Mlodinow goes on to describe the origins of Microsoft. IBM, whose success was built largely on government subsidized research, had belatedly decided to get into the personal computer business, that bevvy of geniuses having dismissed the trend in its planning during the 1970′s. They did not even have a program to run a PC, and so approached Gates for some help. Gates didn’t have one either, and referred them to Gary Kildall of Digital Research Inc.
Originally Posted by CJ7
The way I heard the story, IBM was desparate for an operating system. They were trying to get a personal computer on the shelf in one year; that was really fast for IBM.
Gates didn't have what they wanted and referred IBM to someone else (Gary Kindall I guess). The punch line is the guy Gates referred them to insisted that his lawyer be involved in every step of the process, so much so that IBM gave up on him and went back to Gates. Gates bought an operating system from a third guy for $50,000 that was basically a pirated copy of the other system IBM tried and failed to buy. Gates cleaned it up so it was workable and his empire began.
It always struck me as kind of funny. The guy that was so hard to work with must have been kicking himself for the last thirty years as he watched Gates become the richest man in the world.
It's a little like Billy Crystal quitting Saturday Night Live before the broadcast of the first show (he was in the original cast). Then he watched the show become a huge success while his career faltered.