Dan Fylstra: Difference between revisions
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'''Dan Fylstra''' is a pioneer of the [[Computer_software#Industry_and_organizations|software products]] industry. In 1975 he was a founding associate editor of [[BYTE Magazine]]. In 1978 he co-founded [[Personal Software]].<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.time.com/time/magazine/article/0,9171,925281-3,00.html |title=Sagas of Five Who Made It |work=[[Time Magazine]] |date=Feb. 15, 1982}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.time.com/time/magazine/article/0,9171,921076-2,00.html |title=Software for the Masses |author=Kenneth M. Pierce and Michael Moritz |work=[[Time Magazine]] |date=Oct. 05, 1981}}</ref> Personal Software became the distributor of a new program called [[VisiCalc]], the first widely used computer [[spreadsheet]] |
'''Dan Fylstra''' is a pioneer of the [[Computer_software#Industry_and_organizations|software products]] industry. In 1975 he was a founding associate editor of [[BYTE Magazine]]. In 1978 he co-founded [[Personal Software]].<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.time.com/time/magazine/article/0,9171,925281-3,00.html |title=Sagas of Five Who Made It |work=[[Time Magazine]] |date=Feb. 15, 1982}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.time.com/time/magazine/article/0,9171,921076-2,00.html |title=Software for the Masses |author=Kenneth M. Pierce and Michael Moritz |work=[[Time Magazine]] |date=Oct. 05, 1981}}</ref> Personal Software became the distributor of a new program called [[VisiCalc]], the first widely used computer [[spreadsheet]]. In his marketing efforts Fylstra ran teaser ads in Byte that asked, oddly enough for an entirely new product, "How did you ever do without it?"<ref>"VisiCalc of Dan Bricklin and Bob Frankston" [http://history-computer.com/ModernComputer/Software/Visicalc.html] (July 2011)</ref> |
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The VisiCalc-Apple connection suggested the hypothesis of the "[[killer app]]" -- or the "software tail that wags the hardware dog."<ref>Paul Ceruzzi, A History of Modern Computing (MIT Press, 1998), quote 267.</ref> Once VisiCalc caught on, people came into computer stores asking for VisiCalc and then also the computer (the Apple II) they would need to run the program. VisiCalc sales exceeded 700,000 units by 1983.<ref>Martin Campbell-Kelly From Airline Reservations to Sonic the Hedgehog: A History of the Software Industry (MIT Press, 2003), 215.</ref> |
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In 1998 he joined the [[Libertarian Party (United States)|Libertarian Party]]. |
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Fylstra's software products company, later called [[VisiCorp]], was the #1 personal-computer software publisher in 1981 with $20 million in revenues as well as in 1982 with $35 million (exceeding Microsoft which became the largest such firm in 1983).<ref>Martin Campbell-Kelly From Airline Reservations to Sonic the Hedgehog: A History of the Software Industry (MIT Press, 2003), 211.</ref> |
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==References== |
==References== |
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Revision as of 17:25, 5 July 2011
Dan Fylstra is a pioneer of the software products industry. In 1975 he was a founding associate editor of BYTE Magazine. In 1978 he co-founded Personal Software.[1][2] Personal Software became the distributor of a new program called VisiCalc, the first widely used computer spreadsheet. In his marketing efforts Fylstra ran teaser ads in Byte that asked, oddly enough for an entirely new product, "How did you ever do without it?"[3]
The VisiCalc-Apple connection suggested the hypothesis of the "killer app" -- or the "software tail that wags the hardware dog."[4] Once VisiCalc caught on, people came into computer stores asking for VisiCalc and then also the computer (the Apple II) they would need to run the program. VisiCalc sales exceeded 700,000 units by 1983.[5]
Fylstra's software products company, later called VisiCorp, was the #1 personal-computer software publisher in 1981 with $20 million in revenues as well as in 1982 with $35 million (exceeding Microsoft which became the largest such firm in 1983).[6]
Fylstra is the former president of Sierra Sciences, and is currently president of software vendor Frontline Systems. In 1998 he joined the Libertarian Party.
References
- ^ "Sagas of Five Who Made It". Time Magazine. Feb. 15, 1982.
{{cite web}}: Check date values in:|date=(help) - ^ Kenneth M. Pierce and Michael Moritz (Oct. 05, 1981). "Software for the Masses". Time Magazine.
{{cite web}}: Check date values in:|date=(help) - ^ "VisiCalc of Dan Bricklin and Bob Frankston" [1] (July 2011)
- ^ Paul Ceruzzi, A History of Modern Computing (MIT Press, 1998), quote 267.
- ^ Martin Campbell-Kelly From Airline Reservations to Sonic the Hedgehog: A History of the Software Industry (MIT Press, 2003), 215.
- ^ Martin Campbell-Kelly From Airline Reservations to Sonic the Hedgehog: A History of the Software Industry (MIT Press, 2003), 211.
External links
- Dan Fylstra - Libertarian from Advocates for Self-Government website
- Opening Pandora's Box: An Open Letter about the Politicization of the PC Industry by Dan Fylstra.
- [2] - Computer History Museum photo of Dan Fylstra with VisiOn and VisiCalc
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