Computers: Microcomputer standards: Weighing the pros and cons: Standardization of microcomputer hardware and software has been slowed by manufacturers' vested interests

In the rapidly proliferating world of microcomputers, users are inundated with a welter of competing claims for such things as high-level language capabilities, disk operating systems, assembly-level programming, and bus architectures. With the diversity of the microcomputer field have come the problems of linking the machines together and transferring programs from one make of machine to another. Manufacturers follow the few mainframe standards that are applicable in the area, such as the RS-232-C interface and other so-called standards, such as the Kansas City “standard” for cassette recorders, and now there is a multinational effort under way to formulate a common framework to ease the users' problems while, at the same time, offering manufacturers a common path for the design of peripherals and software.