Coulda been a contender

Article Abstract:

Digital Research Inc had the opportunity to supply its once-successful CP-M operating system to IBM for its first PC model. However, through some missed opportunities, the company failed to satisfy IBM and IBM went on to do business with Microsoft. MS-DOS took over as the primary operating system for microcomputers and CP-M faded. DRI missed again with its GEM graphical user interface that had a headstart on Microsoft Windows. A legal dispute with Apple Computer interrupted GEM's momentum. Ventura Publisher, one of the industry's most successful desktop publishing programs, was proposed by three DRI employees. DRI's rejection of the proposed product forced the three creators of the program to start Ventura Software Inc, which became a success. Digital Research is now much smaller and under new management, filling niche markets such as an operating system for supermarket checkout scanners.

Software industry, Microsoft Corp., Operating systems (Software), History, MSFT, Computer history, Operating System, Entrepreneur, Computer Software Industry, History of Computing, company profile, Digital Research Inc.

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How to lose a lead

Article Abstract:

The rivalry between 3Com Corp and Novell Inc is expected to give Novell the upper hand because of the technical superiority of Netware, Novell's flagship software package. In retrospect, 3Com's decision to build products around the Ethernet networking standard turned out to be a mistake because network users want to use different brands of hardware. That mistake cost 3Com the lead in networking product sales and allowed Novell to emerge as the software developer to beat. 3Com's Etherseries is the company's attempt to recapture the lead, but the software still lags behind Netware in transferring data from central storage to individual workstations. 3Com's alliance with Microsoft Corp has resulted in networking software designed for Microsoft's OS/2 operating system. It is the company's chance at regaining its lead in the networking business.

Marketing, 3Com Corp., COMS, Local area networks, Novell Inc., NOVL, LAN, Competition, Netware Asynchronous Communications Services (Communications software), Etherseries Enhanced (Computer program)

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Computers, customers and hand-holding

Article Abstract:

Service and support are becoming the next frontier of business competition. Because persons who are trained to lend service and support are few, there is need to automate the support process. Lysis Corp's Support Information System and Answer Corp's A priori are software packages designed for customer support organizations. Both's initial bases of information come from the vendor's manuals, but their data bases grow as they are used. The Lysis product runs on DEC minicomputers and microcomputers, and it is used by corporate field personnel and graduates of training courses. A priori runs on Sun Microsystems's workstations and is for vendors who need instant information on various products in many versions and configurations.

Usage, Customer service, Support Services, Lysis Corp., Answer Corp., Support Information System (Sales/marketing software), A priori (Computer program)

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