[mdlug] Mark Shuttleworth on MS patent threat

[Robert Meier]

David,

> Before Microsoft also means "before 1975" and back then most software
> was for mainframes and minicomputers.  There
> wasn't a whole lot available in the  microcomputer world.

I believe in 1975, Microsoft product line consisted of a paper tape basic
compiler.

> ... fast forward to micros ...

> Before the IBM PC there were lots of proprietary designs -- imsai,
> cromemco, osborne, sinclair, apple, etc.  CPM was a "standard" operating
> system, but software for it was limited.  The Apple II was popular but
> software choices were limited.