On Tue, Jun 6, 2023 at 8:01 PM Fred Cisin via cctalk <cctalk@classiccmp.org> wrote:
> >> "The only possible way to have 100% compatability is copyright > infringement. But, you can certainly come up with something that is > similar enough to do what you need." > > On Tue, 6 Jun 2023, Paul Koning wrote: > > That's not always true. Another way to get it is to implement from > sufficiently high quality specifications. The DIX Ethernet spec, and the > DECnet specs, are examples where if you do what they say you will have an > interoperable implementation. > > Unfortunately that level of quality is not common, but it can and has > been done. > > Well, our discussion will be hindered by variations in the definitions of > compatability. > And, we are discussing it in the context of IBM 5150! > > A perfect implementation of the specification is certainly one definition, > and should certainly give you something similar enough to do what you > need. In MOST cases. > > > I thought the goal back then was not 100% hardware compatibility, it was MS/IBM DOS compatibility. To be able to load/run/copy files from one PC to another, dBASE, Lotus, Wordstar, etc. I don't think most manufacturers cared as long as the software worked and you could make a printout using a standard printer of the day like an Epson or whatever. Bill
