Стас Юрасов That's Life 6 April 2025, 13:41

Microsoft – 50 years old. Here are ten facts about the company that will surprise you (pictured: the first dream team)

Microsoft is celebrating its 50th anniversary, and during that time the company has accumulated a lot of interesting facts that may surprise even experienced users. Here are the top 10 most unexpected facts about Microsoft.

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Microsoft – 50 years old. Here are ten facts about the company that will surprise you (pictured: the first dream team)

Microsoft is celebrating its 50th anniversary, and during that time the company has accumulated a lot of interesting facts that may surprise even experienced users. Here are the top 10 most unexpected facts about Microsoft.

The first office was in New Mexico: Microsoft was founded by Bill Gates and Paul Allen in 1975 in Albuquerque, New Mexico, not Seattle as many believe. Gates and Allen lived at the Sundowner Motel while they wrote a version of the BASIC programming language.

This was the company’s first office.
First product — BASIC interpreter: The company’s first product was a BASIC interpreter for the Altair 8800 computer, which did not even have a screen or keyboard.
Art Collection: Microsoft is the largest corporate collector of contemporary art, owning over 5,000 works, including paintings, sculptures, and multimedia projects.
The first «smart» watches: In 1994, Microsoft introduced the world’s first «smart» watch called the Datalink 150.
Corporate candy tradition: Microsoft has a tradition of celebrating each year of employees' work by treating colleagues to M&Ms.
Unusual interview questions: During interviews, candidates may be asked tricky questions, such as: «How much does a Boeing 747 weigh?» or «Why are hatch covers round?»
Internet problems: Microsoft initially underestimated the importance of the Internet, which allowed competitors such as Netscape to quickly gain popularity.
Support for the LGBT community: The company actively supports representatives of the LGBT community by creating an internal union for employees of this group.
The Return of Clippy: The animated assistant Clippy, known for his annoyance, was officially retired in 2001, but has repeatedly returned in the form of memes and Easter eggs.
First investment step: In 1997, Microsoft invested $150 million in Apple, which helped the latter avoid financial difficulties.