Microsoft

Microsoft. After nearly a decade of Acquired episodes, we are finally ready to tackle the most valuable company ever created. The company that put a computer on every desk and in every home. The company that invented the software business model. The company that so thoroughly and completely dominated every conceivable competitor that the United States government intervened and kneecapped it… yet it’s STILL the most valuable company in the world today.
This episode tells the story of Microsoft in its heyday, the PC Era. We cover its rise from a teenage dream to the most powerful business and technology force in history - the 20-year period from 1975 to 1995 that took Bill and Paul from the Lakeside high school computer room to launching Windows 95 alongside Jay Leno and the Rolling Stones. From BASIC to DOS, Windows, Office, Intel, IBM, Xerox PARC, Apple, Steve Jobs, Steve Ballmer… it’s all here, and it’s all amazing. Tune in and enjoy… Microsoft.
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Links:
Congress changing copyright law in 1980 to include “computer programs”
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Acquired “classic” on Microsoft’s 1987 acquisition of Forethought / PowerPoint
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All episode sources
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Carve Outs:
LGR
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André 3000’s new album + GQ Interview
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www.gq.com/story/men-of-the-y...
Meta Ray-Bans
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Visual Designer Julia Rundberg
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Summer Health
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Note: references to Fortune in ServiceNow sponsor sections are from Fortune ©2023. Used under license.
Note: Acquired hosts and guests may hold assets discussed in this episode. This podcast is not investment advice, and is intended for informational and entertainment purposes only. You should do your own research and make your own independent decisions when considering any financial transactions.

[@Akash.Chopra]

Only 4.5 hours?

[@dinarwali386]

A behemoth episode for a behemoth company. Wonderfully, well researched and well articulated

[@ericcartmansh]

Heard it on audio on pocketcasts but commenting here - this was fantastic! Cannot believe how far the show has come. Went from almost home video to now perhaps better than HBO quality

[@ashokkt01]

Bummer that 4.5 hours for just chapter 1..... That was real shocker. Great narration, awaiting next layers

[@KevDoy]

Almost 2 hours in. Absolute loving it. Couple things, not sure if they’ve been pointed out but MS-DOS was not “the” DOS. DOS, similar to OS, was a relatively common term. Apple had their own DOS. It probably should have been phrased that they turned it into “‘the’ MS-DOS” or the most famous DOS. Also you mentioned every windows copy until 95 ran on DOS. Every copy of Windows before ME actually ran on DOS, including 95 and 98. They just hid it better on 98. Love your content. Thanks for your effort in making this show so great!

[@DanielThomasArgueta]

Microsoft! 😀

[@errormaker1]

They emulated an entire cpu in the 70s... I still really don't know what flex-shrink is after 8 years of using it

[@ChompChunk]

this is such an incredible episode, also love the fact that you guys didn't name it "Microsoft part 1", made me watch this way faster.

[@ashokkt01]

Very thorough and deep Insightful. Requires patient hearing and interest.

[@tonimontana5153]

Thanks for this excellent episode.

[@peanutbutterkong9362]

Thanks for posting. Always look forward to these.

[@Adam-qf2rq]

OMG!!!!! LOVE THIS!!!!!!!!

[@thecanbook]

awesome company！cannot wait to see it.

[@christopherknight5526]

Yes!!! This is the best ever! Thank you! So excited to see the real AI company.

[@raphaelmalavieille6509]

Realy happy this is so long

[@michaelw4216]

7:59 Bill Gates is Lisan Al-Gaib

[@ChompChunk]

would be amazing if you could make playlist of videos you metioned around @3:19:00

[@lukedeasy2126]

YES!

[@LeoRizoLeon]

I love Microsoft!

[@RandomVideos-zr6ne]

Bookmark 12:31

[@louiswalch590]

Can anyone clarify when/where they do audio-only vs video versions of the episodes? Is it only audio now? I miss the video versions.

[@AcquiredFM]

Yes! We do video versions when we are live in-person with a guest. Otherwise when we are just recording on a video call (all Ben/David-only episodes are done this way), it is audio-only.

[@buzzy1586]

​@@AcquiredFM Am sure lots of people would love the video version!

[@miinyoo]

I've made terrible intros but not because I wanted to. Microsoft is a real hard target even for someone like you. They're so big, you don't and can't know what they're involved in. Forget their history which is irrelevant at this point. Taking this at face value is the only hope for the viewer and if those people should, it's only to their detriment. Nothing as big as MS can exist as it is forever. It will eventually without much of a nudge implode by itself and hopefully spin off companies it has acquired over the years. The only thing that possibly can keep this magnitude of company liquid should they fuck up is the Federal Reserve through member banks. Same thing as Amazon. If the Federal Reserve Act ended and 12 years was given as a grace from the Treasury, those companies would along with some sinister banks implode overnight. That's how crucial the FED is to the current prevailing oligopoly.