MSFT turns 50

Microsoft was the leading applications provider internationally; in the U.S. its products were behind word processors and spreadsheets lost to history, like Wordstar and Lotus 1-2-3.

I didn’t realize MSFT found success internationally before taking over the States. My earliest computer memories are of a Windows 3.1 beige box, I went through all the 95, 98, ME, XP upgrades along the way before switching to Apple in college.

Here I am 30 years later still tinkering. There’s a WIRED article that’s a much deeper dive on the history of MSFT https://www.wired.com/story/at-age-50-microsoft-is-an-ai-giant-an-open-source-lover-and-bad-as-it-ever-was/

_{Quote Citation: Alex Halverson, “Microsoft turns 50: 4 employees recall their early years”, March 30, 2025 at 6:00 am, https://www.seattletimes.com/business/microsoft/microsoft-turns-50-4-employees-recall-their-early-years/}