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Gates and Jobs to Share A Stage

Rob wrote with a link to a Computer Business Review online article, which reports that Microsoft chairman Bill Gates and Apple chief Steve Jobs will make a joint appearance at a future technologies conference in Carlsbad, California. The event is expected to last a little more than an hour, and the two computer industry magnates are expected to reflect on their pasts - while theorizing on the future. "[WSJ Tech columnist] Walt Mossberg, a co-producer of the conference who will interview the execs on-stage along with colleague Kara Swisher, said they simply invited Gates and Jobs to do the interview ... [Mossberg] declined to give any color about the questions he and Swisher are preparing, or any additional information. Most likely, Gates and Jobs will use the occasion to do some friendly sparring on their polar-opposite philosophies on personal computing. Jobs may bang on about the benefits of a software-hardware approach, while Gates may rattle off the joys of partnering with hardware partners."

210 comments

  1. heroes by I_am_mccool · · Score: 5, Funny

    I have this vision of the future Heroes episode where Peter and Syler have a showdown. Glowing hands and all.

    1. Re:heroes by jimstapleton · · Score: 1

      ok, lets not bring Sony into this.

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    2. Re:heroes by Marwood · · Score: 0, Funny
    3. Re:heroes by x1n933k · · Score: 1

      Finally! Now there is a chance for the Sword fight that was missing from the movie: Pirates of Silicon Valley

  2. Perfect timing! by Non-CleverNickName · · Score: 1

    Does anybody else think this would be the perfect time to bring back those American Gladiators challenges??

    Picture Jobs and Gates onstage in full padding, trying to knock each other off with those giant rubber q-tips!

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    1. Re:Perfect timing! by TripMaster+Monkey · · Score: 2, Funny


      I wager 30 quatloos on the newcomer.

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      ~ |rip/\/\aster /\/\onkey

    2. Re:Perfect timing! by BosstonesOwn · · Score: 1

      This is quite obviously a assisination attempt of Jobs.

      Ballmer will jump out ninja style and keep slinging chairs at jobs until one comes out victorious. Long live Ninja Steve !

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      This package Does Not Contain a Winner
    3. Re:Perfect timing! by steveo777 · · Score: 1

      I'm thinking maybe Jobs and Gates will pit their best warriors against each other for control over their empires. Gates will bring forth Balmer, clad in leather and wielding a chair. But Jobs will have the ace in the hole with some programmer that has been iGenetically enhanced. Chairs will fly, iPods will be used as ninja stars, but ultimately we know that Mr. Rogers will take all.

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      This sig isn't original enough, it's time to come up with something witty...
    4. Re:Perfect timing! by Basehart · · Score: 1

      I like to see the iWarrior stuff a first gen iPod up Ballmers ass.

  3. While drinking water.... by Himring · · Score: 4, Funny

    "Jobs -- while Gates drinks a glass of water -- may bang on about the benefits of a software-hardware approach."

    --
    "All great things are simple & expressed in a single word: freedom, justice, honor, duty, mercy, hope." --Churchill
  4. Notecards by Paulrothrock · · Score: 0, Offtopic

    Well, if Bill doesn't use notecards then he won't be the worst person to ever share the stage with Steve.

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    I'm in the hole of the broadband donut.
  5. Re:heroes (OT) by houston_pt · · Score: 2, Insightful

    Best. Episode. Ever.

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    coffee | nose > keyboard ©
  6. Ob by Hognoxious · · Score: 1, Funny

    Hope they don't talk about computers

    --
    Confucius say, "Find worm in apple - bad. Find half a worm - worse."
    1. Re:Ob by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1, Insightful

      Whoever modded this redundant is a grad-A shitcock. It links to a spoof of Jobs & Gates for fucks sake.

  7. where's Linus? by cyphercell · · Score: 4, Insightful

    Seems like a scheme to reiterate the idea that people can only choose between Mac and Windows. They are completely ignoring another big player.

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    Under the influence of Post-Cyberpunk Gonzo Journalism
    1. Re:where's Linus? by jimstapleton · · Score: 2, Funny

      He couldn't make it, so they decided to put a cage of these little guys up there instead for cute-factor.

