1993 – Microsoft unveils at COMDEX a new line of Operating System. Dubbed Windows NT (New Technology) this software would be geared toward businesses. With a NT Server and NT Workstation, Windows could deliver a secure environment while also allowing connections using the Windows 3.11 and later Windows 95 Operating systems. NT would become available on July 27, 1993.
1985– Quantum Computer Services was founded. Technically, it was a reorganization of Control Video Corporation, a company that started in 1983. The company was selling online service “Gameline” to Atari 2600 users. You would pay $49.95 for the modem and also a one-time $15 setup fee. With the reorganization, Jim Kimsey became Chief Executive Officer and Marc Seriff took the CTO role. Ninety employees quit, ten remained. The company changed to sell Quantum Link for Commodore 64 and 128 consoles. Eventually, they would get into AppleLink and PC Link. Quantum Computer Services eventually (October 1989) changed their name to America Online (AOL).
Jim Kimsey left AOL in 1995, where he stayed under the limelight. He was appointed to the Board of Trustees of the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts by President George W. Bush.
Full Day in Tech History podcast show notes for May 24
2004 – I remember watching TechTV from the ZDNet Days. Even watched a live show back in the days when Spring Comdex was in Chicago. When it changed to TechTV, we got some great social tech pioneers like Leo Laporte, Kevin Norton, Chris Pirillo and Kevin Rose, among others. When Comcast purchased the channel, they merged it with their own channel – G4. By May, G4 Tech TV was running in full force. Ultimately the name got changed to G4 and the pioneer shows like Call for Help and Screen Savers were ended.