Works 2.x, introduced in 1990, required 512k and 3.x, introduced in 1992, required 640k. The initial version 1.x of Works ran on any PC with at least 256k of memory. On September 14, 1987, Microsoft unveiled Works for DOS.
As laptops grew in power, Microsoft Works, as it was to be called, evolved as a popular product in its own right. Initially it was to be a scaled-down version of Office for the (then) small laptops such as the Radio Shack TRS-80 Model 100 which Microsoft was developing. Boyd, convinced Williams to license the product to Microsoft instead. Bill Gates and his Head of Acquisitions, Alan M. Williams was planning to emulate the success of AppleWorks, a similar product for Apple II computers. Microsoft Works originated as MouseWorks, an integrated spreadsheet, word processor and database program, designed for the Macintosh by ex-Apple employee Don Williams and Rupert Lissner.
