Alright, here's a prototype of a computer industry timeline I've been working on to some extent... Note that even the early years are far from finished, I need to add in some information on more manufacturers and bulk up others...
1980 -
IBM decides to continue it's then-current path relative to microcomputer manufacturing. This year it also releases the 5120 computer, a desktop version of its 5110 computer.
Tandy releases the TRS-80 Color Computer.
1981 -
Due to conflicts within the Lisa team, Jobs splits the project, forming the Lisa Home System and the Lisa Office System project. The Office System contains most of the former Lisa team, while Jobs takes over the Home System.
IBM develops the 5200 General Computer, which utilizes the powerful RISC-based IBM 801 processor. It and its successors do decently well in business usage.
Commodore releases the Vixen computer, called "Commodore VX" in German markets, with an aggressive marketing campaign.
Atari begins the "Liz" project to produce an easier to manufacture computer to replace it's popular 400 and 800 computer.
1982 -
Commodore develops the Commodore 64, the cheapest 64k computer then available on the market, and shifts it's advertising towards it.
Atari releases the 600X and the 1000X computers. The 600X had 16k of RAM, while the 1000X had 64k. Both had a new expansion connector in addition to Atari's older SIO port. Atari becomes hobbled by flaws in the 1000X's operating system, however, the 600X does better than expected- the winner this year, however, is Commodore, which rapidly expands it's market share.
Also at Atari, Jay Miner manages to get support for a project to develop a powerful new game console based on the Motorola 68000 processor, code-named "Lorraine", while the new 5200 series video game console, essentially a repackaged Atari computer, is released. Flaws in it's controller hurt it in the market, and the "3600" project begins at Atari to replace it.
1983 -
Apple this year releases the Lisa Office System computer, designed for buisness usages. It's high price drives away some, as well as a poor marketing campaign, however, it's GUI and faster processor than IBM's 5200 series help it gain sales.
Also early in the year, Atari releases the Atari 1200X, a replacement for the Atari 1000X computer, which also included a voice synthesizer chip. Also announced for release later in the year is the Atari 1400X, which had two built in disk drives, at 128K of memory. The 600X's standard included memory is also upped to 32k, and Atari acquired the United States rights to Nintendo's Famicom system.
Tandy this year releases the TRS-80 Color Computer II, which improves on the systems marketability. It is a powerful system, but suffers from marketing problems as Tandy focuses on it's buisness line.
Jack Tramiel, President of Commodore International, unhappy with the advances already made in market share, slashes the prices of the company's computers. TI responded by doing the same, but was unable to compete and dropped out of the market. The other companies in the market, including Atari, which also was forced to delay the 1400X, did the same, and an all-out price war broke out.
The price war's affects went to the video game industry, which was also suffering from a deluge of poorly programmed 2600 games. (Though it deserves noting that the version of ET is a bit more playable in TTL) The market for video games plummeted. Magnavox abandoned it's Odyssey3 system, Coleco and Mattel soon followed with half-hearted attempts to become computer manufacturers instead. Atari ordered the designers on the Lorraine project to shut down, however, eventually they decide to convert Lorraine to a computer instead.
By late 1983, the market was in poor shape. Jack Tramiel was facing questions from Commodore's shareholders, and Warner Communications revealed that Atari, which was formerly making over a billion dollars in profit, was now barely breaking even. Apple Computer and IBM, with less dependence on the home market made it out much better, however.
1984 -
Jack Tramiel manages to convince Commodore's board to keep him on. Tramiel also decides to begin a new computer, based on the recently developed CSG 65001, a chip similar to the Motorola 68000. The Commodore 64 remains a strong player in the home computer market. Commodore also introduces the C116, the C16, and C232, a line of computers designed to replace the aging Vixen and Commodore 64, however, they fall on deaf ears.
Apple releases the Lisa Home System concurrent with the Macintosh computer (Note that in TTL Jobs never becomes involved with the Macintosh project). This is generally seen as a poor decision, thanks to Jobs decision to focus on the Lisa Home in marketing rather than the GUI-less but more affordable and user-friendly Macintosh. The release of the Lisa Office System 2 also occurs.
Commodore previews its Commodore ST computer this summer, a rapid development for the project just begun the year before. It features an impressive "Windows" GUI designed by Microsoft as part of the TOS operating system (officially "The Operating System", often thought to mean "Tramiel Operating System"), but which prompts an Apple lawsuit, eventually defeated. Also shown is the Atari 1800XXL computer, which is based off of the Lorraine- due to problems with the OS, only graphical demos are shown, but they are very impressive.
Atari decides to sit on the Nintendo rights, and releases the Atari 9900, the conclusion of what began as the "3600" Project. (OTL's Atari 7800, more or less) Atari is forced to offer several concessions to retailers, many of whom after last year's problems believe video games to be a dead market. Also of note is the release of the 1600XV computer, which was essentially a 1200X with a reverse-engineered system allowing it to work with some Commodore Vixen software. As one could guess, Commodore threatens lawsuits.
1985 -
A year of releases- Apple releases the Lisa Home System 2, which had more RAM and more capability for running software. The machine actually finds its way into several offices due to it's lower price than the Lisa Office 2.
Jef Raskin begins work on the Macintosh 2, a successor to the Macintosh, however, Apple executives, led by Steve Jobs, decide to kill the project and the Macintosh. Raskin leaves the company. He is soon followed by Steve Jobs himself.
Commodore releases the Commodore ST-1 computer. Atari follows by rushing the 1800XXL computer, which at the last minute is rechristened the "Atari Lorraine" by Atari's marketing team, who wanted to distinguish the computer from Atari's long line of numerical names. The 1985 Lorraine and ST-1 are both characterized by a number of OS errors and bugs caused by their rushed releases.
