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<DIV>Bill Gates and Microsoft owe everything they have to Big Blue (IBM). At the time the Apple II came out IBM saw there was a need and wanted in on the PC market. The had the hardware but needed the software. IBM went to Microsoft and was turned down because Microsoft didn't have a operating system to sell. IBM went to another software company (can't remember who it was) in Seattle and they were just too busy to talk to the suits from IBM. IBM went back to Microsoft a second time and Bill being the smart guy he was told IBM that they had an operating system for IBM. </DIV>
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<DIV>In reality Microsoft didn't have the operating system at all but IBM didn't know that at the time. I believe Paul Allen (co-founder of Microsoft) went cross town to a buddy who just happen to have a operating system. He bought it for $50,000.00 and then sold the rights to IBM. But in the contract between Microsoft and IBM Bill Gates put in that Microsoft had the rights to sell the Operating system and any related software titles to any other computer manufacturer that came along. IBM agreed, blind to the idea that anyone else would get in the PC market besides IBM and APPLE. </DIV>
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<DIV>Along came the "Clones". Smart was Bill Gates in the early years. It didn't take long for the computers geeks of the time to take apart the IBM PC and clone it with parts that you buy off the shelf and build their own systems. Unlike Apple which is all proprietary, IBM was built with items anyone could buy off the shelf. All you had to do is figure out what parts you needed and then build their own computers. In comes Microsoft which has written software that will run on these new clone computers and the rest is history. </DIV>
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<DIV>Bill Gates, the college drop out, and a couple of friends were in the right place at the right time. As for Steve Jobs and Apple, well they probably had the better machine at the time and maybe still do, but their marketing and software wasn't what the people at the time wanted, that was the downfall of Apple. As for Big Blue, well I think everyone knows their PC troubles and can see what market share they have today. </DIV>
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<DIV>Source for this email comes from PBS special "Revenge of the Nerds" the beginning of the Personal Computer. Interesting stuff. If it comes on it's worth a look</DIV>
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<DIV>Erik Newsholme</DIV>
<DIV><A href="mailto:bladesmith@mindspring.com">bladesmith@mindspring.com</A></DIV>
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