I have readers from various companies whose histories I cover, and many were present during those periods. Some even appear by name in my articles. All corrections to accuracy are welcome; please feel free to comment below.
Intel concluded 1985 with $1,364 million in revenue and a small income of $1.57 billion despite the significant drop in profit that likely worried many stakeholders at the time. However, Intel’s future was brighter than ever as they had their development systems ready for the upcoming 386 processor lineup, and numerous vendors were either already designing systems around it or committed to do so soon.
The significance of this era cannot be understated. The 386 chip allowed commodity microcomputers to compete with workstation-grade machines and minicomputers at a much lower cost than before. This advancement was instrumental in breaking IBM’s dominance over the PC platform, paving the way for Compaq Computers Corporation’s rise as an alternative choice within this market segment. Furthermore, it contributed to Windows becoming a standard operating system option for PC-compatible devices.
In summary (pun intended), Intel was on an upward trajectory despite temporary financial setbacks due to their strategic moves and innovative products like the 386 processor series that revolutionized computing capabilities at accessible prices during this period.
Complete Article after the Jump: Here!