Did IBM had a monopoly in the past over computer hardware and computer software?

Question

I read some thing about some one making reference of people taking IBM to court on monopoly charges saying IBM had a monopoly is that true?

Answer 1

Google it as a question using your browser search bar and see what you can find out. Wikipedia is the online encyclopedia so it is the most up to date encyclopedia of unbiased free information.  Y.A. is just a bunch of jokers and jokeresses(like Haley Quinn) typing what they know off the top of their head. Accurate or inaccurate.

Answer 2

no. although, Microsoft was taken to court over their Windows software, which IBM has used. there was a BIG hullabaloo over MicroSoft's monopolistic business practices over the years, after they would buy out companies, and shut down external competition by changing their code to break competitors' products, then take FREE software, alter it, offer it for free to users, then start charging for it when it became popular.

just look at Microsoft Office, which used to come free with every Windows PC, then started to cost money (currently starting around $200 for the basic package), and now Office 365, which is $100 per year, subscription only...

https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/United_States_v._Microsoft_Corp.



but no, IBM has no major scandals:

https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/IBM

Answer 3

That was true up through the 1990s at least. The great majority of companies that had computing equipment had IBM machines going all the way back to the 1940s. Well over 80%. IBM developed the first practical personal computer in 1981 and that dominated until others managed to reproduce the cpu chip, but that took almost 10 years. IBM was also the first to introduce Windows with PCs and was the primary force that caused companies and individuals to start buying personal computers. So, that monopoly paid off for everyone.

Answer 4

I don't think IBM ever had a true monopoly over computer hardware or software.



For hardware, the fact that right after they started, the term IBM-compatible cropped up is testament that other independent hardware manufacturers began to exist. Sure IBM controlled the standard for a while but that kept most everyone happy with parts that worked no matter which PC you put it in. From where I am, the only true IBM computer I've ever seen was the IBM PC-XT. There were a few other brands available but most computers out here are assembled from scratch.



As for the software, IBM never really had a stronghold of it. Even its IBM PC-DOS was simply a licensed version of MS-DOS from microsoft. Whatever software they put out, there was always an answer to it from other software companies.

Answer 5

Yes, it was a very very long 

time ago (almost 50 years), 

when they controlled up to 

70% of the computer market.