Microsoft history questions.

[Sephiroth_IX]

Writing an essay on the MS antitrust, and i need to get a couple facts straight.

[*]IBM used Microsoft for their Windows OS until IBM had their great OS ready to release. Which OS was it and what was the exact relationship to IBM? (Relationship - a friendship or was MS taken in by IBM?)
[*]How many people were in that garage in 1974 when Microsoft was being created?[*]Bill Gates dropped down from CEO to what position within Microsoft?

I might have a couple more -- thanks guys!

 

[Sephiroth_IX]

Help the desperate schoolboy <cries>

 

[convex]

remember, you're not really talking about windows, but rather dos

 

[somethingwitty]

<< January 2000: Bill Gates steps down as chief executive officer, and announces Steve Ballmer as his replacement. Gates continues as chair and becomes chief software architect. Ballmer retains the title of president. >>



from This pcworld timeline. I'll update if i can answer one of the other q's

 

[Handle]

I'm not positive, but I don't think Windows was being created back in 1974. Isn't that a little too far back?

Also, I believe Microsoft was supposed to be helping IBM create OS/2 which was supposed to be the next generation operating system. If I remember, they also offered IBM (at an earlier time) the option to buy a huge portion of Microsoft, but IBM declined.

I'm not absolutely sure of this information though, just trying to help you with what I know.

 

[Sephiroth_IX]

1974 is correct.

So it was OS/2. Thats what i had down, i just needed to be more sure.

And it seemed to be a partnership then.

Thanks!

Only one to go!

How many garageboys were there?

 

[dcdomain]

the most recent issue of Wired magazine... November 2000 has a huge review of the entire antitrust case...pages 261 to 311... that's 50 pages! I couldn't sit through and read the entire thing.. but i'm sure it'll be helpful for you...

 

[Passions]

2 boys in the garage.

 

[glenn1]

Well, Bill Gates and Paul Allen are generally known to be the two major figures in the early MS days... i'll see if i can dig up any info on other early contributors...

 

[perry]

What about MacOS. I always thought MS 'borrowed' that whole graphical thing from Apple.

The OS/2 thing. MS stole that from IBM. Well, the way I understand it, there was some sort of partnership until stuff started workin when MS broke it off.

And don't forget the mouse. Ask Xerox about that one.

There was a nice thing on A&amp;E a few months back all about MS. Pretty interesting, and entertaining (the LSD part) show.