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From: tomm@asgb.UUCP (Tom Mackey)
Newsgroups: net.rumor,net.micro.pc
Subject: Re: IBM PC/AT -- future
Message-ID: <654@asgb.UUCP>
Date: Wed, 27-Mar-85 14:33:59 EST
Article-I.D.: asgb.654
Posted: Wed Mar 27 14:33:59 1985
Date-Received: Sat, 30-Mar-85 00:42:20 EST
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Organization: Burroughs Corp. ASG, Boulder Colo.
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> .......... proprietary operating system.  It would fit right in with Big
> Blue's type of marketing to come out with a locked-up, proprietary OS,
> and a new box that you can't get into (physically or software-wise), and
> then *drop* the PC line cold, with really good bargains to old PC-type
> customers who want to switch over--and voila! They convert their hold on
> the market to a stranglehold.

As long as PC means "Personal Computer", I think IBM will have a tough time
of selling closed machines to private citizens and small businesses.  On a
corporate level, they could probably get away with it.  For an insight on
how users view closed systems and lack of technical support, see this months
Byte and the letters to the editor about Apple Computer Inc.  That company
may be getting itself in big trouble for trying to withhold information, as
will Big Blue.  I would gladly trade performance for support and open
architecture.

Tom Mackey
...bmcg!asgb!gollem!tomm