Word: ms-dos
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Eight out of 10 of the world's personal computers could not boot up (that is to say, start) if it were not for Microsoft's operating-system software-programs like MS-DOS, Windows and Windows NT. What is even more impressive (not to mention profitable) is that the company also dominates the market for almost every big-ticket application program, like word processing (Microsoft Word), electronic spreadsheets (Excel), filing (Access), scheduling (Project) and the new all-in-one program "suites" (Office). Microsoft's Flight Simulator is one of the best-selling PC games of all time. Microsoft's electronic...
...desperate are programmers for a stable computer standard that they will latch on to the first one that works-whether or not it is the best. A case in point, says Arthur, is ms-dos. "Microsoft dos for any serious user is a crummy operating system," he says. "But Microsoft got there first and played its market advantages extremely intelligently...
Since Windows relies on old-fashioned MS-DOS, its performance is very limited. OS/2, on the other hand, does not rely on MS-DOS and can therefore manage resources more efficiently...
...only powerful operating system for Intel-based PCs on the market these days. IBM's OS/2 2.1, probably NT's most serious competitor, features robust performance, excellent multi-tasking capabilities and flawless execution of MS-DOS programs. But its installation is a pain--you have to deal with 25 disks!--and it lacks a great many device drivers to support a wide class of peripherals...
...wide acceptance of NT may be hindered by its high demands on the hardware and the $499 price tag. For most PC users, MS-DOS is still the best environment available...