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OverviewDemo RoomDisplay boards: HardwareDisplay boards: NetworkingDisplay boards: Interactive ComputingRAL PERQ BrochureVideos 1981Visitors BookMoUSERC/ICL LaunchWilmot Sept 1981Press Sept 1981ICL PERQ BrochureICL PERQ BrochurePresentationsSERC Bulletin 1982SERC Bulletin 1983PERQ Brochure 1885PERQ Leaflets 1985ICL Seminars 1985Seed & Berry, 1991

Seed and Berry

1991

FAX to F R A Hopgood: July 30 1991

Ellen M Bierman
Seed and Berry
6300 Columbia Center
Seattle
Washington
98104-7092

Re: Apple v Microsoft and Hewlett-Packard

Dear Professor Hopgood,

Tony Williams (A.S.Williams) suggested I contact you regarding the history of PERQ workstations. I am researching early window systems for our client, Microsoft, and am interested in obtaining information on early PNX systems. My understanding is that PNX version 1.0 had overlapping windows, was released in 1983, and was publicly demonstrated sometime in mid-1982. If this information is incorrect, please let me know.

I am interested in whether versions of PNX existed with overlapping windows before version 1.0. If so, I would like to know whether these earlier versions with overlapping windows were publicly demonstrated. The dates, locations, and any other information on these demonstrations would be appreciated.

In addition, I have enclosed a 1982 article on the PERQ workstation authored by you. On the first page, there is a picture of the PERQ with overlapping windows. I would like to know if there is any way I can obtain an original photograph for this picture, or whether you have a similar photograph of PERQ's overlapping windows taken before 1982 that you could send.

Please feel free to include anything else on PNX that might help me. If you need more information, please let me know, thank you.

Ellen M Bierman

Attached was IEEE CG&A Paper, PERQ and Advanced Raster Graphics Workstations, F R A Hopgood and R W Witty, September 1982

Fax to Ellen Bierman: 14 August 1991

With regard to your queries concerning overlapping window managers, I have consulted my files and have the following information with regard to the PERQ:

  1. August 1979, Chicago: Three Rivers demonstrated a simple overlapping window manager at SIGGRAPH running under POS.
  2. August 1980, Seattle: an improved version was demonstrated also at SIGGRAPH.
  3. 18-20 March 1981: a simulated office environment based on a multiwindow paradigm with overlapping windows was demonstrated to ICL Directors at RAL, system written by ICL.
  4. February 1982: case made to develop a window manager with overlapping windows for the two UNIX implementations being done jointly by RAL and ICL.
  5. August 1982: Carnegie Mellon, Pittsburgh had an overlapping window manager supporting both POS and ACCENT windows.
  6. February 1983: initial release of ICL/RAL PNX Operating System (UNIX) with a basic window manager.

In terms of providing photographs of the PERQ PNX Window Manager taken before 1983, I do not believe any exist as the Beta release of PNX 1.0 made in November 1982 did not have a window manager according to my files. It is feasible, as Tony Williams has stated, that some demonstrations took place in the latter half of 1982.

Photographs do exist of the POS Window Manager. I believe the August 1979 Glossy at SIGGRAPH showed the overlapping windows. There are also photographs of the ICL simulated window manager dating back to March 1981.

I believe the IEEE CG&A photograph dates from the ICL simulations. I do not have a copy of that particular photograph but have similar ones taken in the period 1981-1982.

I hope this information is of use to you.

FAX to F R A Hopgood: August 14 1991

Thanks for all of the information regarding early PERQ computers. I am very much interested in photographs you have of the POS window manager and the ICL simulations from 1981-1982, although I am a little unclear as to whether the simulated window manager was demonstrated outside of RAL or ICL. In particular, I am interested in photographs that specifically show the overlapping windows capability. Would it be possible for us to either borrow these original photographs to copy them, or do you have some we could keep.

Thanks for your assistance.

Ellen M Bierman

FAX to F R A Hopgood: August 16 1991

Thanks for calling in today to discuss the PERQ information. If possible, I would prefer you to send the pictures and the brochures by express courier., you may use our account number or you may use our Federal Account number.

Should you have any questions, or find other information you believe we might be interested in, please contact either William O Ferron, Jnr or Geirge B Fox at Seed and Barry.

Ellen M Bierman

Letter to Ellen Bierman, 18 August 1991

In reply to your fax:

    I have a Three Rivers Glossy dating from either 1979 late or early 1980 which has Brian Rosen of Three Rivers sitting in front of a PERQ with a multi window display. You may keep this.

  1. The PERQ was launched by ICL in the UK with a Press Launch on Tuesday September 29 1981. The brochure given to attendees had several examples of multi window environments. I have one copy of the brochure given to attendees. Please could you return.
  2. You queried whether the ICL demonstrations in 1981 were internal or public. Public demonstrations started on 20 March 1981 and continued throughout the year to people from the UK, USA, Canada, Switzerland, Poland, Holland, Sweden, China. I have names and dates of the 161 people it was demonstrated to. Incidentally Bill Poduska, founder of Apollo which is now part of HP received a demonstration on July 31 1981. I have his signature in the Visitor's Book. People were from Academia, Industry and the Government. For example, Kenneth Baker, the current Conservative Party Chairman, had a demonstration around March 1982. He was then in charge of the Dept of Industry.
  3. I have one or two photographs.
  4. We made a video of the PERQ at that time. Nobody knows where the copy is and I am not sure whether it demonstrates overlapping windows. It may well do, I will continue looking.

Sincerely,

F. R. A. Hopgood

Associate Director, Engineering

Letter to Ellen Bierman, 19 August 1991

Dear Ellen Bierman,

I have sent the various brochures to you as requested by Express.

Finally located the video we made in 1981. It is a voice over of the Three Rivers demonstration sequence given at SIGGRAPH 80 in Seattle, July /August 1980. The demo clearly states that a window manager is available, the video shows it displaying a variety of window types in real time, including some animated sequences.

If you need any more evidence, I could probably get a copy made although the quality is not great. It is a UMATIC PAL tape.

Sincerely,

F. R. A. Hopgood

Associate Director, Engineering

Letter from William O Perron Jnr, 4 October 1991

Dear Professor Hopgood,

Thank you for your assistance in providing the PERQ information to our office in response to Ellen Bierman's requests. I am having quality reproductions made of the materials you requested to be returned and will return the originals to you shortly. Your letter of 19 August 1991 referenced a video made in 1981, shoeing the Three Rivers demonstration sequence shown at SIGGRAPH 80 in Seattle in 1980. We would appreciate a copy of that tape. It would be preferable to have one made in NTSC format rather than UMATIC PAL format, if possible, as I have no way to view UMATIC PAL. I can have UMATIC PAL tape converted to NTSC format here, if necessary, but would prefer not to get too many generations away from the original.

We would be pleased to reimburse you for any expenses involved in providing us this material. Thanks again for your cooperation. Please let us know if you have any questions.

Very truly yours

Bill

RAL sent an NTSC version in November.

This information was used in the Court Case that decided in Microsoft's favour in August 1992

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