Summary

Software package Microsoft Multiplan 1.0 (1984) comprising box, manual and two 3.5 inch floppy disks (Program and Backup).

Described in the manual as 'Electronic Worksheet for Apple Macintosh', Microsoft Multiplan was a spreadsheet program.

Spreadsheet software started with the release of Visicalc for the Apple II in 1979. Its developers allegedly released the code and spreadsheets were developed for various platforms. The first spreadsheet program released for the Macintosh was Multiplan in the same year as the Macintosh itself was first released, 1984. It had a short life and was soon replaced by Microsoft Excel for the Macintosh in 1985. Originally spreadsheets were known as electronic worksheets.

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

Software package Microsoft Multiplan 1.0 (1984) comprising box, manual and two 3.5 inch floppy disks (Program and Backup). A red-sleeved box containing a manual and two 3.5 inch floppy disks.

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