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Inventors Of The Modern Computer
Operating Systems
MS-DOS
Microsoft - Tim Paterson - Gary Kildall
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 "I
don't think it's that significant." - Tandy president John Roach on
IBM's entry into the microcomputer field
On
August 12, 1981, IBM introduced its' new revolution in a box, the "Personal
Computer" complete with a brand new operating system from Microsoft
and a 16-bit computer operating system called MS-DOS 1.0.
| Operating System : /n./ [techspeak] (Often
abbreviated `OS') The foundation software of a machine, of course; that
which schedules tasks, allocates storage, and presents a default interface
to the user between applications. The facilities an operating system provides
and its general design philosophy exert an extremely strong influence on
programming style and on the technical cultures that grow up around its
host machines. - The Jargon Dictionary* |
In
1980, IBM first approached Bill Gates and Microsoft, to discuss the state
of home computers and Microsoft products. Gates gave IBM a few ideas on
what would make a great home computer, among them to have Basic written
into the ROM chip. Microsoft had already produced several versions of Basic
for different computer system beginning with the Altair,
so Gates was more than happy to write a version for IBM.
As
for an operating system (OS) for the new computers, since Microsoft had
never written an operating system before, Gates had suggested that IBM
investigate an OS called CP/M (Control Program for Microcomputers), written
by Gary Kildall of Digital Research. Kindall had his Ph.D. in computers
and had written the most successful operating system of the time, selling
over 600,000 copies of CP/M, his OS set the standard at that time.
IBM
tried to contact Kildall for a meeting, executives met with Mrs. Kildall
who refused to sign a non-disclosure agreement. IBM soon returned to Bill
Gates and gave Microsoft the contract to write the new operating system,
one that would eventually wipe Kildall's CP/M out of common use.
The
"Microsoft Disk Operating System" or MS-DOS was based on QDOS, the "Quick
and Dirty Operating System" written by Tim Paterson of Seattle Computer
Products, for their prototype Intel 8086 based computer.
QDOS
was based on Gary Kildall's CP/M, Paterson had bought a CP/M manual and
used it as the basis to write his operating system in six weeks, QDOS was
different enough from CP/M to be considered legal.
Microsoft
bought the rights to QDOS for $50,000, keeping the IBM deal a secret from
Seattle Computer Products.
Gates
then talked IBM into letting Microsoft retain the rights, to market MS
DOS separate from the IBM
PC project, Gates proceeded to make a fortune from the licensing of
MS-DOS.
In
1981, Tim Paterson quit Seattle Computer Products and found employment
at Microsoft.
"Life
begins with a disk drive." -Tim Paterson
Related
Links
A Short History
Of MS-DOS
Written by Tim Paterson himself.
Origins Of MS-DOS
Articles about MS-DOS and Tim Paterson.
The History Of
CP/M
The history of the operating system that prompted MS-DOS.
The Deal Of The Century
More on Microsoft's purchase of the "Quick and Dirty Operating System".
Microsoft
Timeline
From Altair BASIC to Windows 98, everything Microsoft has accomplished.
The
History Of Windows
MS-DOS was the beginning of "Windows" the IBM based graphical interface.
Bill Gates
Biography of the Microsoft superstar.
*The Jargon Dictionary
Version 4.0.0, 24 July 1996, Computer terms.
all artwork ©MaryBellis
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