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CHAPTER 7<br />
Digital Research<br />
The Early Days of Digital Research<br />
Digital Research started operation in 1976. It was named "Intergalactic Digital<br />
Research," because a consultant up in Sausalito held claim to the name "Digital<br />
Research." The "Intergalactic" was stuck there by Demi Moore, a creative assistant<br />
to our corporate counsel, Gerry Davis. We got the real name back when the consultant<br />
went out of business two years after.<br />
The first CP/M Version 1.3 was a cheap piece of software, upped at $70. That was<br />
dirt cheap when compared to mainframe software priced in the thousands. Most<br />
computer software buffs were astonished. But, CP/M set standards in small computer<br />
pricing. And, customers liked it. Well, most liked it. On occasion, we'd get a<br />
call in customer service like this. "Any piece of software selling for $70 can't be<br />
any good ... bzzzzzzz ... "<br />
God, it would be great if customers still had that attitude. Nowadays, $70 is a highprice.<br />
For 70 bucks, the average consumer expects integrated graphics, fax, voice<br />
mail, e-mail, data connections to all services, with a two-year no-cost warrantee,<br />
and then they make you toss in CD-ROM support with the $1 bonus coupon offer.<br />
Computer Connections 71
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