I understand that HP had a similar need. The original machine was not
capable at first to handle the OS and compiler, probably did not have an OS
yet, and thus the development was done on an IBM (I believe). HP still used
IBM's until recently when they made a concerted effort to unplug them all
and use only their own equipment. Thus HP has had many capabilities to
communicate with IBM because of its early development and need for internal
interaction.
See, need is the mother of invention, and HP has been seeking needs and
fulfilling them quite well for some time. A little too quietly for most of
our likings, but hey when no one is watching, there is little pressure (M$)
to send out bad OS's and/or program. (Before anyone replies, I all ready
know that HP has had some doosies in the past and will have them in the
future, but when not having your code and OS dictated to you by the press,
you can come out with something useful and easily adaptable for years to
come.)

James

> -----Original Message-----
> From: HP-3000 Systems Discussion [mailto:[log in to unmask]]On
> Behalf Of Wirt Atmar
> Sent: Monday, February 22, 1999 6:52 PM
> To: [log in to unmask]
> Subject: Re: HP 3000 Outdated
>
>
> I just wrote:
>
> > Well, sort of. Emmet isn't completely off-base. UNIX was
> originally named

<snip>

>
> And although not an error but an omission of some importance, one of the
> primary driving factors in converting UNICS (over in the corner
> of Bell Labs)
> into a true-multiuser operating system was the desire to play a
> two-user game
> on UNICS called Space War.
>
> Wirt Atmar
>