Re: Microsoft?

[lkhaider@concentric.net (Laer Haider)]

darnett@interlog.com (David Arnett) wrote:

>Did the Microsoft company we all know ever make hardware?  I have an old
>Z80 card for the AppleII computer made by "Microsoft Consumer Products"
>in 1980.  I wondered if it was the same company and if so, what became
>of their hardware division?  

Microsoft is still making hardware, but only for the PC platform as
far as I know.  They have recently released the Natural Keyboard,
SideWinder 3D Pro joystick (very nice), a game-pad type controller
(can't remember the name), and several varieties of mouses.  I'm sure
this list is incomplete, but it's at the top of their hardware sales
and some of the best products in their respective classes.  And they
are all very over priced ($75 for a MOUSE!?!).

The Z80 card you refer to was made by the same Microsoft--I used to
own one.  They were very involved in the development of the Apple II
way back in the early years.  They tried to jump into just about every
major platform (and some minor ones too) in a bid to become a large
company.  Looks like they've succeeded (or maybe I should say that
Bill succeeded).