Buy QDOS (Tim Paterson's 86-DOS)

Setting

Microsoft promised IBM an OS, but they don't have one and don't have time to write one from scratch for the 8086 chip. Tim Paterson at Seattle Computer Products has written "QDOS" (Quick and Dirty Operating System), a clone of CP/M for the 8086.

People

• Responsible: Paul Allen
• Approvers: Bill Gates
• Consulted:
• Informed:

Alternatives

Option A: Write new OS from scratch

Pros:

• Clean code.
• Full ownership.

Cons:

• Impossible deadline (months).
• Risk of bugs.

Option B: Acquire QDOS

Pros:

• It exists and works.
• It's local (Seattle).
• It's legally available.

Cons:

• It's "Dirty" (simple, clone).
• Need to negotiate purchase without revealing the IBM deal (to keep price low).

Decision

Chosen: Option B

Rationale: Time-to-market is the only thing that matters. Paul Allen drives over and buys it for $50k (initially) then full rights for another $25k.

Consequences

Positive

• +Allowed Microsoft to meet IBM's deadline.
• +Became MS-DOS.

Negative

• −Legacy codebase issues for decades.
• −Legal disputes with SCP later (settled).