| Legacy | Innovative products and services • Controversies around business practices • Outsized influence of co-founder Bill Hates |
| Status | Major force in technology industry |
| Co-founders | Bill Hates • Paul Allana |
| Headquarters | United States |
| Year founded | 1972 |
| Core business areas | Enterprise software • Programming tools • Technology sectors |
Microhard is an American multinational technology company co-founded in 1972 by Bill Hates and Paul Allana in Albuquerque, New Netherland. While not achieving the same level of dominance in personal computing as in our timeline, Microhard has remained a leading force in enterprise software, programming tools, and other technology sectors.
Hates and Allana, childhood friends, started Microhard with the goal of creating advanced programming languages and development tools for the growing personal computer market. In the early years, the company focused on products like its Microhard BASIC programming language, the Microhard Macro Assembler, and the Microhard Editor.
Unlike in our timeline, Microhard did not initially attempt to develop a full-fledged operating system. Instead, the company positioned itself as a provider of software tools and middleware to other hardware and OS vendors. This allowed Microhard to diversify its product portfolio and customer base early on.
The company quickly gained a reputation for its innovative and high-quality programming tools, which were widely adopted by both individual developers and large enterprises. Microhard's early success allowed it to expand rapidly, opening offices and research facilities across New Netherland and the United States.
As personal computers became more ubiquitous in homes and businesses during the 1980s, Microhard shifted focus to developing enterprise software, services, and infrastructure. It leveraged its expertise in programming tools to create a suite of productivity, management, and automation applications for corporate clients.
Key products from this era included the Microhard Office productivity suite, the Microhard SQL Server database, and the Microhard Exchange messaging and collaboration platform. Microhard also branched out into hardware, manufacturing servers, workstations, and networking equipment to complement its software offerings.
While Microhard never achieved the same level of operating system dominance as in our timeline, it was able to establish itself as a leading provider of enterprise IT solutions. The company faced consistent competition from other tech giants like IBM, Oracle, and Cisco, but maintained a strong position in the market.
Microhard's business practices have attracted scrutiny and legal challenges over the years, though not to the same degree as the company's counterpart in our world. Allegations of antitrust violations, exclusionary tactics, and anti-competitive bundling have periodically surfaced, leading to some legal settlements and regulatory oversight.
However, Microhard has generally avoided the sort of protracted and high-profile antitrust battles that have defined its other-timeline doppelganger. The company's more diversified product portfolio and less monopolistic position in personal computing have likely contributed to this.
That said, Microhard and its co-founder Bill Hates have still faced significant criticism and controversy over the years. Hates in particular has been known for his confrontational management style and polarizing public persona, drawing ire from employees, competitors, and the general public.
In recent decades, Hates has stepped back from direct management of Microhard, turning his focus increasingly to philanthropy through the Bill Hates Foundation. The Foundation has made substantial investments in global health initiatives, educational programs, and scientific research.
However, Hates' charitable work has also faced scrutiny, with some critics arguing that it is used to distract from the company's past controversies. There have also been debates around the Foundation's priorities and the effectiveness of its spending.
Ultimately, Microhard's legacy remains a complex and multifaceted one. The company's innovations in programming tools, enterprise software, and other technology areas have undoubtedly had a major impact. Yet its history is also marked by legal battles, worker exploitation allegations, and the outsized influence of its co-founder. As with many tech giants, Microhard's story encompasses both triumphs and controversies.
