What if Apple went bankrupt in 1997?

[maflynn]

Microsoft didn't create or invent any DOS.

I know, hence I wrote "MS then set out to license QDOS from Seattle Computer Co"

 

[phrehdd]

I know, hence I wrote "MS then set out to license QDOS from Seattle Computer Co"

You said - "PC DOS was written by Microsoft" which is not exactly correct. QDOS was polished by MS, rebranded as PC DOS and as I said, in so many words updated by MS until version 6.1 . Perhaps this is just semantics or poor word usage.

Anyway, MS was in bed with both IBM then (with respect to the story), Apple with the "PINK" project.

 

[iMi]

Microsoft didn't create or invent any DOS. They bought it for about 50 grand and went into licensing with IBM. Up to version 6.1, PC DOS was just MS DOS rebranded. After 6.1, PC DOS was only an IBM product. Many still consider DOS to have been at best "inspired" and at worst ripped off from CP/M. Ironically, the creator of CP/M ended up later working for Microsoft.

My only chortle was when Bill Gates publicly stated that OS/2 will be the greatest operating system yet. Admittedly, though not an Apple user then, I was very excited about the "Pink" project that didn't get beyond the drawing board.

I've read somewhere that Bill Gates actually had a deal with IBM already in place when we acquired DOS for pennies on the dollar given the size of the IBM agreement. I'm not sure it's true, but that's what I remember reading years ago.

 

[phrehdd]

I've read somewhere that Bill Gates actually had a deal with IBM already in place when we acquired DOS for pennies on the dollar given the size of the IBM agreement. I'm not sure it's true, but that's what I remember reading years ago.

Best I recall (and this is just recall as said) is that IBM went to Gates first, then decided to go elsewhere but could not get a proper disclosure and license deal that IBM wanted and then came back to Gates. In that period of time they already acquired the DOS for 50grand.

DOS for what it was remained one of my fav OS's, especially when at the time using a Pharlap extender. Then again I remember when "Egghead" was the software store to go to. It was a time before MS screwed over everyone with their shady marketing crap. As some recall there were plenty of word processors that were superior to Word and Excel had nothing on spreadsheets like Quatro Pro etc. However, in the end they won out and here we are today with an OS (Windows) that has an obtuse abstraction layer and bloat.

 

[maflynn]

You said - "PC DOS was written by Microsoft" which is not exactly correct. QDOS was polished by MS, rebranded as PC DOS and as I said, in so many words updated by MS until version 6.1 . Perhaps this is just semantics or poor word usage.

Anyway, MS was in bed with both IBM then (with respect to the story), Apple with the "PINK" project.

You're right, initially it was licensed, but then it was produced in house from there on in.

I did mention though, gates went right out and licensed qdos, because they needed to roll something out and I believe if memory serves me, they didn't just QDOS to IBM, but they also added and updated it but when they agreed to license DOS to IBM, they had no DOS to license which was a bold move by Gates.