The original pre-Microsoft packaging for PowerPoint 1.0, as shipped by Forethought on 20 April 1987, now re-issued for the twenty-fifth anniversary. PowerPoint was the first presentation software designed for Macintosh and Windows, received the first venture capital investment ever made by Apple, then became the first significant acquisition ever made by Microsoft, and is now, twenty-five years later, installed on over one billion computers worldwide.
Robert Gaskins (who invented the idea, managed its design and development, and then headed the new Microsoft group) has written a book to commemorate the twenty-fifth anniversary of PowerPoint, recounting stories of the perils narrowly evaded as a startup, dissecting the complexities of being the first distant development group in Microsoft, and explaining decisions and insights that enabled PowerPoint to become a lasting success. More information at www.robertgaskins.com .
Robert Gaskins invented PowerPoint and managed its design and development as a startup for three years, and then headed the new Microsoft PowerPoint business unit in Silicon Valley for another five years.
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