Re: Apple II seen on PBS

[jeff.brielmaier@yob.com (Jeff Brielmaier)]

BH>> Actually, I got the distinct impression from part 3 that they thought
BH>> Bill Gates just got lucky capitalizing on the work done by Xerox and
BH>> Apple

BH>From the show I deduce that the real thrust for Windows (and thus
BH>Microsoft) is the same reason why the Mac hasn't done as well as it
BH>could:  the mass of programs people wanted to use was written for the
BH>IBM.  Sure, that's changed over time but by the time it did people
BH>glommed onto the Mac-like Windows and kept [read: kept upgrading] their
BH>PC's to enjoy it.  Bill Gates IMHO didn't "get lucky", he exploited a
BH>niche, which is exactly what he did so many years ago with the DOS.

Bill has been a very astute businessman.  He has been able to capitolize on
most everything, and he has been at "the right place at the right time."

BH>Question:  Has Xerox PARC ever called Jobs & Apple two-bit thieves for
BH>capitalizing on the idea which they inspired/showed off?  :)

They couldn't.  Jobs/Apple paid Xerox in stock for the right to exploit the 
GUI that PARC developed.  Some years later, Xerox sold off the Apple stock for 
cash.

BH>I really liked that aspect too, that the show pointed out that
BH>Microsoft didn't invent the GUI (with the added emphasis that Jobs'
BH>Macintosh didn't either!).  And now I know how arrogant Steve Jobs is
BH>in real life.

At the end of the show (which ran last night here in Houston), I was left with 
a very negative view of Steve Jobs (not that I had a high opinion of his 
previously since he was the main reason that the Apple // did develop more 
during the mid-80s).

* KingQWK 1.05 # [PK] * Why get even, when you can get odd?

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