Microsoft has a history of crushing the competition with its dominant market position and aggressive tactics. The latest victims are some of the most innovative and creative devices that have emerged in recent years, offering alternatives to the standard Windows PC or Surface tablet. Here are some examples of how Microsoft once again took down these nifty devices.
The Eve V was a crowdfunded laptop that aimed to challenge the Surface Pro with its sleek design, high-end specs and affordable price. It was hailed as a success by backers and critics alike, but soon faced a series of delays and problems with its supply chain and customer service. Some of the problems were caused by Microsoft itself, which refused to provide Eve with sufficient Windows licenses and firmware updates, effectively sabotaging the device’s performance and functionality.
Microsoft also pressured Intel, which supplied the processors for Eve V, to prioritize its own orders over those of Eve. As a result, many backers never received their devices or had to wait months or years, while others received defective or obsolete units. Eve eventually ran out of money and had to sell its assets to a Finnish company called PCH International, which promised to fulfill the remaining orders and revive the brand.
Remix OS was an Android-based operating system that could run on any PC or laptop and gave users access to millions of apps and games from the Google Play Store. It also offered a desktop-like interface with features such as multitasking, window management, keyboard and mouse support, and file explorer. It was developed by a Chinese company called Jide Technology, which also released its own hardware products such as the Remix Mini, a small PC that could run Remix OS for only $70, and the Remix Ultra Tablet, a hybrid device that could switch between Android and Android.
and Remix OS modes. However, Microsoft saw Remix OS as a threat to its Windows ecosystem and decided to take action. It sued Jide for patent infringement, alleging that Remix OS violated several of its patents related to graphical user interfaces, file systems and network protocols. Microsoft also pressured other PC manufacturers not to support Remix OS or offer it as an option for their customers. Jide eventually had to close its consumer business and focus on enterprise solutions.
The Andromium Superbook was another crowdfunding project whose goal was to turn any smartphone into a laptop. It was basically a case with a screen, keyboard, trackpad, battery and ports that could be connected to any Android phone via a USB cable. Then, the phone would power the Superbook and run a desktop-like interface called Andromium OS, which was similar to Remix OS but lighter and more compatible. The Superbook was supposed to be an inexpensive and convenient way to use your phone as a productivity device, without having to buy or carry a separate laptop.
However, Microsoft also saw this as a challenge to its Windows dominance and decided to step in. It filed a trademark opposition against Andromium, claiming that the name was too similar to its own Windows 10 feature called Continuum, which allowed users to connect their phones to external monitors and use them as PCs. Microsoft also accused Andromium of infringing on its patents related to docking stations, display adapters and wireless connections. Andromium had to change its name to Sentio and delay its launch several times due to legal issues and manufacturing difficulties. Many backers are still waiting for their Superbooks or have received defective or damaged units.
These are just a few examples of how Microsoft once again killed these ingenious devices. There are many more instances of Microsoft using its power and influence to stifle innovation and competition in the PC market. While Microsoft may claim to be protecting its intellectual property and ensuring quality standards, it is clear that it is also trying to maintain its monopoly and prevent users from having more options and choices. This is not only unfair to the creators and consumers of these devices, but also detrimental to the development and diversity of the PC industry.
Microsoft has a history of discontinuing hardware products that did not meet its expectations for profitability and success. Some of these products were quite good, but did not survive the competitive market. In this article, we will look at some of Microsoft’s forgotten hardware products. But before we do that, let’s mention this recent news: Microsoft hardware is dying: no more keyboards and mice.
Microsoft RAM card/soft card/system card
One of Microsoft’s first hardware products was the RAM card, which was released in the early 1980s. It was one of the first solid-state disks for both Apple II and IBM PCs. Unlike today’s SSDs, which use non-volatile memory, the RAM card was a memory expansion card that added more RAM to the computer. For example, an Apple II that had 48 KB of RAM could be expanded by 16 KB with the RAM card.
