Archived posting to the Leica Users Group, 2013/02/15
[Author Prev] [Author Next] [Thread Prev] [Thread Next] [Author Index] [Topic Index] [Home] [Search]I was using an Analog Devices macsym 2 process control computer running CPM when the IBM PC came out. It ran about 50x faster than the PC we got later, in fact a PC was not safe to use for many years for my purpose. It goes to show Microsoft were much better at marketing and law than engineering, and that is probably all that matters if you want to make lots of money... >________________________________ > From: Herbert Kanner <kanner at acm.org> >To: Leica Users Group <lug at leica-users.org> >Sent: Friday, 15 February 2013, 16:54 >Subject: Re: [Leica] The History of the Personal Computer > >There are many stories about why CPM was not the OS for the PC. I once saw >a video made by a close associate of Kildare (SP?), the CEO of Digital >Research in Pacific Grove, CA. The story was that the IBM guys, dressed to >kill, of course, descended unexpectedly on the company at a time when >Kildare and this associate were flying in Kildare's plane to a scheduled >meeting with a customer. The IBM guys were left to deal with Kildare's >wife, something these sexist guys wouldn't do. So they went to Microsoft, >which said that they could do an OS, and then bought one from Seattle >Software--he claimed that the latter OS was a rip-off of CPM, the Digital >Research system. IBM then went to Digital Research and gave them $100,000 >for signing a document stating that they would not sue IBM. > >When the PC went on sale, the original price did not include the OS. They >sold DOS for something under $50 and CPM for something over $100. > >All the above is my inaccurate memory of a video I saw some years ago and >would probably have a problem resurrecting, even via Google. > >Herbert Kanner >kanner at acm.org >650-326-8204 > >Question authority and the authorities will question you. > > > > >On Feb 15, 2013, at 7:39 AM, Frank Filippone wrote: > >> The Z-80 processor was used in several early computers, some for PC use, >> others for industrial control use.? It was, by far, the most common OS for >> special purpose industrial control computers. >> >> If I remember correctly, Radio Shack used an operating system made by >> Digital Research.....? CP/M, but customized it to their way of thinking. >> >> The OS was considered much more robust than the Apple or early IBM. >> >> Digital Research is best known for its refusal to write the OS for the IBM >> PC.... >> >> And the rest is history...... >> >> As I write this, I am working on an original TRS-80 Desk.? Original with >> modification: a new top.? My then boss wanted to get rid of it, so I >> repurposed it....and it is still today more steady than anything I have >> ever >> tried.? It will last another few decades...... >> >> >> >> Frank Filippone >> Red735i at verizon.net >> >> >> >> _______________________________________________ >> Leica Users Group. >> See http://leica-users.org/mailman/listinfo/lug for more information > > >_______________________________________________ >Leica Users Group. >See http://leica-users.org/mailman/listinfo/lug for more information > > >