Andrew Orlowski

Collected Journalism

Tag: history

  • MS-DOS paternity suit settled

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    Andrew Orlowski

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    An overlooked court case in Seattle has helped restore the reputation of the late computer pioneer Gary Kildall.

    Last week, a Judge dismissed a defamation law suit brought by Tim Paterson, who sold a computer operating system to Microsoft in 1980, against journalist and author Sir Harold Evans and his publisher Little Brown. The software became the basis of Microsoft’s MS-DOS monopoly, and the basis of its dominance of the PC industry.

    But history has overlooked the contribution of Kildall, … Read More

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    Psion: The story of the Last Computer

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    Andrew Orlowski

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    This long (40-page) history of Britain’s last computer company, Psion, was written over four days. It’s the longest piece The Register has ever run, we made it available as a PDF (for a small fee).

    Included are full transcripts of interviews with David Potter, Martin Riddiford, Mark Gretton, David Tupman and Nick Healey. (Charles Davies was interviewed too late for inclusion).

    Start here.… Read More

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  • Yes, we have no incompatibilties

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    Andrew Orlowski

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    Savour this irony.

    Last week, we learned that incompatibilities Microsoft hadn’t written into its operating system posed a grave threat to users. Last week, we also learned that genuine incompatibilities Microsoft had deliberately written into its operating system posed no threat at all.… Read More

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  • The worse Google gets, the more money it makes?

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    Andrew Orlowski

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    Microsoft today is barely acquainted with how its software is produced. Now Google’s search results look similarly out of whack.

    It’s hard to imagine now, but there was a time when the mainstream press was barely acquainted with the genius and foresight of today’s technology leaders.

    Fifteen years ago Bill Gates appeared on the BBC’s Wogan show – which the Beeb thought of as a nightly Johnny Carson, but which was really like watching Regis Philbin on cough syrup – … Read More

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