If I asked you “What is the first piece of software that Bill Gates and Paul Allen (the founders of Microsoft) made commercially?”… what would you say?
DOS? BASIC?
In fact… neither.
Before Microsoft was even a gleam in Bill Gates’ eye, he and Paul Allen started another computer company: Traf-O-Data.
The original Traf-O-Data logo.
It all started back in the early 1972 at Lakeside High School in Seattle, WA. Bill Gates was currently a Junior, and Paul Allen had graduated the year before.
To give you a visual, here are the two friends in those early days.
That little kid? That’s Bill Gates (13) in the 8th grade. The guy at the terminal? Paul Allen (15) as a High Schooler. Photo, taken in 1968, courtesy of Lakeside School, Seattle WA.
Gates and Allen in 1970 at the Lakeside High School computer club.
In 1972, those two boys (17 and 19 years old) had an idea for a business that just might make them some sweet, sweet moolah. Using computers. Which worked for them. They liked computers.
You see, the Washington State Department of Highways (which was later folded into the Department of Transportation in 1977) regularly counted the amount of traffic on key roads around the greater Seattle area — to optimize traffic flow and whatnot.
This was done by counting the number of axles that rolled across a series of pressure sensitive rubber tubes — then, every 15 minutes, that number would be punched onto a paper tape as a pattern representing a 16 bit number.
Those paper tapes would then be sent to local contractors who would read the data from the tape, write it out, and analyze the information — which would then be sent back to the Department of Highways.
This is the area and roads that traffic was being measured for. The picture shows modern traffic flow. Courtesy: WSDOT.
By Paul Allen’s account, “The process was monotonous, inefficient, and murder on the eyes.”
Gates and Allen created software to analyze the traffic data using a computer at the University of Washington (Allen’s father was a librarian at the University, and both Gates and Allen had used the computers there — via their school computer club — in the past).
What computer did they use?
Well, there were two options available to them at that specific time, at the University of Washington. The first option was a Scientific Data Systems Sigma 5 mainframe via a connected teletype terminal.
Fun facts of the SDS Sigma 5:
The base memory was 16K 32-Bit words (equivalent to 64K Bytes) with a maximum memory of 128K words.
The Sigma 5 was the slowest of the Sigma series, and was one of only two models in the Sigma line that had no virtual memory.
The base model sold for $300,000. Want an extra 16K words of memory? That’ll run you an extra $50,000.
An SDS Sigma 5 mainframe. Ain’t she a beauty?
A very cool machine. One that I wouldn’t mind using to decorate my living room.
But… it wasn’t the SDS Sigma 5. (But, hey, great excuse to look at that gorgeous machine, eh?)
Instead, Gates and Allen were using the CDC (Control Data Corporation) 6400.
Fun facts of the CDC 6400:
10 Mhz 60 bit processor (you read that correctly… 60 bit CPU).
64k of 60-bit core memory (with optional extended memory available).
Optional disk storage, typically around 10 Million “Words”.
Developed by none other than the legendary Seymour Cray. Yes. That Cray. Of Cray Supercomputer.
A CDC 6400 being worked on by some hardcore, late 1960s nerds.
There was just one problem:
The paper tape with the traffic data was a custom solution (storing 16 bits). The computer they had access to couldn’t read that in. (The CDC 6400 supported input via punch cards.)
How did Gates and Allen get around this problem?
They hired some kids.
Not joking.
They hired some of Gates’ fellow High School students to translate the 16 bit traffic data tape to the punch cards. By hand. They paid those kids 50 cents per tape to do the work that the two Microsoft founders really didn’t want to do.
Gates and Allen then fed the cards into the computer, and their custom software would create charts that they could then sell back to the Department of Highways.
Now, the question: How to improve on this system?
Gates and Allen needed to be able to cut out both the need to hire High Schoolers to translate the tapes (child labor just doesn’t scale well for this sort of project)… as well as remove the reliance on the University of Washington computer systems.
What they needed was… a computer of their own. One with a custom tape reader that could handle the traffic data directly.
Remember: This is the early 1970s. You couldn’t just walk down to Best Buy and grab a PC. Computers were so uncommon that people were renting computer time at Universities.
