3. Sun Microsystems: Java's Creator
Sun Microsystems made its mark on the software world with the creation of Java in 1995. Java's "write once, run anywhere" philosophy revolutionized programming, allowing developers to create software that could run on multiple platforms without modification. Sun also invented the Network File System, which greatly improved file sharing in office environments.
However, Sun's fortunes took a hit with the dot-com bubble burst in 2000. The company's stock price plummeted from over $250 to $10 in just two years. Sun's free distribution of Java, while promoting widespread adoption, didn't generate significant revenue. As cloud computing emerged, much of Sun's hardware business became obsolete. Oracle eventually acquired Sun for $7 billion, a fraction of its peak $200 billion market cap.