Stop typing M$ -- it's not as funny or clever as you think it is

[The Lurker]

What is the version of BASIC that put MS on the map? That would be Altair BASIC.

But that is neither here nor there as it's more of a jab against BASIC than MS BASIC. Half of the joke is a reference to Microsoft's tireless pushing of BASIC (at it's exaggerated worst) back in the days before they finally deprecated VB and killed that non-orthogonal monster.

The other half is the reference everyone gets (or think they get) to what was an exceptionally ruthless business strategy in the 80s and 90s. Remember Stacker?

I fear these days both halves of the joke are becomming a bit antiquated. They finally killed BASIC (or are trying to) and these days the evil things they do, such as the Tom Tom lawsuit and their various other anti-linux activities -- are merely the usual above average evil of any monopolist.

I edited my post shortly after that quote you made. I realised it was a bit hypocritical to claim knowledge of the history of BASIC and apparently disassociate it from MS. Yes, I remember Stacker, and I still use WordPerfect. I remember that time (late 80s, early 90s) as the time in which the phrase came into use.