DR-DOS
Because of a lawsuit, Kaypro Corp. has switched its computers from one disk operating system to another, which it claims offers equal compatibility with IBM designed personal Business computers.
Microsoft Corp., designer of the MS-DOS operating system that enables computers to use software designed for IBM's personal computer line, has terminated licenses granted Kaypro Corp. in 1985 and 1988.
In a lawsuit filed in U.S. District Court, Microsoft claims Kaypro owes it more than $749,000 in royalties and other fees.
"We haven't been using MS-DOS for a month or so," said Joseph Marcello, Kaypro's senior vice president and chief financial officer. "We now are using DR-DOS" developed by Digital Research Inc. of Monterey. "The reports I get are that it is equal to or better than MS-DOS."
Marcello said he will meet with Microsoft officials Thursday at the software company's Redmond, Wash., headquarters.
"We feel we might be obligated to them for about $150,000 but have not taken an audit. We plan to do that and see exactly what our obligation is. Under the formula (in the license) we pay so much for every computer about $25. For DR-DOS, it's $5 per computer, which is a lot of savings." Marcello said he will meet today in San Jose with officials of Fujitsu Inc., "our largest creditor," seeking to negotiate an extension of Kaypro's debt to that company.
(San Diego Union, April 5, 1989)
Kaypro Corp. has been equipping all computers in its new "KC" line of economical machines with the DR-DOS operating system published by Digital Research Inc.
"We've chosen DR-DOS because it is 25 percent faster, yet compatible with MS-DOS. It offers more features, without some of the limitations of its well-known counterparts," stated Andrew Kay, president and chairman of the board of Solana Beach-based Kaypro Corp.
DR-DOS is included at no extra charge with the KC line of computers which Kaypro has recently begun to manufacture. The computer line includes the KC-1, a complete 8088 microcomputer which retails for $795; the KC-2, an 80286 microcomputer which sells for $1,195; and the newest addition to the KC line, the KC-3, an 80386, 20 MHz microcomputer retailing for $2,095. This is not the first time that Digital Research and Kaypro have teamed up. According to Kay, "We started with Digital Research back in 1982 with our very first computer systems, and we've had a solid working relationship with them ever since.
"DR-DOS is an extremely fast, memory-efficient operating system which enables us to provide the consumer with the high-value/low-price product he has come to expect from Kaypro."
The newest version of DR-DOS is release 3.41. It is a high-quality, single-user operating system which is ROMable and DOS-compatible.
(Computer Focus, September 19, 1989)