The apple 2, the PC, and the clones

[Bruce.Baker@juge.com (Bruce Baker)]

The Laser was legal, others were not.  It took a lot of legal fighting to work
it out.  It was not clear what the standard was.  After the legal fighting
cleared it was established that one had to make a computer with using Apple's
code.  One had to get a computer to do the same thing by different means.  This
was not impossible but by the time things got established the peak of Apple II
had passed. 

PC architecture is more open.  IBM did not create the standard really.  Others,
several other companies contributed.  Besides IBM did not fight for the right
be exclusive.  This was not their only product, or even their most important
product.  Never has been.  IBM was adding machines, typewriters, then
mainframes and aftermarket for big companies.  Their attempt to be exclusive
the PC-Jr failed badly, in similar ways to the Apple III.

Bruce