Basic history of Access

[Robin]

I've not had any luck finding this info on the web - so I
thought I'd ask here.

I'm working on a paper for a database class that I'm in
and I need a basic history of Access. When it was first
introduced, it's original purpose, popularity / growth
rate, general stuff like that.

So far I've only found one site that has a history - but
it's only pictures of retail boxes with a list of part
numbers, media type, and retail price.

Essientially, I'd like to address the following areas
without going into a huge amount of detail: security,
object-oriented capabilities, web-interface, backup
methods, support, price (both personal and corporate),
scalability, manageability, power (capabilities), and
it's reliability (mainly in a corporate environment for
multi-user access)

Anyone care to offer up some info?

Thanks

 

[Jeff Conrad]

Did you find this link?:

http://www.microsoft.com/Office/previous/access/10years/history.asp

It does not, however, include Access 2003 which was released in October of 2003.
If you need a description of the new features in Access 2003 use this link:

http://support.microsoft.com/?id=823089

Hope that helps,

 

[Guest]

Thanks Jeff! I did not find that one. I already have
the '03 info off the '03 Access page. I really just
needed some history for an intro.

You rock - Happy Halloween!

 

[Jeff Conrad]

You're welcome, glad to help.
Good luck with your paper and Happy Halloween to you as well.

 

[Arvin Meyer]

Access 1.0 shipped on October 28, 1992. I received my copy a day later, and
have made it my life ever since. If you'd like, I have a copy of a photo of
the bronze plaque embedded in the "walk of fame" at the Microsoft campus.

By February of 1993, it had sold more than a million copies, outselling all
other database products combined. It still outsells them all and at over 250
million users now ranks number 1 in RDBMS sales and users. Jeff's pointing
you to the timeline will help, so will the 10th anniversary "Access Heros"
columns:

http://www.microsoft.com/Office/previous/access/10years/heroes.asp
--
Arvin Meyer, MCP, MVP
Microsoft Access
Free Access downloads:
http://www.datastrat.com
http://www.mvps.org/access

 

[Jeff Conrad]

Thanks for the added history information/links Arvin!
Very interesting!

 

[Fred Boer]

Hi Arvin!

Yes, I hadn't seen that link before.. I look forward to reading about all
you "heroes"! I'd like a copy of that picture if you don't mind; you can
derive my email by removing the spam blocking associated with this post.
What is the "walk of fame"?

Cheers!
Fred Boer

 

[Tony Toews]

Yes, I hadn't seen that link before.. I look forward to reading about all
you "heroes"! I'd like a copy of that picture if you don't mind; you can
derive my email by removing the spam blocking associated with this post.
What is the "walk of fame"?

It's a sidewalk, about 12' or 15' wide IIRC, leading to a building
with plaques in it with the product box (or logo maybe), product name
and version number.

We just happened to run, ok, make that walk, across it on our last
visit to Microsoft.

Quite interesting to see such older products as Bob, Windows for
Workgroups, Wine and so forth. Wine was a CD on the drinkable Wine,
and not the product which is "not" a Windows emulator.

Tony
--
Tony Toews, Microsoft Access MVP
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