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To: HerbVic who wrote (33557)	6/1/2002 11:20:06 PM
From: Don Green	Read Replies (1) \| Respond to of 213177

HerbVic > I remember distinctly that it gave the social connections between the parents and someone high up in IBM's management. I have also read many books and articles about Bill, but never read anything about that. If you should ever find it again please post a ref. When I reflect back I seem to remember that IBM was in somewhat of a time crisis to find a solution for their O.S. issue and were looking everywhere for an answer. So they must of had a lot of leads. (I will do some research on this area myself), I just think it was pure luck. But what happened in future years with MSFT is where the real story is interesting. O.T. Another and even more interesting story is about Howard Hughes and what he was able to do with what he got from his father. Regards Don

To: HerbVic who wrote (33557)	6/1/2002 11:34:18 PM
From: Don Green	Read Replies (2) \| Respond to of 213177

HerbVic, Of course all of this has been posted before... In 1980, IBM first approached Bill Gates and Microsoft, to discuss the state of home computers and Microsoft products. Gates gave IBM a few ideas on what would make a great home computer, among them to have Basic written into the ROM chip. Microsoft had already produced several versions of Basic for different computer system beginning with the Altair, so Gates was more than happy to write a version for IBM. As for an operating system (OS) for the new computers, since Microsoft had never written an operating system before, Gates had suggested that IBM investigate an OS called CP/M (Control Program for Microcomputers), written by Gary Kildall of Digital Research. Kindall had his Ph.D. in computers and had written the most successful operating system of the time, selling over 600,000 copies of CP/M, his OS set the standard at that time. IBM tried to contact Kildall for a meeting, executives met with Mrs. Kildall who refused to sign a non-disclosure agreement. IBM soon returned to Bill Gates and gave Microsoft the contract to write the new operating system, one that would eventually wipe Kildall's CP/M out of common use. inventors.about.com Microsoft - in the deal of the century - bought Seattle Computer Products "Quick and Dirty operating system" for a mere $ 50,000 - without Seattle Computer Products knowing it was for IBM - and then proceeded to talk IBM into letting Microsoft also market it separate from the IBM PC project. Microsoft had the market savvy and already realized the potential profit - or "revenue bomb" - their own operating system and languages might generate. It was a frantic several months of around the clock work to meet the product introduction deadline. IBM gave Microsoft hardware prototypes of their PC to develop Basic and the new operating system for. IBM required strict security procedures, which Microsoft felt were silly. Microsoft's Bellevue offices and IBM's Boca Raton, Florida, production facilities were at exact opposite ends of the country, necessitating hundreds of flights to hastily called meetings - usually by IBM. Despite these problems, and the clash of corporate cultures, - the deadline of introducing the IBM PC on August 12, 1981 was met. . inventors.about.com