1980 -
IBM decides to continue it's then-current path relative to microcomputer manufacturing. This year it also releases the 5120 computer, a desktop version of its 5110 computer.
Tandy releases the TRS-80 Color Computer.
1981 -
Due to conflicts within the Lisa team, Jobs splits the project, forming the Lisa Home System and the Lisa Office System project. The Office System contains most of the former Lisa team, while Jobs takes over the Home System.
IBM develops the 5200 General Computer, which utilizes the powerful RISC-based IBM 801 processor. It and its successors do decently well in business usage.
Commodore releases the Vixen computer, called "Commodore VX" in German markets, with an aggressive marketing campaign.
Atari begins the "Liz" project to produce an easier to manufacture computer to replace it's popular 400 and 800 computer.
1982 -
Commodore develops the Commodore 64, the cheapest 64k computer then available on the market, and shifts it's advertising towards it.
Atari releases the 600X and the 1000X computers. The 600X had 16k of RAM, while the 1000X had 64k. Both had a new expansion connector in addition to Atari's older SIO port. Atari becomes hobbled by flaws in the 1000X's operating system, however, the 600X does better than expected- the winner this year, however, is Commodore, which rapidly expands it's market share.
Also at Atari, Jay Miner manages to get support for a project to develop a powerful new game console based on the Motorola 68000 processor, code-named "Lorraine", while the new 5200 series video game console, essentially a repackaged Atari computer, is released. Flaws in it's controller hurt it in the market, and the "3600" project begins at Atari to replace it.
1983 -
Apple this year releases the Lisa Office System computer, designed for buisness usages. It's high price drives away some, as well as a poor marketing campaign, however, it's GUI and faster processor than IBM's 5200 series help it gain sales.
Also early in the year, Atari releases the Atari 1200X, a replacement for the Atari 1000X computer, which also included a voice synthesizer chip. Also announced for release later in the year is the Atari 1400X, which had two built in disk drives, at 128K of memory. The 600X's standard included memory is also upped to 32k, and Atari acquired the United States rights to Nintendo's Famicom system.
Tandy this year releases the TRS-80 Color Computer II, which improves on the systems marketability. It is a powerful system, but suffers from marketing problems as Tandy focuses on it's buisness line.
Jack Tramiel, President of Commodore International, unhappy with the advances already made in market share, slashes the prices of the company's computers. TI responded by doing the same, but was unable to compete and dropped out of the market. The other companies in the market, including Atari, which also was forced to delay the 1400X, did the same, and an all-out price war broke out.
The price war's affects went to the video game industry, which was also suffering from a deluge of poorly programmed 2600 games. (Though it deserves noting that the version of ET is a bit more playable in TTL) The market for video games plummeted. Magnavox abandoned it's Odyssey3 system, Coleco and Mattel soon followed with half-hearted attempts to become computer manufacturers instead. Atari ordered the designers on the Lorraine project to shut down, however, eventually they decide to convert Lorraine to a computer instead.
By late 1983, the market was in poor shape. Jack Tramiel was facing questions from Commodore's shareholders, and Warner Communications revealed that Atari, which was formerly making over a billion dollars in profit, was now barely breaking even. Apple Computer and IBM, with less dependence on the home market made it out much better, however.
1984 -
Jack Tramiel manages to convince Commodore's board to keep him on. Tramiel also decides to begin a new computer, based on the recently developed CSG 65001, a chip similar to the Motorola 68000. The Commodore 64 remains a strong player in the home computer market. Commodore also introduces the C116, the C16, and C232, a line of computers designed to replace the aging Vixen and Commodore 64, however, they fall on deaf ears.
Apple releases the Lisa Home System concurrent with the Macintosh computer (Note that in TTL Jobs never becomes involved with the Macintosh project). This is generally seen as a poor decision, thanks to Jobs decision to focus on the Lisa Home in marketing rather than the GUI-less but more affordable and user-friendly Macintosh. The release of the Lisa Office System 2 also occurs.
Commodore previews its Commodore ST computer this summer, a rapid development for the project just begun the year before. It features an impressive "Windows" GUI designed by Microsoft as part of the TOS operating system (officially "The Operating System", often thought to mean "Tramiel Operating System"), but which prompts an Apple lawsuit, eventually defeated. Also shown is the Atari 1800XXL computer, which is based off of the Lorraine- due to problems with the OS, only graphical demos are shown, but they are very impressive.
Atari decides to sit on the Nintendo rights, and releases the Atari 9900, the conclusion of what began as the "3600" Project. (OTL's Atari 7800, more or less) Atari is forced to offer several concessions to retailers, many of whom after last year's problems believe video games to be a dead market. Also of note is the release of the 1600XV computer, which was essentially a 1200X with a reverse-engineered system allowing it to work with some Commodore Vixen software. As one could guess, Commodore threatens lawsuits.
1985 -
A year of releases- Apple releases the Lisa Home System 2, which had more RAM and more capability for running software. The machine actually finds its way into several offices due to it's lower price than the Lisa Office 2.
Jef Raskin begins work on the Macintosh 2, a successor to the Macintosh, however, Apple executives, led by Steve Jobs, decide to kill the project and the Macintosh. Raskin leaves the company. He is soon followed by Steve Jobs himself.
Commodore releases the Commodore ST-1 computer. Atari follows by rushing the 1800XXL computer, which at the last minute is rechristened the "Atari Lorraine" by Atari's marketing team, who wanted to distinguish the computer from Atari's long line of numerical names. The 1985 Lorraine and ST-1 are both characterized by a number of OS errors and bugs caused by their rushed releases.
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