On 8/7/23 12:26 PM, Jon Perryman wrote:
Was it a smart decision for IBM to sell the software that became
Microsoft?
Please clarify what IBM sold to Microsoft.
My understanding is that Microsoft, an existing but small company, came
to IBM and said "here, we have an operating system for the IBM PC that
you are developing, would you like to license copies from us for each
unit that you sell?".
Specifically:
- Microsoft had (MS-)DOS independent of and without IBM.
- Microsoft had a non-exclusive deal with IBM and therefor was allowed
to sell it to whomever they wanted, including directly as MS-DOS.
Given your following statement, I doubt that you are referring to OS/2
in your previous statement.
How about creating OS/2 a few years later to fill the void they sold?
My understanding was that IBM and Microsoft co-developed OS/2 ostensibly
as a DOS successor. One of the partners decided to end the partnership.
I'm not aware of Microsoft purchasing any rights from IBM at the time as
Microsoft went on to develop Windows NT partially based on OS/2. IBM
went on to develop and enhance OS/2.
So I ask again, please clarify what did IBM sell to Microsoft in the
context of this thread.
Grant. . . .
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