Anyone who knows their history of computer operating systems and programs

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Tom E

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want to help me out? I have recently gotten into the world of Linux. I have noticed that different distro's/GUI's have quite familiar layouts. Some are more PC like and others more Mac like. I have had a few friends comment on this and also the open source programs that they come equipped with eg. "Oh they ripped off Mac" or "They just ripped off Microsoft word".

My question is who ripped off who? Well I'll start by saying it the way i imagine it and can someone tell me if I'm correct and maybe go more into it.

Computers have been around in various forms over the years. The UNIX OS goes back a long time. Is it a case that Linux disto's have ripped off Mac and/or PC's or did Mac and PC's just adopt layouts/GUI's that were already established? So are they the companies who ripped off what was out there first and Linux distro's are just going the same way? ie. the layout for GUI's and programs was established before Microsoft and Apple came along so they are hardly pioneers? They just made what was out there more accessible and familiar?

Also any history that might help me understand better exactly what happened I'd love to hear. I have become very interested in Operating systems lately and would love to know how it all developed. Thanks :)
 
Apple were the first company to create a GUI, then Microsoft took their idea and used it in their DOS.

Well done in getting into the world of Linux by the way :)
You using ubuntu??
 
UNIX was undoubtedly the first operating system. Then Apple came along and "stole" from Xerox PARC to get the ancestor of today's GUI. Microsoft then stole from Apple to get the Windows GUI. When Linus Torvalds created the Linux kernel (from Minix) it was still text based. Eventually, though, the open source community developed a GUI to complete the Linux operating system.

Where Linux-people got their content from is unknown and highly debatable. It's not unlikely that Windows and Mac became prominent influences. However, it is worth noting that much of Linux's original content has been copied by Microsoft and Apple too; tabs in browsers, multiple desktops, search functionality, the list goes on.

It's difficult to decipher the truth from the Microsoft-zealots and Apple fans, but the truth of the matter is, it was really an unintentional collaborative effort.
 
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