>Not so, Bell labs was a special place at the time and provided significant advantages (like access to computers for one). If the likes of Thompson and Ritchie

>Not so, Bell labs was a special place at the time and provided significant advantages (like access to computers for one). If the likes of Thompson and Ritchie came about 15 years later where they could develop Unix independently and the aforementioned advantages had melted away, why wouldn't they? At that point AT&T would offer nothing but constraints. I call BS. People also do stuff for the mere fun of it, especially geeks. For example Thompson and Ritchie had no problem developing Plan 9 for Lucent (AT & T) "15 years later" after the "advantages had melted away". Not to mention that the example of advantage you provide ("access to computers for one") is insignificant in any case. Thompson and Ritchie could get work anywhere they wanted with computers available. At least the other commenter meant huge deals of money by "advantage", not standard job perks.