Brad Silverberg
Encyclopedia
Brad Silverberg is most noted for his work at Microsoft
in 1990–1999 as Senior VP and product manager for MS-DOS
, Windows
, Internet Explorer
, and Office
. He was named PC Magazine's Person of the Year http://www.cvm.qc.ca/mlaflamme/info/WhoseWho/Silverbe.html in 1995 for his leadership of Windows 95
.
, and an MS in Computer Science from University of Toronto
. His first work experience was research at SRI International
, one of the four first ARPANET
nodes. Also early in his career Silverberg worked in the early 1980s at Apple Computer
on the failed Lisa
project http://www.thestandard.com/article/0,1902,28021,00.html.
Later Silverberg was hired as the first employee at Analytica, a Silicon Valley
startup. After 1985, Brad Silverberg was VP of engineering at Borland
after their acquisition of Analytica.
At the start of his tenure, the personal systems division was already a prime moneymaker with MS-DOS
, at that time sold only through OEM
s. After shipping Windows 95, he turned his fulltime focus onto the Internet efforts at Microsoft, which led to the creation of the Internet Platform and Tools Division 1996, which he led.
In 1997, Brad was given responsibilities for Office but his principal interest remained with the Internet. He took a sabbatical that summer to reflect on where the Internet was going at Microsoft. He returned as a part-time consultant for new president and later CEO, Steve Ballmer. On October 29, 1999, he left Microsoft.
Microsoft
Microsoft Corporation is an American public multinational corporation headquartered in Redmond, Washington, USA that develops, manufactures, licenses, and supports a wide range of products and services predominantly related to computing through its various product divisions...
in 1990–1999 as Senior VP and product manager for MS-DOS
MS-DOS
MS-DOS is an operating system for x86-based personal computers. It was the most commonly used member of the DOS family of operating systems, and was the main operating system for IBM PC compatible personal computers during the 1980s to the mid 1990s, until it was gradually superseded by operating...
, Windows
Microsoft Windows
Microsoft Windows is a series of operating systems produced by Microsoft.Microsoft introduced an operating environment named Windows on November 20, 1985 as an add-on to MS-DOS in response to the growing interest in graphical user interfaces . Microsoft Windows came to dominate the world's personal...
, Internet Explorer
Internet Explorer
Windows Internet Explorer is a series of graphical web browsers developed by Microsoft and included as part of the Microsoft Windows line of operating systems, starting in 1995. It was first released as part of the add-on package Plus! for Windows 95 that year...
, and Office
Microsoft Office
Microsoft Office is a non-free commercial office suite of inter-related desktop applications, servers and services for the Microsoft Windows and Mac OS X operating systems, introduced by Microsoft in August 1, 1989. Initially a marketing term for a bundled set of applications, the first version of...
. He was named PC Magazine's Person of the Year http://www.cvm.qc.ca/mlaflamme/info/WhoseWho/Silverbe.html in 1995 for his leadership of Windows 95
Windows 95
Windows 95 is a consumer-oriented graphical user interface-based operating system. It was released on August 24, 1995 by Microsoft, and was a significant progression from the company's previous Windows products...
.
Early career
Brad Silverberg earned a BS degree magna cum laude in Computer Science from Brown UniversityBrown University
Brown University is a private, Ivy League university located in Providence, Rhode Island, United States. Founded in 1764 prior to American independence from the British Empire as the College in the English Colony of Rhode Island and Providence Plantations early in the reign of King George III ,...
, and an MS in Computer Science from University of Toronto
University of Toronto
The University of Toronto is a public research university in Toronto, Ontario, Canada, situated on the grounds that surround Queen's Park. It was founded by royal charter in 1827 as King's College, the first institution of higher learning in Upper Canada...
. His first work experience was research at SRI International
SRI International
SRI International , founded as Stanford Research Institute, is one of the world's largest contract research institutes. Based in Menlo Park, California, the trustees of Stanford University established it in 1946 as a center of innovation to support economic development in the region. It was later...
, one of the four first ARPANET
ARPANET
The Advanced Research Projects Agency Network , was the world's first operational packet switching network and the core network of a set that came to compose the global Internet...
nodes. Also early in his career Silverberg worked in the early 1980s at Apple Computer
Apple Computer
Apple Inc. is an American multinational corporation that designs and markets consumer electronics, computer software, and personal computers. The company's best-known hardware products include the Macintosh line of computers, the iPod, the iPhone and the iPad...
on the failed Lisa
Apple Lisa
The Apple Lisa—also known as the Lisa—is a :personal computer designed by Apple Computer, Inc. during the early 1980s....
project http://www.thestandard.com/article/0,1902,28021,00.html.
Later Silverberg was hired as the first employee at Analytica, a Silicon Valley
Silicon Valley
Silicon Valley is a term which refers to the southern part of the San Francisco Bay Area in Northern California in the United States. The region is home to many of the world's largest technology corporations...
startup. After 1985, Brad Silverberg was VP of engineering at Borland
Borland
Borland Software Corporation is a software company first headquartered in Scotts Valley, California, Cupertino, California and finally Austin, Texas. It is now a Micro Focus subsidiary. It was founded in 1983 by Niels Jensen, Ole Henriksen, Mogens Glad and Philippe Kahn.-The 1980s:...
after their acquisition of Analytica.
Career at Microsoft
In 1990, Brad Silverberg left Borland to lead the personal systems division at Microsoft. A number of people left Borland to follow him at Microsoft in the following years, leading to a number of failed lawsuits from Borland http://www.findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_qa3649/is_199705/ai_n8761763.At the start of his tenure, the personal systems division was already a prime moneymaker with MS-DOS
MS-DOS
MS-DOS is an operating system for x86-based personal computers. It was the most commonly used member of the DOS family of operating systems, and was the main operating system for IBM PC compatible personal computers during the 1980s to the mid 1990s, until it was gradually superseded by operating...
, at that time sold only through OEM
Original Equipment Manufacturer
An original equipment manufacturer, or OEM, manufactures products or components that are purchased by a company and retailed under that purchasing company's brand name. OEM refers to the company that originally manufactured the product. When referring to automotive parts, OEM designates a...
s. After shipping Windows 95, he turned his fulltime focus onto the Internet efforts at Microsoft, which led to the creation of the Internet Platform and Tools Division 1996, which he led.
In 1997, Brad was given responsibilities for Office but his principal interest remained with the Internet. He took a sabbatical that summer to reflect on where the Internet was going at Microsoft. He returned as a part-time consultant for new president and later CEO, Steve Ballmer. On October 29, 1999, he left Microsoft.