Re: [libreoffice-users] Re: Microsoft Revisits the '80s With MS-DOS, Word for Windows Source Code,

On Sat, 05 Apr 2014 13:57:48 -0400
James Knott <james.knott@rogers.com> wrote:

> Kracked_P_P---webmaster wrote:
> > On 04/04/2014 05:56 PM, CVAlkan wrote:
> > > Not sure if my recollections are correct, but I don't believe
> > > either DOS (before 2.x) or the DOS version of Word were written
> > > by Microsoft. I seem to
> > > recall that both were purchased and re-branded.
>
> DOS was bought from Seattle Computer Products and it was originally
> intended to be a hardware test system, while waiting for CP/M-86,
> rather than a proper OS.
> > Do not remember 8 inch ones.  I remember 10 inch, and then the 5.x
> > inch ones. [single sided and then double sided]
>
> The first floppies, as invented by IBM, were 8".  There never were
> 10" floppies.

8", 5-1/4", then 3-1/2".  The first Winchester drives were 10", IIRC.

DOS *was* originally designed and written by SCP, but I do not recall
it being a "test" system.  Digital Research was essentially ignoring
the new Intel processors, and the people that formed SCP finally got
tired of waiting for something that showed no signs of ever
happening, and created what became DOS.  That was half of a
double-screw up by Gary Kildall, who formed and led DRI.  The 2nd
screw-up (this story is apocryphal) was him leaving visitors from IBM
to meet with his wife, rather than him.  IBM decided DRI was not
serious, stopped in to see Gates, Gates bought "DOS," and the rest is
history.  So is DRI.

I still have a well-thumbed and somewhat yellowed CP/M 1.4 User's
Manual on my bookshelf :)  Says "Distributed by Lifeboat Associates"
on it.  Anybody remember them?

Regards,
Jim
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