The PC version of the RAM card could add up to 256 KB of RAM in 64 KB increments and came with RAM Drive software, which allowed the user to access RAM as if it were a hard drive.
If you are a fan of retro computing, you may be interested to learn about two obscure Microsoft products that attempted to enhance the capabilities of the IBM PC and its clones. These are the Microsoft Mach 10 and Mach 20 cards, and the Microsoft/Timex Datalink clock.
Microsoft Mach 10 card
The Mach 10 card was released in 1987 as a way to speed up the performance of IBM PCs and PC XTs, which were based on the 8088 CPU running at 4.77 MHz. The Mach 10 card was essentially a replacement for the original CPU, but with a twist: it had a switch that allowed toggling between two modes. In normal mode, the card acted like a standard 8088 CPU, but in turbo mode, it doubled the clock speed to 9.54 MHz, giving it a significant increase in processing power. The card also had a socket for an optional 8087 math coprocessor, which could improve the performance of floating-point calculations.
The Mach 10 board was compatible with most of the software and hardware designed for IBM PC and PC XT, but it also had some drawbacks. On the one hand, it required a special power supply that could support the higher power consumption. For another, it could cause some synchronization problems with some peripherals and software that depended on the original clock speed. And finally, it was not cheap: it cost around $500 at launch, which was more than half the price of a new XT PC.
Microsoft Mach 20 card
The Mach 20 board was the successor to the Mach 10 board, released in 1988. It was based on the 80286 CPU running at 8 MHz, two generations ahead of the 8088 CPU. The Mach 20 card also had a mouse port and a socket for an optional 80287 math coprocessor. The board came with Windows 2.0 in standard mode, which could take advantage of the extended memory and multitasking capabilities of the 80286 CPU.
The Mach 20 card also had some optional accessories that could extend its functionality. The Memory Plus daughter card could add up to 3.5 megabytes of RAM to the system, while the Disk Plus daughter card could connect a 5.25-inch or 3.5-inch floppy disk drive to the card. These features made the Mach 20 card more like a full AT PC than a simple upgrade.
The Mach 20 card was also compatible with most software and hardware designed for IBM PC and PC XT, but it also had some limitations. For example, it could not run Windows in enhanced mode or OS/2 in protected mode, which required a truly AT-compatible system. It also had some compatibility problems with some BIOS functions and memory management software. And like its predecessor, it was not cheap: it cost around $900 at launch, almost as much as a new AT PC.
The Mach 20 card was also not a commercial success. According to Microsoft engineer Raymond Chen, who worked on the project, Microsoft sold only 11 copies of OS/2 for the Mach 20 card and eight of them were returned. The card was discontinued in 1989.
Microsoft/Timex Datalink watch
The Datalink watch was a collaboration between Timex and Microsoft, launched in 1994. It was one of the first smartwatches to transmit data optically from a computer monitor to the watch via a sensor on the watch face. The data could include appointments, phone numbers, reminders, notes, and even custom applications written in BASIC.
The Datalink watch was water resistant and rugged enough to withstand extreme conditions. In fact, it was certified by NASA for use on space missions and several astronauts wore it during their flights. The watch also had other features such as alarm, stopwatch, countdown timer, world time zones and backlight.
The Datalink watch used a proprietary protocol to communicate with the computer through software called Datalink LinkWare. The user had to hold the watch close to the monitor and press a button to initiate the data transfer. Then, the monitor would display a series of bars that would encode the data into binary pulses. The watch’s sensor would detect these pulses and store them in its memory. The process was slow (about 70 inputs per minute) and required line-of-sight between the clock and the monitor.
The Datalink clock was compatible with Windows PCs and Macs (with an adapter), but could not be dynamically updated without connecting to a computer. It also had limited memory capacity (about 150 entries) and battery life (about one year). The watch cost about $150 at launch.
The Datalink watch was discontinued in 2004, but still has a loyal following of collectors and users today.