Luckily they found a schematic and instructions, in a computer magazine, on how to build a computer around the recently released Intel 8008 microprocessor — which would work nicely as the base system.
Note: It is unknown in which magazine Gates and Allen found the schematics for an Intel 8008 computer to base the Traf-O-Data system upon. If anyone has this information, I would love to find it and archive it.
Unfortunately, neither Gates nor Allen had any experience with designing hardware or building computers.
Enter: Paul Gilbert.
Gilbert was introduced to Gates and Allen by a mutual friend and he got to work building the Traf-O-Data machine. From parts. Including an 8008 processor purchased for $360 (in 1972 dollars… that’s over $2,500 in 2022 dollars).
The end result is this beauty:
The Traf-O-Data computer, based on an Intel 8008.
Custom tape reader. Cool blinking lights. An Intel 8008… what’s not to love?
What sort of specs did the Traf-O-Data computer have? A great question! According to Gates:
“[We] took these very tiny Intel memory chips -- I forget if they were 256-bit or 1K-bit, -- I think 1K-bit Intel chips in this 8008 and created a system and we did special software. 8008 wasn't capable of running a BASIC Interpreter. That had always been my Holy Grail because I had played around writing a little bit of a BASIC Interpreter on a PDP-8, and a Data General machine. But the 8008 is basically an 8-bit machine with no programmable stack. Doing this traffic analysis software was pushing the limits.”
Side note: Gates states that the “8008 wasn't capable of running a BASIC Interpreter”.
Is that true?
Gates is correct in the sense that an 8008 is an incredibly limited chip and presents many challenges for creating many pieces of software (including a BASIC interpreter).
Before their custom 8008-based computer was even complete, Gates & Allen got to work building software for this new computer that could read in the tape and create traffic reports. How did they do it? By creating an 8008 simulator on an IBM System/360 — which they also used at the University of Washington.
Simulating an Intel 8008 on an IBM System/360 was apparently not uncommon in those days.
An IBM System/360 Model 20.
Their ultimate goal was to produce and sell these Traf-O-Data computers to government agencies who wanted to automate their traffic data analysis.
Gates and Allen scheduled a time to demo the machine with their first potential client of the computer, King County (where Seattle is located). Unfortunately, according to Gates:
“When the guy from the County that Seattle's in came to see it, it didn't work.”
That’s right.
This was Bill Gates’ very first commercial demo… and his hardware & software didn’t work.
If that isn’t epic foreshadowing, I don’t know what is.
Bill Gates after a Blue Screen of Death during a Windows 98 demo.
In the end, Traf-O-Data managed to net a total of around $20,000 before closing down in 1975… when Gates and Allen formed Micro-Soft with the purpose of developing a BASIC interpreter for the Altair 8800.
A “Traf-O-Data” business card on display at the New Mexico Museum of Natural History and Science.
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After the "Worker Intifada" declared they would occupy Microsoft Campus "as long as it takes" for Microsoft to cut ties with "the murderous Zionists", the event barely lasted past lunch.
Ads are filling the entirety of the Web -- websites, podcasts, YouTube videos, etc. -- at an increasing rate. Prices for those ad placements are plummeting. Consumers are desperate to use ad-blockers to make the web palatable. Google (and others) are desperate to break and block ad-blockers. All of which results in... more ads and lower pay for creators.
It's a fascinatingly annoying cycle. And there's only one viable way out of it.
I've got this 50% off deal with Lunduke Journal subscriptions (Monthly, Yearly, etc.) going this month. Which is great. All of the subscription options are great.
But... Might I make a suggestion?
Grab the Lifetime option. And do it while it's discounted.
Seriously. It's only $100 bucks (normally $200... but, you know, half off), and you only pay once.
Then you can get full access on both Substack and Locals (or just one if you prefer)... for life.
Considering how long The Lunduke Journal has been around -- and the fact that I've been covering Tech for roughly 20 years now -- that Lifetime option is shaping up to be just about the best deal. Ever.
Just a suggestion. Because if I wasn't the guy writing The Lunduke Journal... that's how I would subscribe to it.
