[KLUG Members] Microsoft and Unix?

[Ted]

> 
> At work we use an OS called SCO XENIX Sys V.  (SCO stands for Santa Cruz
> Operation).  This os is pretty much text based w/ a few modifications
> (made by Solutions by Computer INC out of Mass.)  Well anyway during the
> startup screen a message flashes by pretty quick, and I thought it said
> something about microsoft.. So i restarted and paused the screen and I
> was surprised to see that the it was made by... Microsoft.  I just
> thought it pretty funny, microsoft making a Unix like OS.  Maybe someone
> who knows more about it can shed some light on the subject.


See the interesting article:

	http://www.vcnet.com/bms/features/tale.shtml

It starts out ..

"SCO sells a version of the Unix operating system, a product
they purchased from Novell, Inc. in 1995. Novell had
acquired it from AT&T, the fathers of Unix, two years
earlier. Looking further back to 1980, we find Microsoft
developing a commercial version of Unix called Xenix under
license from AT&T. Actually, Microsoft didn't develop Xenix,
though they did obtain a license from AT&T to do so -- and
subcontracted the actual coding to SCO"

It goes on to descibe a contentous contractual arrangement 
between MS and SCO and concludes:

"In examining Microsoft's public reaction to this and other
similar events, a somewhat tortured company personality
profile begins to emerge. When faced with criticism, they
lash out at the critics. When faced with difficult
questions, they dismiss the questioner. When accused of
misdeeds, they produce baroque and fantastical explanations.
When faced with a loss, they unilaterally declare victory."

Ted