It’s the 25th anniversary of the world’s most widely used spreadsheet program Excel. In these 25 years Microsoft Excel has evolved from “Multiplan” to “Excel.” The first spreadsheet program was created by Microsoft to be run on DOS and other operating systems. However as Lotus 1-2-3 began to take a lead, Microsoft decided to make their spreadsheet program easier to use and faster in operations.
Microsoft has created few videos of the history of Excel.
The first video 25 Years of Excel-lence, gives a quick history of Excel and the ways it is used by users all over the world from the 80s, 90s, and today.
In the next videos early videos developers, programmers and managers talk about how a “Multiplan” evolved from a simple command-line program to full-fledged GUI based tool.
History of Excel Part-1
History of Excel Part-2
Microsoft is also having a Share your memory of Excel contest celebrating Excel’s 25th anniversary on the official Excel Facebook fanpage. In this contest fans can share their Excel memories on the fan page. Winners are determined by getting friends to vote on submitted Excel memories. Two winners of the contest will be selected on February 4, 2011 and will receive an XBOX + Kinect package.