The UK government has agreed to drop its request that Apple provide it with backdoor access to user data, U.S. Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard said on Monday.
Gabbard stated on X that the agreement came after months of working with UK partners, alongside President Donald Trump, and Vice President JD Vance, to ensure Americans’ private data and civil liberties are protected
“As a result, the UK has agreed to drop its mandate for Apple to provide a ‘back door’ that would have enabled access to the protected encrypted data of American citizens and encroached on our civil liberties,” she said.
Microsoft “Worker Intifada” Escalates, 18 Arrested, More Violence Planned
After two days of increasing levels of violence, with demands that Microsoft cut all ties to Israel, the anti-Jewish “Worker Intifada” is now planning to siege a transit center.
On August 19th, a group of Microsoft employees — working with some outside organizations and individuals — declared their intention to occupy a portion of Microsoft Main Campus, demanding that Microsoft cut all ties to Israel.
That August 19th event, by the self-declared “Worker Intifada”, lasted only 4 hours before those involved voluntarily left (after being told they may be subject to arrest). Following that event, the “Intifada” declared an intention to escalate activities.
Yesterday, August 20th, the “Worker Intifada” returned to Microsoft Main Campus East - which the “Intifada” has declared a “Liberated Zone”.
According to multiple reports, the organizers vandalized Microsoft property, stole furniture from both Microsoft and a the independent vendors at a Famers Market (which was scheduled to take place at that time), and screamed obscenities, anti-Jewish statements, and blood libel regarding Israel and Jews at those attending the Farmers Market on the Microsoft plaza.
The “Intifada” poured red paint — to symbolize blood — and laid out fake dead bodies around Microsoft signs. With many waving a Palestinian flag.
After refusing to cease vandalism and trespassing, 18 of the “Intifada” members became “aggressive”, and were arrested by Redmond Police Department.
“18 arrested for various charges during a protest at Microsoft Campus Redmond police are at the scene of a demonstration at the Microsoft campus.
On Aug 20, around 12:15 p.m., Redmond officers were dispatched to a large gathering of protestors in the Microsoft courtyard.
Officers initially attempted to trespass the protestors, but they resisted and became aggressive.
A few protesters had poured paint over the Microsoft sign and on the ground. Others had blocked a pedestrian bridge and were using stolen tables and chairs from vendors to form a barrier.
Officers took 18 into custody for multiple charges, including trespassing, malicious mischief, resisting arrest, and obstruction. No injuries were reported.”
The response from the “Intifada” organizers confirmed those details.
“In response to this peaceful opposition of war crimes, Microsoft and Redmond Police retaliated against protestors with the brutal mass arrest of 18 protestors, chemical weapons, and physical violence.
Current workers, former workers, and community members were hog-tied, violently dragged, and pepper sprayed in a repressive escalation. Microsoft and Redmond Police chose to dehumanize, brutalize, and criminalize people of conscience for opposing Microsoft's ACTUAL war crimes.
As we recognize the sacrifice made by those arrested today, we also recognize that this militarism and physical violence pale in comparison to the experiences Palestinians are forced to endure.
Every day for the past 22 months, the Israeli military has used Microsoft technology to starve and bomb Palestinians in Gaza, while actively displacing Palestinians in an ongoing campaign of ethnic cleansing.
Let us be clear: no violence will shut down escalation efforts against Microsoft's complicity in war crimes. The Worker Intifada is an answer to Gaza's call for action, and so The Worker Intifada will live on. THE MORE THEY TRY TO SILENCE US, THE LOUDER WE WILL BE!”
The “Worker Intifada” has another event planned for today — Thursday, August 21st, at 4pm — to “honor Palestinian martyrs killed with weapons and tools powered by Microsoft”.
This event appears to be planned in order to disrupt local traffic and transportation — the “Intifada” plans to gather at the “Redmond Technology Station”, a transit center and Park-and-Ride location used by Microsoft employees.
The event is timed to coincide, precisely, with the start of the evening rush hour — in an area which is known to experience significant traffic congestion.
The “Worker Intifada” has previously declared their intention to escalate their activities, stating “we will not rest”, “we will continue to escalate”, and that they will engage in activities which “cannot be ignored”.
