Pirates...

From: Marvin <marvin_at_rain.org>
Date: Tue Jun 22 22:05:34 1999

> Chandra Bajpai wrote:
>
>  #2 IBM came to Microsoft looking for an operating system for the IBM PC, not the other way around. Microsoft originally sent IBM to Gary Kildall (developer of CP/M) who refused to meet with them. IBM returned to Gates who, in turn, bought the OS from Kildall himself for $50K and then licensed it back to IBM. These facts were totally inaccurate in the film.
>
> #2 is incorrect...the movie is absolutely correct on that fact.  Seattle
> Computer Products developed QDOS for some product of theirs.  The guys
> name is Tim Patterson.  Gates bought the rights for $50K, renamed it and
> licensed to IBM.  Little know fact is that SCP retained the right to

#2 is partially correct according to the biographies I have read of that
transaction. IBM did approach MS first, and was referred back to DR by
Gates. When whatever happened at DR happened, IBM returned to MS. Gates then
took on the challenge and then bought the OS from Seattle Computer Products
(not DRI), and of course the rest is history.
Received on Tue Jun 22 1999 - 22:05:34 BST