      That, and it'll be the only way to get any noise up there that isn't marketing rhetoric.

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    2. Re:where's Linus? by cronot · · Score: 4, Insightful

      Even if Linus was invited to attend, I don't think he would accept it. And if he'd accept, he's still not a business guy anyway, so he wouldn't fit on the conversation - he'd just babble "I don't care" at most stuff. He doesn't have the proper composture to behave in a way the target audience would expect in such an ocasion.

    3. Re:where's Linus? by Atheose · · Score: 2, Insightful

      They are ignoring another big player


      And I suppose you think Luxembourg is a world superpower?

      I think the word "big" above is rather generous.
    4. Re:where's Linus? by nine-times · · Score: 5, Insightful

      While you have a bit of a point, I don't think Linus is the right choice. I don't want to downplay his contribution or anything, but he's more of a programmer and more specifically a kernel hacker. Jobs and Gates are the businessmen who run the companies and oversee the product vision.

      So Linus, the head Mac kernel guy, and the head Vista kernel guy might be interesting. Shuttleworth might be a better guy to line up with Jobs and Gates.

    5. Re:where's Linus? by jimstapleton · · Score: 1

      Maybe s/he comparing it to minix or hurd...?

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    6. Re:where's Linus? by Jeff+DeMaagd · · Score: 1

      Neither Apple nor Linux is really a big player. I have never seen Linux's desktop user base go much beyond 1%, which makes Apple's 3-5% look big. The server space is a different story, but I expect that this discussion is really about personal devices, not computing in general.

      However, Microsoft and Apple are influential, I'm struggling to figure out Linux's level of influence in determining the direction of personal computers and personal electronic devices.

    7. Re:where's Linus? by Redacted · · Score: 1

      Its a debate/discussion about future technologies between two billionaires - one who built the first personal computers, and one who made them the commodity they are today; both have companies with market caps in the tens of billions of dollars. One controls personal computing, the other (pretty much) digital music and much of the professional graphics/audio market.

      Whether people want to admit it or not, Steve Jobs and Bill Gates, as individuals, have a hell of a lot more influence of the future of technology (in a lot of fields) than Linus will most likely ever have.

    8. Re:where's Linus? by jellomizer · · Score: 2, Funny

      Linus nah get RMS. He'll make sure that if you were thinking about switching to Linux you wouldn't.

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      If something is so important that you feel the need to post it on the internet... It probably isn't that important.
    9. Re:where's Linus? by cyphercell · · Score: 1

      You must be a consumer. Customers influence the future of technology not CEOs, companies adapt to the market or die. This talk seems more about how these individuals have adapted in the past versus how they expect to adapt in the future. Now depending on the nature of the talks you may be right, but personally I'd like to hear what's going on in the future of computing and how Linus expects to adapt, as much as I'm interested in reading what Jobs and Gates are going to be doing.

      --
      Under the influence of Post-Cyberpunk Gonzo Journalism
    10. Re:where's Linus? by AlgorithMan · · Score: 1

      So Linus, the head Mac kernel guy, and the head Vista kernel guy might be interesting. Shuttleworth might be a better guy to line up with Jobs and Gates.
      or RMS... but I guess he would try to kill gates...
      --
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    11. Re:where's Linus? by molarmass192 · · Score: 1

      Considering that over 50% of North American companies use Linux in some capacity, I think "big" is appropriate here. However, this is a conference on general consumer technology, not specifically OSes, so I don't think Linus would be a good fit.

      --

      Good people do not need laws to tell them to act responsibly, while bad people will find a way around the laws-Plato
    12. Re:where's Linus? by drinkypoo · · Score: 2, Funny

      or RMS... but I guess he would try to kill gates...

      Or both gates and jobs, with his fearsome lack of personal hygiene...

      --
      "You're right," Fisheye says. "I should have set it on 'whip' or 'chop.'"
    13. Re:where's Linus? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Oh, shut up.

