1/ When IBM visited Microsoft in July 1980 about licensing software for a PC the goal was get a product to market in less than a year. IBM didn't have big sales forecasts for this PC. In 1980 Microsoft BASIC was used on almost all PCs and was the largest PC language supplier. 
2/ The IBM PC was 16 bit and Microsoft kept the right to license the software to other manufacturers for compatible PCs. That the value in the value chain would primarily accrue to the software and the chip suppliers didn't fit the IBM business model.
3/ IBM had other groups working on other PC versions like the Displaywriter and the Datamaster. The PC running Microsoft software was just one project. Microsoft had more people working on the PC than IBM As Bill Gates sad about the IBM PC interview: "It's just a miracle."
4/ "IBM had a 50 year run and did very well. They just did not adjust to the microprocessor. Something like that could come along for us, we just have to be humble enough and bright enough to see it coming.” Bill Gates
The Irish Times, October 21, 1994
threadreaderapp.com/thread/1098019…
The Irish Times, October 21, 1994
threadreaderapp.com/thread/1098019…
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