Path: utzoo!utgpu!watmath!clyde!att!osu-cis!tut.cis.ohio-state.edu!rutgers!cmcl2!husc6!ogccse!blake!uw-beaver!microsoft!leefi From: leefi@microsoft.UUCP (Lee Fisher) Newsgroups: comp.sys.ibm.pc Subject: Re: DRIVPARM Message-ID: <109@microsoft.UUCP> Date: 20 Dec 88 02:27:58 GMT References: <4365@tekgvs.GVS.TEK.COM> <1508@helios.ee.lbl.gov> Distribution: comp Organization: Microsoft Corp., Redmond, WA Lines: 73 > > MS-DOS is an OEM licensed product, not sold to the public (compared > to something like Microsoft WORD). OEMs license this product, sell it > to their customers, and are contractually obligated to support and > update their customers. There are two basic flavors of MS-DOS, the > Packaged Product release (which is for 100% IBM compatible systems, > and is not modified by an OEM), and all of the OEM modified releases > (in which they add value-added features and/or support hardware that > is not 100% IBM compatible), such as AT&T, Compaq, etc. The Microsoft > MS-DOS Packaged Product release began with MS-DOS 3.2: there was no > generic Packaged Product release of MS-DOS before this release of > MS-DOS. In a recent article forrest@ux1.lbl.gov (Jon Forrest) replied: > > I've heard people from Microsoft make this statement before. If this > is true how come I've seen MSDOS 3.3 from Microsoft on sale in > stores? Is this the Packaged Product? Even if it isn't, there's > something wrong with Lee Fisher's statement since MS-DOS is clearly > sold to the public in a box that clearly says Microsoft. Yes, the Microsoft MS-DOS Packaged Product comes in a box that says Microsoft on it. But NO, MS-DOS is *NOT* sold retail. [At least, it is not supposed to be, legally. I've seen it available mailorder, and have heard of it available retail in some shops, and our legal folks try to flush out this kind of activity.] I'm looking at the front cover of the Microsoft MS-DOS v4.00 Packaged Product box: [ NOT FOR RETAIL SALE EXCEPT WITH A COMPUTER SYSTEM Microsoft(r) MS-DOS Operating System Version 4.0 5 1/4" disk version For Personal Computers 100% Compatible with IBM Personal Computers Includes Microsoft GW-BASIC(r) Interpreter DISTRIBUTION LICENSEE: You must place a label here indicating that this copy of MS-DOS is intended for use only on your computer systems. In addition, the label must provide your customer support telephone number and notice to purchaser that they shoudl call this number for support. PURCHASER: Do not accept this product if this notice is visible. ] I don't have a copy of the MS-DOS 3.3 Packaged Product handy; it is not worded exactly the same (perhaps not as explicit), but it is similar, and has the same intent. Thus, the MS-DOS Packaged Product release is ONLY to be sold by an OEM to a customer with a computer system, or to be sold by an OEM to a customer who's already purchased a computer system (i.e., an update). One reason we don't sell MS-DOS Packaged Product retail is that we license this product to OEMs, and they'd get upset if we turned around and sold directly to the public, eliminating the middleman (them). Now with OEM modified versions of MS-DOS, I believe that they can sell them retail. IBM definately does retails IBM PC-DOS. I've not seen other OEM releases for sale, but I haven't been in a computer store recently, looking for an OEM copy of DOS. Again, please note my disclaimer... -- Lee Fisher - Microsoft Corp., Redmond WA - leefi@microsof.UUCP leefi%microsof@uw-beaver.MIL - leefi@microsof.beaver.washington.EDU {uw-beaver,decvax,decwrl,intelca,sco,sun,trsvax,uunet}!microsof!leefi Ka nama kaa lajerama. My opinions are obviously my own responsibility.