Re: Computing Editorial (please read)

[Charles Richmond <richmond@ev1.net>]

wildstar128 wrote:
> 
> "Sam Gillett" <samgillett@msn.com> wrote in message
> news:Tq1X9.3211$PR2.1556@nwrddc02.gnilink.net...
> 
> > Is that sort of like Windows is "inspired by" the Mac desktop?
> >
> > Best regards,
> 
> In a way, perhaps. If we follow the history a bit. Both Mac and Windows were
> both inspired by Xerox PARC 's BRAVO, and Minicomputer Systems. So in many
> ways there are possibilities that Microsoft doesn't need to be directly
> taking from Apple. But from Xerox. That Apple was doing the same. Billy and
> the Apple boys, both went to Xerox siminars on the Xerox minicomputers.
> Apple boys and the Billy boys went back to there camps and worked on similar
> projects.  Whether or not they stole from each other, they both were
> essentially stealing from Xerox.
> 
...and Xerox PARC was "borrowing" from Doug Englebart's "Mother of All Demos".
After all, Englebart invented the computer mouse and patented it in 1970.
>
> If you remember Lisa and the Mac - they both essentially are essentially
> Xerox's GUI OS written for the 68000. As a matter of fact, Apple were quite
> open about there "piracy". Microsoft written there own version of the Xerox
> GUI OS for an Intel. Its hard to tell if they were taking from each other on
> the process.
>
Apple pioneered the direct manipulation of windows by a mouse...
drag and drop, in other words. The Xerox system had to pop out a menu
before doing an window manipulation. It is my understanding that Apple
had an agreement with Xerox that allowed Apple to use the windowing
technology in exchange for Apple buying a sizeable percent of Xerox
stock.

As for Bill Gates, Microsoft was hired by Apple to create some of the
first Macintosh software...before the Mac was even released. So Gates
had a golden opportunity to lift the technology at that time. Also,
for the first year or two, Microsoft *paid* Apple and used the windows
interface when Mi$uck developed Mi$uck Windows. Microsoft had a
contract with Apple to use the technology...but in the following years
Microsoft refused to keep the contract current. Lawsuit by Apple.
The rest is history.

So yes, I think we *know* who lifted what from whom...


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|     Charles and Francis Richmond     <richmond@plano.net>   |
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