    14. Re:where's Linus? by nine-times · · Score: 2, Insightful

      What hardware platforms does Stallman have control over? Of what operating systems does he have decision-making power over the design?

    15. Re:where's Linus? by VisceralLogic · · Score: 1

      He doesn't have the proper composture... Sorry... I used it all on my garden last week.
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      Stop! Dremel time!
    16. Re:where's Linus? by Tribbin · · Score: 1

      I would instantly loose trust if Shuttleworth were on stage with them.

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    17. Re:where's Linus? by nine-times · · Score: 1

      hmmm... interesting. But where does your trust go when it's loosed?

    18. Re:where's Linus? by Bamafan77 · · Score: 1

      Linus nah get RMS.
      Ah yes. Then we'd get preached to about why Gnu/Linux is Gnu/superior to both Gnu/Mac AND Gnu/Windows which are all teh sux0rs to Gnu/Hurd which will be released any Gnu/Hurd/Day now.
    19. Re:where's Linus? by Prien715 · · Score: 1

      Linus would be completely irrelevant as he only develops a kernel. It would be like if the BSD kernel guys got invited instead of Jobs for Apple. Both Gates and Jobs primarily care about the end user experience which is pretty irrelevant to kernel development.

      If Linus makes his own portable music play (call it the "minus"), then invite him. Until then, I'm afraid only someone like Stallman, Parens, or maybe the Ubuntu guy even come close to offering as broad a spectrum of offerings from the open source community. Of course, bazaars have never had leaders (unlike cathedrals) so I suspect the open source community will remain without a central cultish Jobs-like figure.

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      -- Political fascism requires a Fuhrer.
    20. Re:where's Linus? by cyphercell · · Score: 1

      Shuttleworth might be a better guy to line up with Jobs and Gates.

      Shuttleworth is a neat idea, but he doesn't quite represent OSS all by himself. I'm beginning to think that an OSS forum might work better. RMS, ESR, Shuttleworth, Linus, Michael Dell, Steve Jobs, and relevant representatives from other sources, just basically shooting the sh*t about the future of OSS. That might be cool, but completely inappropriate for this particular interview. Maybe an all inclusive OSS representative might come out of meetings like this though.

      --
      Under the influence of Post-Cyberpunk Gonzo Journalism
    21. Re:where's Linus? by Breakfast+Pants · · Score: 1

      And just exactly what kinds of things tighten your trust?

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      WHO ATE MY BREAKFAST PANTS?
    22. Re:where's Linus? by jellomizer · · Score: 1

      Will Hurd have a Duke Nukem Forever port?

      --
      If something is so important that you feel the need to post it on the internet... It probably isn't that important.
    23. Re:where's Linus? by dave420 · · Score: 1

      Well, it's not really that big of a player compared to the two, if you're talking the market share using the different camps' products...

    24. Re:where's Linus? by AlgorithMan · · Score: 1

      GNU

      --
      The MAFIAA is a bunch of mindless jerks who will be the first up against the wall when the revolution comes
  8. while I wouldn't call it a confrontation of... by jimstapleton · · Score: 0, Redundant

    powerful good and evil, maybe powerful neutral and evil (you pick which is which).

    Wonder if anyone is taking bets on the victor?

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    1. Re:while I wouldn't call it a confrontation of... by cyphercell · · Score: 5, Funny

      M$ = Lawful Evil (we can do what we want, our lawyers will make it legal)
      Mac = Neutral Evil (we're evil, if we break the law our lawyers will get us out)
      M$ = 20th level necromancer
      special attack = Summon Zombie pc
      Mac = 20th level enchanter
      special attack = Charm people into thinking a Mac will make them cool

      --
      Under the influence of Post-Cyberpunk Gonzo Journalism
    2. Re:while I wouldn't call it a confrontation of... by Creepy · · Score: 1

      wow, who woulda thunk a Chaotic Evil Manager could run a Lawful evil company. That IS evil. I suppose he's got 13 levels on them and with that 20 charisma can dupe pretty much anyone.

