Everyone thinks Microsoft hates Unix, right? Wrong. Long before Windows conquered the world, Redmond briefly pushed its own licensed Unix OS—Xenix—in the 1980s. It ran on PCs and minicomputers, sold reasonably well, and at one point even dominated Unix market share. Yes, Microsoft once proudly advertised itself as a “leading Unix vendor.” Then came Windows NT, internal turf wars, and Bill Gates’ legendary disdain for Unix’s open ideals. Microsoft quietly shuffled Xenix into history’s dustbin, hoping we’d all forget their youthful dalliance with the enemy. We haven’t, of course—and won’t let them live it down anytime soon.
