----- Original Message -----
From: "ajp166" <ajp166_at_bellatlantic.net>
To: <classiccmp_at_classiccmp.org>
Sent: Sunday, April 21, 2002 11:59 AM
Subject: Re: Micro$oft Biz'droid Lusers (was: OT email response format)
> To: classiccmp_at_classiccmp.org <classiccmp_at_classiccmp.org>
> Date: Sunday, April 21, 2002 1:28 PM
>
>
> The whole mid 80s thing with workstations was a disaster in many respects
<snip>
> >Unfortunately, there was little freeware of any use for CP/M just as
> there is
> >for Windows. The OS was not available in source form, nor was it likely
> you'd
>
>
> Actually there was but the problem of incompatable media was crippling
> unless
> you had the majik 8"sssd box. The realy 80s was an explosive time for
> CP/M-80 software if you could get it in a form you could use.
Since the only standard format for CP/M was the SSSD (IBM 3740)
diskette, I believed then, as I still do, that your computer wasn't a
CP/M box unless it had those drives on it. I'm looking to rework a
design for the early Ampro Little Board, but with a 1797 instead of the
1770 just to get that. Of course there are still a zillion other formats
that it won't deal with properly for a while ...
> There was
> a large amount stuff published, but typing in 8-10 pages of listing was
> often
> a good reason not to pursue it. What was also a bonus was the amount of
> cheapware (low cost), stuff that was good but, cheap to buy.
>
There were plenty of development tools and "avant-garde" software for
dabblers, but little of any serious interest. It might have changed had it
not been for the arrival of the PC. <sigh>
Getting a complete picture of what was "out there" by way of freeware
and the like was terribly difficult at the time because there was no
generally accessible internet and there were no reasonably priced
home computers that were internet capable, even if there had been
an accessible 'net. Modems at 1200 baud were still costly, and that
was true, even for universities with their gazillions of taxpayer dollars.
>
> > find source code for any application that was of any use. Back then, if
> > you wanted development software tools that worked pretty well, you
> > bought Microsoft compilers, assemblers, linkers, etc. Their stuff worked,
was
> > adequately documented, etc.
>
> Actually back (pre 83ish) then MS was a language and development
> tool house and I'd say a fairly decent one at the time.
>
> >Nothing lasts forever, though.
>
> Roger that!
>
> Allison
>
>
Received on Sun Apr 21 2002 - 14:20:22 BST