20, 1984.

Albatron was founded in 1984.

Artecon was founded in 1984.

Atmel was founded in 1984.

Babbage's was founded in 1984 and became GameStop.

BenQ was founded in 1984.

Best Data was established in 1984.

CDW was founded in 1984 by Michael Krasny.

Cirrus was established in 1984.

Cisco was founded in 1984.

CyberMax was founded in 1984.

Egghead Software was founded in 1984.

EICON was founded in 1984.

ESS Technologies was founded in 1984.

Gainward was founded in 1984.

Genoa Systems was founded in 1984.

Guillemot was founded in 1984.

Lenovo was founded in 1984.

NTI was founded in 1984.

Primax was founded in 1984.

Prodigy was founded in 1984.

Sceptre Inc. was founded in 1984.

Qualstar was founded in 1984.

Quantex was founded in 1984.

RIM (Research In Motion) was founded in 1984.

Xilinx was founded in 1984.

Computer company events in 1984

The AT&T company we know today officially started, expiring the famous Bell logo on January 1, 1984.

Microsoft created a new hardware and peripheral division on March 29, 1984.

Commodore Business Machines purchased Amiga on August 15th.

Atari became the Atari Corporation in 1984.

IBM discontinues marketing biomedical products and sells its blood processing equipment business to COBE Laboratories Inc.

Computer-related TV shows and movies released in 1984

The original Terminator movie was released on October 26, 1984. A movie about a human soldier sent from 2029 to 1984 to stop an almost indestructible cyborg killing machine sent from the same year.