    3. Re:while I wouldn't call it a confrontation of... by harry666t · · Score: 3, Funny

      GM: M$, you go first.
      M$: Trying to summon a lawyer.
      GM: 1d20+43 = 63, you summoned bloodsucker bastard lawyer from ninth circle of hell. Your turn, Apple.
      Apple: Trying to cast "Control minds of iPod users with vision of drm-free music"
      GM: 1d20+16 = 17, forty thousand iPod users are under your command, Steve. M$?
      M$: We try to sue Linux users for using software infrigning our patents.
      GM: 1d20 - 16 = -4, and you do not own any useful patents. Apple?
      Apple: We tell our customers that higher bitrate is worthy 30c.
      GM: 1d20+27 = 41, forty one thousand users now believe you. Minus the forty thousands that were hypnotised, they've lost their mind and thus cannot reason.
      Some Random Geek: But where are the Linux users?
      Some Random Computer User: WTF is Linux?
      GM: Some Random Computer User does not know Linux. Sorry, Some Random Geek.
      Some Random Geek: But there is Ubuntu...
      Dell: ...although computers with Ubuntu cost the same as Windows machines...
      Some Random Crapware Company: ...no, they're actually more expensive, since they're not bloated with our crap...
      Another Random Geek: It was supposed to be a fight between M$ and Apple.
      Some Random Geek: Mod parent +5 insightful!
      Another Random Crapware Company: This is not crap!
      Dell: Let's have a deal with M$...
      M$: OK, like the one with Novell?
      Novell: We only want SuSE to be more compatible with M$!
      Another Random Geek: You betrayed us, Novell!
      Some Random Geek: Mod parent +5 insightful!
      Some random /. mod: *goes to preferences, unchecks "willing to mod"*
      Apple: Leopard will be delayed.
      Another Random Geek: Damn it! I knew that Apple is going to forget about Macs when it dropped "Computers" from its name...
      Some Random Geek: Mod parent +5 insightful!
      Another Random Geek: Mod parent -1 redundant...
      GM: SHUT UP EVERYONE! Time's out, it's been an hour.

  9. Pfffft!!! by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    My kingdom for a mod point! Bwahahaha!!

    1. Re:Pfffft!!! by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      My kingdom for a clue. I don't get it. Could someone explain/link info on the reference to me?

    2. Re:Pfffft!!! by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Market share percentage as it relates to time taken on stage would be my bet.

      I thought it was funny.

    3. Re:Pfffft!!! by ideonode · · Score: 1

      I thought it was the fact that Jobs is Gates' ventriloquist dummy, hence the reference to drinking water.

    4. Re:Pfffft!!! by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ventriloquism

      See also here for specific reference.

  10. I saw them at a party last week by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0


    Bill and Steve have always been good friends, i saw them at a party i was at last week and they where getting along great
    see the video for proof
    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Kwy4R8DfOT4

  11. It's a special event. by Lumpy · · Score: 3, Funny

    When they get on stage, the lights will drop, strobes start going off, and as chain link fences lower from the ceiling, the techno music starts and the announcer screams, TECHNOLOGY CAGE MATCH!!!!!!!

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    Do not look at laser with remaining good eye.
    1. Re:It's a special event. by cyphercell · · Score: 0

      And Ballmer of course will jump in from the front row with his favorite wrestling weapon, the chair! It's ok though, Jobs may get some help if Linus shows up and reveals the hidden alliance between Mac and Open Source Software. That'll work until Gates and Ballmer are decommissioned, then RMS shows up and smacks Jobs on the back of the head with his guitar Linus unconscious from the brawl with the M$ brothers will not be able to prove his stance on RMS's actions until.... TECHNOLOGY CAGE MATCH 2!!

      --
      Under the influence of Post-Cyberpunk Gonzo Journalism
    2. Re:It's a special event. by Prof.Phreak · · Score: 1

      Strangely, last time the two were on stage, it didn't end well for Jobs... was the beginning of the end in those days for Apple... is history repeating itself?

