Seattle Computer Products
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Seattle Computer Products (SCP) was a Seattle, Washington computer hardware company which was one of the first manufacturers of computer systems based on the Intel 8086.
Twenty-two year old Tim Paterson was hired in June 1978 by SCP's owner Rod Brock. In 1980 Paterson wrote the QDOS operating system, later known as 86-DOS, over a four month period. Microsoft purchased a license for the system in December 1980 for $25,000. It was then provided to IBM as the first PC operating system which based on the similar Intel 8088 processor. Microsoft's newly acquired MS-DOS was adapted by IBM to become PC-DOS. Subsequently, in July 1981, Microsoft purchased full rights to QDOS for an additional $50,000. However, Microsoft did not disclose it was reselling the system to IBM. As a result, SCP sued Microsoft, and settled for $1 million in 1986. SCP is no longer in business as the market for Intel 8086 systems became dominated by PC compatible computers.
Paterson was honored along with Bill Gates with the Stewart Alsop Hindsight Award in 1991.
SCP hired high school students from nearby communities such as Renton, Washington to do some electronic soldering and assembly work. Some of them would later work for Microsoft.
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Seattle Computer Product's address was 1114 Industry Dr. Seattle WA 98188, as shown on Rod Brock's business card, with title of "President / General Manager".
