Let’s Explore Microsoft Office Since 1983
1983
September: The first version of Microsoft Word 1.0 for MS-DOS is released. It becomes the first word processor to make extensive use of the computer mouse.
1985
January: Microsoft Word 1.0 for Macintosh and Word 2.0 for DOS are released.
September: Microsoft Excel 1.0 for Macintosh is released. It is designed to take advantage of the enhanced power of the Macintosh. Excel offers features such as interactive spreadsheet linking and two-way file compatibility with Lotus 1-2-3.
1986
September: Microsoft announces Microsoft Works for Macintosh, which integrates word processing, spreadsheet, database, communications, and drawing functions into a single program.
October: Microsoft Word 3.0 for Macintosh (there was no version 2.0) and Word 3.0 for DOS are released.
1987
July: Microsoft Corp. acquires Forethought, the original application software company behind PowerPoint 1.0, for $1.4 million.
September: Microsoft PowerPoint 1.0 for Macintosh is announced. In its first year of sales, PowerPoint 1.0 for Macintosh hits $1 million.
1988
May: Microsoft ships PowerPoint 2.0 for Macintosh.
1989
June: Office 1.0 for the Macintosh debuts on both standard disks and CD-ROM. It includes newly available Word 4.0, Excel 2.2 and PowerPoint 2.01. This release is a significant step toward the seamless application integration that becomes the hallmark of later versions of Office.
1990
May: PowerPoint 2.0 for Windows is announced. This first version for Windows offers color options.
October: Office 1.0 for Windows is available and includes Excel 2.0, Word 2.1 and PowerPoint 2.0.
Microsoft becomes the first personal computer software company to exceed $1 billion in sales in a single year, with revenues of $1.18 billion.
1991
January: Microsoft announces the availability of Microsoft Excel for Windows 3.0 — the first major release to include toolbars.
October: Word 2.0 for Windows is the first version to offer drag-and-drop capabilities.
1992
August: Office 3.0 for Windows is available and includes recently released Microsoft PowerPoint 3.0 in combination with Microsoft Word for Windows 2.0 and Microsoft Excel 4.0.
November: Microsoft Access 1.0 for Windows is announced at Fall COMDEX. The new full-featured and fully relational database management system (DBMS) provides transparent access to data, usability-tested tools and a robust development cycle.
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