From: "Robert Comer" 

It's not something specific to mainframe's per se, it's probably just the
app you were using.  I know the consoles on a IBM 370/155 in 1976 did
non-destructive backspace and they couldn't do much else.

Welcome back btw!!

--
Bob Comer


"Ellen K."  wrote in message
news:6642m2lva510s0lma2udit2fhhat5i414p{at}4ax.com...
> OIC.  I seem to remember an environment where going back meant
> erasing... I think doing SQL interactively in the mainframe, yes?
>
> On Sun, 19 Nov 2006 17:06:53 +0000, Adam
> <""4thwormcastfromthemolehill\"{at}the field.near the
bridge"> wrote in
> message :
>
>>Ellen K. wrote:
>>> Not familiar with this story, care to elaborate?
>>>
>>> On Fri, 17 Nov 2006 15:28:25 +0000, Adam
>>> <""4thwormcastfromthemolehill\"{at}the
field.near the bridge"> wrote in
>>> message :
>>>
>>>> IBM was prevented from denying MS et al the
>>>> "non-destructive cursor"
>>>
>>
>>IBM created most of the fundamental "IP" in the world of computing
>>including the "non-destructive cursor".
>>
>>As part of the consent decree IBM had to allow others unfettered use of
>>such things. Can you imagine an Word processor without the
>>"non-destructive cursor" i.e. every time you went back,
the words you'd
>>typed were wiped out.
>>
>>If IBM had been able & willing to "enforce it's IP"
there'd still only
>>be IBM.
>>
>>Adam
>

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