Considering their usage of Hamas (a terrorist organization with the stated objective of the murder of all Jews and Israelis) language and talking points, it seems a reasonable assumption that this “Worker Intifada” is suggesting that they intend to commit increasingly violent acts.
Worker Intifada Occupies Microsoft Main Campus, Demands MS Cut All Ties With Israel
The group has declared an intention to occupy Microsoft East Campus Plaza until Microsoft cuts ties with “the murderous Zionists” and pays “reparations” for “AI Genocide”.
A group of Microsoft employees have launched what they are calling a “Worker Intifada” at Microsoft Main Campus in Redmond, Washington.
The “Intifada” group is demanding that Microsoft cut all ties with Israel, and pay reparations to the government of Gaza (Hamas)… an amount to be decided by later Hamas. Until Microsoft meets those demands, the “Intifada” is threatening to continue to occupy the Microsoft property.
“We will not be cogs in the Israeli genocidal machine: a call for a Worker Intifada": in a company-wide email to workers and leadership, Microsoft worker Julius Shan shared reminders of the company's complicity and announced the establishment of a Liberated Zone at the Martyred Palestinian Children's Plaza. Julius also called on fellow workers to join the global Worker Intifada, by escalating against Microsoft everywhere until all demands from the Liberated Zone are met. Read the full declaration from the Liberated Zone at: http://noaa.cc/worker-intifada”
This “Worker Intifada Liberated Zone” is taking place at what is known as “Microsoft East Campus Plaza” — which the “Intifada” has given the name “Martyred Palestinian Children’s Plaza”.
It is worth noting that this is right in the heart of the development of Microsoft’s most famous software. Office, Windows, Windows Media, and more were all developed within a very short walk of East Campus Plaza.
There has been some police and Microsoft security presence at the “Intifada Liberated Zone” so far today. As of this reporting, no serious events to report.
The “Worker Intifada”, in their statements (both written and verbal), repeatedly make known false statements and blood libel regarding Israel — and repeatedly use phrases common among anti-Jewish and anti-Israeli terrorist groups.
What follows are images of some of the statements made by this “Microsoft Worker Intifada”. Presented, without comment.
You can now run Windows NT (with Office) on a Nintendo Wii & an original iMac. Seriously. That's a real thing.
There are two things that bring me an unreasonable amount of joy:
The discovery of long-lost software.
Running software on hardware it was never intended to run on.
This story has both. I am positively giddy.
Microsoft Office for PowerPC
It is a well known fact that Windows NT was developed (and, in some cases, released) for multiple CPU architectures beyond the common x86 — including MIPS, DEC Alpa, and PowerPC.
In addition to Windows NT, Microsoft developed and released versions of Office (Word, Excel, Powerpoint) for those hardware platforms. Not much good having the operating system for a particular CPU… if you don’t have some software to run on it, right?
We’ve had public archives of Microsoft Office for both MIPS and Alpha CPUs for quite some time… but the PowerPC version of Office has, for whatever reason, remained elusive.
Antoni was alerted to an eBay listing of a boxed copy of MS Office 6.0. A box which, intriguingly, listed all four of the released Windows NT CPU architectures.
As Antoni said, “Since it clearly said PowerPC on the box I got it… and here it is:”
Check out that screenshot. Windows NT 4.0, running on a PPC 604 processor (with 32 MB of RAM)… running a native version of Microsoft Word 6.0.
The archive for the PowerPC version of Office is now hosted at VirtuallyFun.com. A major win for computer history preservation.
Now, buckle up, Buttercup. Because it gets weirder. And more awesome.
Windows NT For Wii & PowerMac
The archiving of historical software is, without question, important. But being able to actually run that software — on easily obtainable hardware — allows people to experience that part of computer history.
In theory, it should be able to run the PowerPC native version of Office 6.0 as well. Something I will need to be testing, for myself, very soon.
Now, you may be asking, “Why would I install Windows NT and Office on a Nintendo Wii”?
And, while there are many valid reasons for undertaking such an endeavor — including that whole “experiencing computer history first hand” thing we talked about — there is one purpose for running MS Word on a GameCube that eclipses all others:
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