Msg: 6529 *Conference*

05-14-96 22:22:30

From: GARY WEBER

To : RON WIESEN

Subj: REPLY TO MSG #6527 (MICROSOFT KEEPS SOURCE CODE (SEE MSG#65)


The NEC PC-8201 and 8300 models do, indeed, has a (C) Microsoft right on the
main menu, as well as on the top line of the screen when you enter BASIC.

The FAX from Microsoft does apply to the NEC models as well...  Although, I
find it EXTREMELY hard to believe that "portions of this information" (i.e. the
ROM source code) is still included in any of Microsoft's current products, as
their FAX claims to state.  Their fax reads like a form letter.  However, they
obviously do feel it necessary to protect their copyright.  Too bad...  I don't
see how they'd realize any loss of revenue by releasing it.

There is a transcript of an interview of Bill Gates done back in 1993 that I
recently came across on the Internet WWW.  In it, we find out that Bill and an
engineer from Japan wrote & debugged the operating system for the original
Model 100.  I was VERY surprised to hear this!  Bill Gates, himself, worked on
the Model 100 source.  In the interview he seemed to muse about the Tandy Model
100 very affectionately.  It would be interesting to somehow, someway, pose
this question to Bill Gates directly, perhaps appealing to that.  (Fat chance,
eh?  :)

Ron, I thank you for your efforts.  So, there's probably nothing to be gained
by contacting Tandy or NEC directly, is there?   Damn... 

Gary.