Verigy -

Home > About Verigy > Company Info > Our History > 1980s

Our History
1980s

In a decade of growing global presence and rapid economic change, the massive impact of computer technology on all product lines results not only in products with higher performance at lower cost, but also in radical changes in processes and the organization as a whole.

HP becomes a major player in the computer industry in the 1980s with a full range of computers, from desktop machines to portables to powerful minicomputers.

Near the end of the decade, HP is recognized for its rich past as well as for its technological advances and products. The garage where HP started – and to which Verigy traces its roots -- is declared a California historical landmark, and HP celebrates its 50th anniversary.

1981

HP´s products become formally available in China when the China Hewlett-Packard Representative Office opens in Beijing.

1982

The electronic mail system developed by HP Limited in the United Kingdom is the first major wide-area commercial network of its kind based on minicomputers.
HP makes advances in business computing when it introduces HP 9000 technical computer with 32-bit "superchip" technology. The first "desktop mainframe" is as powerful as room-size computers of the 1960s.
HP´s first handheld computer, HP-75C, is introduced. With 16K RAM and 48K ROM, it runs BASIC and VisiCalc and can also be used as a clock and appointment alarm.
Yokogawa Hewlett-Packard wins the prestigious Deming prize for quality.

1983

HP allows users to activate features on their PCs simply by touching the screen when it introduces its first touchscreen personal computer, HP-150.
Bill Hewlett is awarded the National Medal of Science, the nation's highest scientific honor.

1984

Thermal inkjet technology developed at HP is introduced in a high-quality, low-price personal printer, HP ThinkJet. With its far superior printing quality and inexpensive price, the ThinkJet spells the end to noisy dot-matrix printers. HP also introduces HP LaserJet printer—HP's most successful single product.
Inkjet technology research began at HP Labs in 1978. Although large, industrial inkjet-marking devices already existed, they weren't suitable for document printing needs. By miniaturizing the technology and offering it in the form of a personal printer, HP is able to offer better print quality than serial dot-matrix printing, quieter operation, extremely low power consumption and, eventually, high-quality, low-cost color.

1985

World´s first microprocessor-based network analyzer allows users to make fast and convenient magnitude or phase-response measurements in near real time across previously unheard-of frequency ranges.
China Hewlett-Packard (CHP), the first high-tech joint venture in China, is established. . It is this early spirit of pioneering ventures in new geographies that has resulted in Verigy’s tremendous footprint for a young company. Verigy’s presence in Shanghai dates back to these early days of HP global expansion.

1986

HP is the first major computer Company to introduce a precision architecture based on reduced instruction set computing (RISC). This first commercial use of RISC microprocessors makes powerful computers faster and less expensive. The development effort takes five years and is HP's most expensive R&D effort to this point.

1987

Bill Hewlett retires as vice chairman of the board of directors.
The birthplace of HP, the original garage rented by Dave Packard at 367 Addison Ave., is granted California state landmark status as California Registered Landmark No. 976.
HP begins its hardware recycling program.

1988

Digital multi-meter makes high-frequency, high-accuracy, and high-resolution voltage measurements with one instrument.
HP moves into top 50 on Fortune 500 listing: No. 49.
HP enters the digital integrated-circuit product-test market with the HP 82000 Digital IC Test Characterization system, the industry’s first IC test system with a test per-pin-architecture, enabling highest throughput for digital test.

1989

HP celebrates 50th anniversary.
Introduction of TMSL (Test and Measurement Systems Language) solves the problem of having to write software to communicate with different instruments in a test system. TMSL initiates a new industry communication standard.

<< 1970s

1990s >>

HP Laserjet Printer (1984)