DOS Versions (Was: IBM PC-DOS 2.10 explorations

[Cindy Croxton]

The picture referenced is for an aftermarket version of DOS. The retail 
versions came in fancy white boxes with hologram logos. I can probably 
take a picture of one in my warehouse, if you need it.


Cindy

On 10/5/20 3:04 PM, Ali via cctalk wrote:
>> We need to differentiate between Retail Sales BY MICROSOFT, V
>> manufacture
>> and WHOLESALE sales by Microsoft to OEMs for them to retail.  With a
>> WIDE
>> variety of different packagings, ranging from personalized to the OEM
>> (Compaq, Zenith, Morrow, etc.), very generic, and even packaging that
>> would not be out of place for a Microsoft retail sale.
> Fred,
>
> That is an interesting issue that you bring up. This is a picture of the
> "retail box" I am speaking about:
>
> https://diskettes.pcjs.org/pcx86/sys/dos/microsoft/3.20/MSDOS320-BOX.jpg
>
> While I admit it could have been an OEM release the box art and packaging
> would make it seem a bit over the top. I have to double check if it also
> includes the easel acrylic box like earlier MS products or not.
>
>
>> But, if you have reason to believe that your copies came directly from
>> Microsoft, not through an OEM, OR came through a retail store that had
>> no affiliation with an OEM, then I need to revise my perception of when
>> Microsoft started to retail DOS.  Has anybody ever seen a retail price
>> list or RETAIL SALES (V product) ad?  (write/call to purchase)
>> YES, I can be TOTALLY WRONG.   I felt the elephant's tail and smelled
>> the
>> region, but did not have the big picture.
> Unfortunately, even my NOS items are second hand, for the most part, so
> providence is something I cannot guarantee. I have seen other packaging from
> OEMs for the same dos (e.g. TI) and it is definitely much more generic then
> this. It is just a pair of red binders with slip cases.
>
> -Ali
>