[comp.sys.mac] Microsoft threats

ralphw@ius3.ius.cs.cmu.edu (Ralph Hyre) (10/03/88)

In article <8155@cit-vax.Caltech.Edu> wetter@tybalt.caltech.edu.UUCP (Pierce T. Wetter) writes:
>   My own personal theory: Apple in '85 is in dismal shape. ... Bill gates ...
>says ok, then I'm never going to produce anything else for the mac... 
>Thus, MS commits the ultimate in software hoarding: driving companies
>out of business by withholding software.
As I recall, the 'threat' also had some component of not relicensing
Applesoft BASIC, which would have crippled the Apple ][ line.  Even with
the preponderance of commercial software, people would be shocked to
turn on their new Apple ]['s and not be able to program them right out
of the box.  (I always enjoyed Integer BASIC, myself.)

This would have hurt Apple more than the loss of Microsoft product updates 
for the Mac.  The Apple ][ was the 'bread-and-butter' product at the time.
I still hear that they're selling 20,000 GSes a month.
-- 
					- Ralph W. Hyre, Jr.
Internet: ralphw@ius3.cs.cmu.edu    Phone:(412) CMU-BUGS
Amateur Packet Radio: N3FGW@W2XO, or c/o W3VC, CMU Radio Club, Pittsburgh, PA
"You can do what you want with my computer, but leave me alone!8-)"

jcl@hpausla.HP.COM (Jeff Laing) (10/18/88)

> Yeah, Apple sure is the evil empire.  I think if GNU boycotts all companies
> that sue others, GNU will be GNP--Gnu's Not Ported.  Come on.  Is this
> lawsuit so much more evil than others that get filed all the time?

> Does Apple deserve a "boycott" any more than those companies?  I guess by
> "alternative" you mean IBM products?  I like this thinking :-|.

Having just read about the NeXT release including the GNU C compiler as
the compiler of choice (unsubstantiated rumor; I havent seen the Byte
article that was being quoted), I wonder just what the implications are for
RMS and FSF if Steve pursues the lawsuit path as well?