The creators of the BIOS system most computers are based around. Unfortunately arrogant enough to publish their BIOS code in a context akin to saying, "Look, this is how it's done. If you do it in a similar way we'll know where you got it from."
Phoenix Technologies where the first to successfully cheat the challenge; one team of scientists simply worked directly on the IBM BIOS and made an exhaustive table of commands and responses, another team who had no knowledge of IBMs existing code were given the table to write a new BIOS.
This is how IBM lost their monopoly on PC design, how the first buyers of Phoenix BIOS, Compaq placed themselves on the market, and generally a nice example of David and Goliath.
The IBM BIOS standard becoming ripped off has both advanced compatibility and held back the market at once, but at least it's basically open-source.
By Cathee
Ibming
Taking a huge ammount of time to reply to a question already asked.
After IBMjoined the Spiceworks community it took them 1 week to reply to questions
"I've switched jobs 5 times since I started working for IBM, and now I have experience in food service, retail, water treatment and banking. Sadly, I haven't touched a PC in so long, I forgot what they look like."
By Cornela
IBM
The company forced out of its own PC market by shitty computer manufacturers like Packard Bell and eMachines that made copies of IBM computers and undercut them.
