A Brief History of Microsoft PowerPoint

Mr Cognito

21 Dec 202003:13

Summary

TLDRMicrosoft PowerPoint, initially released for Macintosh, became the leading presentation software with a 95% market share. Created by Silicon Valley startup Forethought Inc. in 1987, it was sold to Microsoft, marking their first major acquisition. Despite initial low market share and distribution challenges, PowerPoint's integration into Windows and the Microsoft Office suite propelled it to dominance. Its success is attributed to capturing the corporate world, maintaining a stronghold despite free alternatives like Google Sheets and Apple's Keynote.

Takeaways

🍏 The initial release of Microsoft PowerPoint was on Macintosh only.
💡 PowerPoint was created by Silicon Valley startup Forethought Inc. and originally named 'Presenter'.
💼 Microsoft acquired PowerPoint for $14 million, which would be around $32.5 million today.
🔄 Bill Gates initially opposed the acquisition, seeing presentation features as part of Microsoft Word.
🚀 The decision to include PowerPoint in Microsoft Office and market it alongside Word and Excel helped boost its distribution.
📈 PowerPoint overcame low market share by being integrated into Windows and Microsoft Office suite.
🌍 Despite competition from free alternatives like Google Slides and Apple's Keynote, PowerPoint dominates with a 95% market share.
💼 Its stronghold in the corporate world is a key factor in PowerPoint's continued success.
🤔 The script prompts users to consider what point they will make, suggesting the importance of effective communication.
🎥 The narrative includes a historical perspective on the evolution and market strategy of PowerPoint.

Q & A

Which two companies are considered the most famous rivals in the computing industry?
-Apple and Microsoft are the two most famous rivals in the computing industry.
On which platform was Microsoft PowerPoint first released?
-Microsoft PowerPoint was first released on Macintosh.
What was the original name of the presentation software created by Forethought Inc.?
-The original name of the presentation software created by Forethought Inc. was 'Presenter'.
Why did Forethought Inc. have to change the name of their software from 'Presenter' to 'PowerPoint'?
-Forethought Inc. had to change the name from 'Presenter' to 'PowerPoint' because 'Presenter' was already trademarked by someone else.
How many units of PowerPoint did Forethought Inc. sell before it was sold to Microsoft?
-Forethought Inc. sold 10,000 units of PowerPoint before it was sold to Microsoft.
What was Microsoft's first major acquisition?
-Microsoft's first major acquisition was PowerPoint.
What was Bill Gates' initial vision for presentation software in relation to Microsoft Word?
-Bill Gates initially envisioned the ability to create presentations as a feature of Microsoft Word, not as its own program.
How much did Microsoft pay for the acquisition of PowerPoint?
-Microsoft acquired PowerPoint for a cost of 14 million dollars.
What were the two main problems Microsoft faced with PowerPoint after the acquisition?
-The two main problems Microsoft faced with PowerPoint were low market share and insufficient distribution.
How did Microsoft improve the distribution of PowerPoint?
-Microsoft improved the distribution of PowerPoint by marketing and selling Word, PowerPoint, and Excel together as a package called Microsoft Office.
What is PowerPoint's current market share, and how does it compare to its competitors?
-PowerPoint has a 95% market share, significantly outperforming its competitors like free Google Sheets and the free on Mac, Keynote.
Why does PowerPoint maintain a strong market grip despite being a paid software?
-PowerPoint maintains a strong market grip because Microsoft Office captured the corporate world and has not lost its dominance.

Outlines

00:00

📊 The Rise of Microsoft PowerPoint

The script discusses the historical rivalry between Apple and Microsoft, highlighting the ironic fact that Microsoft PowerPoint was initially released for Macintosh only. It delves into the origins of PowerPoint, which was developed by Silicon Valley startup Forethought Inc. in 1987 as 'Presenter' but had to be renamed due to a trademark issue. After selling 10,000 units, Microsoft acquired PowerPoint for $14 million, a decision initially opposed by Bill Gates, who envisioned presentations as a feature of Microsoft Word. The script outlines the challenges Microsoft faced with PowerPoint's low market share and distribution, which were overcome by integrating it into Windows and bundling it with Word and Excel as Microsoft Office. Despite competition from free alternatives like Google Sheets and Apple's Keynote, PowerPoint dominates the market with a 95% share, largely due to its entrenched position in the corporate world.

