In the DOS issue: Microsoft followed a historic pattern of theirs:

1.) Agree to a relationship with a "strategic partner," and then change their mind.

2.) "Appropriate an item" and turn it into theirs.

Microsoft had a temporary alliance with Stac Electronics (the makers of Stacker, a program that compressed files on your hard drive to effectively "double" your storage space.)

Microsoft incorporated the product into their DOS version, and was sued. Microsoft then released "Double Space."

Boy. That sure brings back old memories of times when hard drives were measured in Megabytes, rather than Gigabytes.

Microsoft did practically the same thing when they got involved with IBM on OS/2. Eventually Microsoft pulled out of the product, and made it harder and harder for OS/2 to keep its compatability. Then Windows 95 was introduced.

Message edited on: 02/02/2005 15:09