Timeline of key events in Dell's history Source: Dell Computer Corp. 1984 -- Michael Dell begins his computer business at the University of Texas at Austin, often hiding his IBM PCs in his roommate's bathtub when his family would visit. His dorm room business officially becomes Dell Computer Corp. on May 3, 1984. 1985 -- Company introduces the first PC of its own design: The Turbo, featuring Intel 8088 processor running at 8 megahertz. 1986 -- Dell Computer grows to 250 employees, and …showed first 75 words of 358 total…

…showed last 75 words of 358 total…Today, online sales total more than $14 million per day. Asia-Pacific manufacturing center in Penang, Malaysia, opens. Company is added to Standard & Poor's 500 stock index. 1997 -- Dell ships its 10-millionth computer system. Value of stock reaches $1,000 per share on pre-split basis. Company introduces its first workstation systems. 1998 -- Dell expands manufacturing facilities in the Americas and Europe and opens production and customer center in Xiamen, China. 1999 -- Dell announces expansion into the Nashville area.