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Will Apple and Microsoft Renew their Vows?

Posted by CmdrTaco on from the match-made-in-hell dept.

krugdm writes "Remember about five years ago when Apple announced their deal with Microsoft where Apple agreed to bundle IE with new Macs and drop a patent lawsuit, and the guys from Redmond were to continue to develop Office for the Mac as well as purchase $150 million in Apple stock? Well, that deal expires this summer. describing the love-hate relationship the two companies have had in the time since 1997 and wonders whether the pact will be renewed."

2 of 92 comments (clear)

  1. Apple has more leverage though by gouldtj · · Score: 5, Interesting

    We'll see. Apple has alot more leverage in this deal now that it has been ruled that Microsoft is a monopoly. MS needs to have Office on Mac, otherwise they are only choosing one platform for their office suite. I don't think that they are going to port it to Linux anytime soon, but I could be supprised.

  2. Re:Something will happen, that's for sure.... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 5, Interesting

    Okay, it's a pipe dream. Won't happen. But this is what I imagine...

    Rumors are circulating wildly about the new Apple / Microsoft alliance leading up to MacWorld New York.

    Steve Jobs comes on to the floor. He reminds people of the productive business relationship that Microsoft and Apple have had. The benefits that have been nurtured by the mutual cooperation for the past five years. He asks that the lights go down and they start to show the message that Bill Gates delivered five years ago.

    After 30 seconds or so. A woman wearing red running shorts and carrying a sledgehammer comes storming through the crowd and hurls it up at the giant screen. Shattering things and leaving the crowd in shocked silence before erupting in massive noise.

    Jobs goes on to announce that despite the working together, only one partner has grown as a result: Microsoft. He wants to end that.

    He announces a three pronged attack:
    1) Open Sourcing AppleWorks 7 to be the new free business app of choice on Windows, Linux, and Mac's that will kill reliance on MS Office.
    2) A port of Mac OS X Server (not client) to be licensed to any WinTel maker at the same rates as MS Windows Server.
    3) The start of an aggressive new ad campaign that really crucifies the Windows as being fundamentally insecure and poorly designed.

    Wild fantasy. Nothing like this will happen, but that's what I imagine in my wildest dreams. :-)