Apple Logo

In 1976, the original little-known and short-lived Apple logo was far from modern and wasn't suited for reproduction in small sizes, but it did give one a clue about the company's creative and nonconformist nature.

Later, an apple became the mark for the company. The bite in the apple and the rainbow colors were added after some consideration. The bite played off an ad slogan "taking a bite of the Apple." (The bite also meant that the logo could no longer be confused with a tomato.)

Microsoft Logo

Microsoft's first corporate logo (the second one shown), featured a striated O which was fondly nicknamed the "blibbet." The first one shown is for Microsoft Consumer Products; we don't know much about that one.

Circa 1982

1982–1987

1987–

IBM Logo

IBM has a logo tradition that goes back to the late 1800s, before the company was even named IBM (those logos aren't shown).

1924–1946

1947–1956

1956–1972

1972–

In the early 1980s, Tim Berners-Lee worked as a consultant at CERN (the European Laboratory for Particle Physics) in Geneva. He was frustrated by the way information was stored and the inability to make associations between data. He tackled the problem by developing a computerized filing system called ENQUIRE (named after a Victorian how-to book). This consisted of linked, or hyperlinked, documents, which later formed the basis for the web. The World Wide Web.

But what were some of the name ideas that Tim entertained before the ubiquitous "tri-dub" was set in stone as the name for his creation? One was TIM—an acronym for "The Information Mine," which he decided was too egocentric. He also rejected "The Mesh" and "MoI" (Mine of Information).

Microsoft Basic
1982

"Turn your Apple into the world's most versatile personal computer." With Microsoft?!?

Wow! Is this an alternate universe? Is it a joke ad? No, it's just a short trip back in time in the annals of computer history.

Microsoft Basic for the Apple II. The odd heavy-metal-style logo adds to the surreal experience.