Summary

Microsoft Word is a word processor for the Macintosh. This is version 1.0 and was released in 1984.

Word processing was amongst the first genres of software when personal computing emerged. When the Macintosh was first released in 1984 with its graphic user interface, it came with a Word Processor, MacWrite, developed by Apple Computer Inc. Microsoft Corporation also developed and released a word processor in 1984, Microsoft Word. Initially, MacWrite was the word processor of choice, but lack of further development of this product by Apple resulted in Microsoft Word gradually securing larger market share and ultimately becoming the industry standard.

Microsoft Corporation was very quick to recognise the future potential of the graphical user interface and in the same year as the release of the Macintosh, released a complete suite of business applications - Word, Multiplan, Chart and File. The experience gained helped Microsoft develop its own graphical user interface called Windows [1987] and to develop Windows versions of its applications. This gave Microsoft a vital edge over WordPerfect and Lotus, its major rivals in the Windows environment.

Part of a representative collection of hardware, software, trade literature and promotional material that documents the history of the Apple company, and its contribution to, and impact on the computer industry and society.

Physical Description

This is version 1.0 of Microsoft Word Copyright 1984. A red sleeved box containing: wire bound manual of 283 pages and one 3.5 inch floppy disk and 6 information sheets. The disk label includes the words:'Microsoft Word, Word Processing Program..

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