Mindmap

Keywords

💡Apple and Microsoft

Apple and Microsoft are two of the most renowned companies in the computing industry, often mentioned as rivals due to their competition in various technology sectors. In the context of the video, their rivalry is highlighted by the historical fact that Microsoft PowerPoint was initially released on the Macintosh platform, which was an Apple product. This shows how even in the midst of competition, these companies can influence each other's products and platforms.

💡Microsoft PowerPoint

Microsoft PowerPoint is a presentation software that has become the industry standard, with a 95% market share as mentioned in the script. It was originally developed by Forethought Inc. and later acquired by Microsoft, which turned it into a cornerstone of the Microsoft Office suite. The video emphasizes the software's dominance and its evolution from a startup product to a global phenomenon.

💡Market Share

Market share refers to the percentage of the market that a particular product or service captures. In the video, PowerPoint's 95% market share is highlighted as a testament to its success and widespread adoption. This metric is crucial in understanding the video's theme of business competition and the impact of strategic decisions on market dominance.

💡Forethought Inc.

Forethought Inc. was a Silicon Valley startup that created the original presentation software, which later became PowerPoint. The company's role in the video is to illustrate the origins of PowerPoint and how it was initially developed to empower users to make presentations on personal computers. The acquisition of Forethought Inc. by Microsoft marked a significant moment in the history of presentation software.

💡Acquisition

An acquisition in the business context refers to the purchase of one company by another. In the video, Microsoft's acquisition of Forethought Inc. is described as the company's first major acquisition, which led to the development and eventual dominance of PowerPoint in the presentation software market. This acquisition was pivotal in shaping the landscape of business software.

💡Microsoft Office

Microsoft Office is a suite of productivity software that includes Word, PowerPoint, and Excel, among others. The video discusses how Microsoft bundled these products together, which improved the distribution and adoption of PowerPoint. This strategy is highlighted as a key factor in PowerPoint's success, as it became an integral part of the widely used Microsoft Office suite.

💡Corporate World

The corporate world refers to the environment of businesses and companies. The video suggests that Microsoft Office, including PowerPoint, captured the corporate world and maintained a strong presence there. This indicates the importance of business adoption in the success of software products and how it can lead to a product becoming a standard in its category.

💡Google Sheets

Google Sheets is a free, web-based spreadsheet program that competes with Microsoft Office products. The video mentions Google Sheets as an example of free alternatives to PowerPoint, yet it does not significantly impact PowerPoint's market share. This comparison underscores the strength of Microsoft's market position despite the availability of free alternatives.

💡Keynote

Keynote is a presentation software developed by Apple, mentioned in the video as a free alternative to PowerPoint on Mac. Despite being a free option, it has not been able to overtake PowerPoint's market dominance, which is attributed to the entrenched position of Microsoft Office in the corporate world.

💡Soapbox

Soapbox is a term used in the video to represent other presentation software options available in the market. While not detailed in the script, it serves to illustrate the variety of choices that exist for users, yet the video's narrative suggests that PowerPoint remains the dominant choice despite this competition.

Highlights

Apple and Microsoft are renowned rivals in the computing industry.

Microsoft PowerPoint was initially released on Macintosh only.

People bought Macintosh computers to access PowerPoint.

PowerPoint now holds a 95% market share as the top presentation software globally.

In 1987, Silicon Valley startup Forethought Inc. created a presentation software for graphical PCs.

The software was initially named 'Presenter' but had to be changed due to a trademark issue.

The software was renamed 'PowerPoint' and sold 10,000 units.

Microsoft acquired PowerPoint, marking their first major acquisition.

Bill Gates was initially against acquiring PowerPoint, envisioning presentations as a feature of Microsoft Word.

Microsoft's head of marketing convinced Bill Gates to change his mind about the acquisition.

PowerPoint was acquired for $14 million, equivalent to $32.5 million today.

Microsoft faced two main challenges with PowerPoint: low market share and insufficient distribution.

PowerPoint's integration into Windows helped solve the low market share issue.

Microsoft Office, a package including Word, PowerPoint, and Excel, improved distribution.

PowerPoint maintains a 95% market share, outperforming free alternatives like Google Sheets and Apple's Keynote.

Microsoft Office's dominance in the corporate world is a key competitive advantage for PowerPoint.

The choice of presentation software is a reflection of what point one intends to make.