1980's computers

@doca Yep. I stayed with a girlfriend in Paris in the early ninties and they had this thing in the hall, where the phone was, called 'minitel' that I think was a similar sytem, I was led to believe lots of people had them in Paris. But I never saw it being used.

Sinclair failed because of the reasons you saw in the film, Clive didn't think the computer thing had a real future until it was too late.

Microsoft succeeded because they didn't get into the proprietary hardware and software game.

They got paid by IBM to create a DOS, but IBM weren't smart enough to make sure they had exclusivity so MS were also able to market what was effectively the same software to the IBM PC clone manufacturers.

The presence of clones drove the price of the PC down to attainable levels

Once they had DOS in almost all PC desktops, it was a relatively small step to create the killer app that was Windows.

You iz like well brainy innit.

I have to say I don't really care about all this who did what and who made a million out of it and who didn't, the why's and wherefores. They can't take it with them, and I doubt very much that Bill Gates has any more friends than when he started. In fact its likely to be a lot less. Like, none. Don't envy the rich, kids, they're wankers now.

What matters is loving each other and cooking and being able to do things like mend your roof when it leaks, or shear sheep.

Fuck computers. In fact, I'm going to flounce. Right now.