Linux desktop lacks innovation

[Liam Proven]

On Nov 14, 2007 5:20 AM, Art Edwards
<edwardsa at icantbelieveimdoingthis.com> wrote:
> I don't really think the case will stand. The Apple desktop was stolen
> by microsoft.

Not really, no. Yes, Windows uses ideas Apple invented, but
unfortunately for Apple, it decided to sue /after/ entering a
licensing agreement with MS. It was too late by then.

There were desktops that were far more direct rip-offs of MacOS than
Windows. Digital Research's GEM was the closest. Apple sued DR, Apple
won, DR had to rewrite GEM and cripple it in response.

>The idea of windows is the central issue.

Why so? Apple didn't invent windowing GUIs, no icons or menus. Xerox
did most of that. Apple invented a global menu bar at the top of the
screen, an icon and folder oriented desktop with drives on the desktop
along with a desktop trash can and things like that. And originally,
Windows didn't do any of that. When it did, with Windows 95, MS
reinvented the concepts and did them differently so that Apple's
patents didn't apply.

--
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