Macintosh - Computing: A Business History - page 39

cane DOS C:/ prompt which demanded the absolute correct keying of commands, directory
and file locations in order to open applications and file locations, or the use of DOS shells
which were themselves not much more friendly.
The same went for powerful and popular PC applications such as Lotus 1-2-3 ,
WordStar (published by MicroPro International), Corel's WordPerfect , and a host of
DBMS (database management system) software packages. Employing obtuse commands
and procedures, and coming with only the briefest documentation, these early PC applic-
ations proved to be uniquely user- unfriendly . In fact, they fostered a very lucrative side-
business of topic publishers providing user-manuals and reference works. Small start-ups
such as Que Publishing grew quickly into multimillion dollar enterprises. Others included
an imprint started by Adam Osborne (this eventually sold to McGraw-Hill), as well as Sy-
bex, Ventana Press, Peachpit Press, MIS Press, and others. Macintosh apps from Microsoft
and other providers were, however, customized to maximize the machine's easy, intuitive
interface, and were in many ways "self-documenting."
Macs were also a good way to avoid a score of inefficiencies, deficiencies and errors of
omission apparent in the PC's operating system, now called MS-DOS. These shortcomings
had, in 1982, led to the release of what became known as the Norton Utilities , designed by
programmer Peter Norton. Priced at $80, the Utilities included an UnErase feature which
allowed files to be undeleted, as well as 13 more vital (and, one would think, obvious)
tools not available within DOS proper, including FileFix for repairing damaged files and
DiskLook for easily surveying the contents and maps of floppies. (After many, many re-
leases and revisions, the Norton Utilities remain a very popular set of tools. Peter Norton
sold his company to the software firm Symantec in 1990.)
The PC would - especially after the advent of cheaper and better clones (see next
chapter), and the advent of the intuitive Windows user interface - remain dominant with
those business users most concerned with spreadsheeting, word processing and database
management. However, the Macintosh would remain always a very strong second in
the business landscape, especially with regards to graphically-intensive packages such as
desktop page design applications, drawing applications, multimedia development and such.
Steve Jobs won a dubious reward for his triumph with the Macintosh. After losing a
power struggle with the board of directors in 1984, he resigned from Apple and founded
NeXT, a computer platform development company meant to specialize in products for the
higher education and business markets, especially the former. NeXT proved only marginal
successful. Eventually, in 1996, Apple bought NeXT, thus bringing Jobs back to the com-
pany he co-founded, and to his one true calling. He has served as CEO since 1997.