1979 in computing, games and technology

33 milestones from 1979: 13 computers and hardware, 2 peripherals, 3 software, 1 games, 3 games, 2 movies, 7 events, 1 legal milestones, 1 world events.

Open 1979 in the interactive timeline The 1970s

Computers and hardware

• Zilog Z8000
• Fairchild Channel F System II
• TI-99/4
• Acorn System 1
• Nintendo Color TV-Game Block Breaker
• Apple II Plus
• Intel 8088
• Motorola 68000
• TRS-80 Model II
• Atari 400
• Atari 800
• Microvision
• Bandai Super Vision 8000

Peripherals

• Atari 810 Disk Drive
• Fairlight CMI

Software

• Version 7 Unix
• WordStar
• VisiCalc

Games

• Galaxian

Games

• Temple of Apshai
• Lunar Lander (Atari)
• Asteroids

Movies

• Alien
• Star Trek: The Motion Picture

Events

• On-Line Systems founded (later Sierra)
• Usenet conceived at Duke
• Microsoft moves to Bellevue
• Infocom founded
• Activision founded
• Mattel Intellivision test marketing begins in Fresno
• COMDEX '79 debuts in Las Vegas

Legal milestones

• Betamax case district court ruling

World events

• Sony Walkman goes on sale in Japan