      --

      "If anything can go wrong, it will." - Murphy

    3. Re:It's a special event. by codemachine · · Score: 1

      Lets make it a handicap tag team match. Steve Jobs and Steve "Woz" vs Gates, Ballmer, and Paul Allen.

  12. Open letter by styryx · · Score: 5, Funny

    Dear Mr Jobs,

    Please could you ask Bill to bring along 235 software patents or shut up.

    Sincerely, everybody.

  13. what will they do on stage? magic! by bazorg · · Score: 0, Redundant

    Jobs will step into a wooden box leaving his head and feet out. Gates will use a chainsaw to cut the box in half. there will be a fatal error.

    1. Re:what will they do on stage? magic! by cyphercell · · Score: 1

      BSOD - Blue Stage Of Death?

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      Under the influence of Post-Cyberpunk Gonzo Journalism
  14. Re:heroes (OT) by TripMaster+Monkey · · Score: 2, Funny

    Actually, my vision was of Stewie and Olivia fighting over who was on-key in that Family Guy episode. ^_^

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    ~ |rip/\/\aster /\/\onkey

  15. This Kiss by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1, Funny

    It would be funny if they kissed like one of those wacky MTV movie awards shows.

    1. Re:This Kiss by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Reminds me of the Ali G episode where he makes peace between North and South Korea.

  16. Looks interesting. by Rob+T+Firefly · · Score: 1

    Though I won't go see it, I look forward to the dance remixes.

  17. two things i want to see: by circletimessquare · · Score: 4, Funny

    1. a spoof of those pc guy/ mac guy ads with jobs and gates in the appropriate roles. it will never happen, but still

    2. an icon for jobs on slashdot. gates has his borg visor one. why not jobs with an ipod?

    --
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    1. Re:two things i want to see: by MontyApollo · · Score: 1

      >>1. a spoof of those pc guy/ mac guy ads with jobs and gates in the appropriate roles. it will never happen, but still

      I doubt it. Those commercials are partially an ego trip for Jobs, saying "see, *I* am cooler than Bill" just as much as Mac is cooler than PC. I don't see why Bill would give him the satisfaction of playing it out in real life.

      Of course, I could see Jobs jumping out and saying "Hi, he's a PC and I'm a Mac"

    2. Re:two things i want to see: by root_42 · · Score: 1

      2. an icon for jobs on slashdot. gates has his borg visor one. why not jobs with an ipod

      Or an iGasm? *ducks*

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    3. Re:two things i want to see: by Bemopolis · · Score: 1

      an icon for jobs on slashdot


      Jobs will get an icon as soon as someone figures out what a Reality Distortion Field looks like. Me, I have no clue, but I'm pretty sure it wears a turtleneck.
      --
      "I guess the moral of the story is, don't paint your airship with rocket fuel." -- Addison Bain
    4. Re:two things i want to see: by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      I would love to see one where Jobs says something and then gates goes and says well I got third party bitch, I don't need to do it myself. Then a big guy who we'll introduce as norton or something will come out and start kicking the crap out of him. Then Gates will start driving around him in circles saying wish you had games didn't yeah and....

      Then we could have some guy start throwing chairs around and everyone would laugh.

      I think I'll post this anonymously....

    5. Re:two things i want to see: by nbritton · · Score: 1

      1. a spoof of those pc guy/ mac guy ads with jobs and gates in the appropriate roles.

      http://www.current.tv/pods/supernews/PD05440

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  18. Why'd I think... by trudyscousin · · Score: 3, Funny

    ...when I first glanced at it, that the article headline said, "Gates and Jobs to Share A Grudge?"

    --
    Those who can, do. Those who can't, write technology blogs.
  19. Wouldn't you just love.... by raluxs · · Score: 1


    That Jobs enter the stage with a cream pie in his hands?

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  20. "their polar-opposite philosophies"? by Mateo_LeFou · · Score: 4, Funny

    Gates: We want you to be locked in to proprietary Microsoft products
    Jobs: We want you to be locked in to proprietary Apple products

    Would that be east-west poles, 'cause they seem pretty close together...

    --
    My turnips listen for the soft cry of your love
    1. Re:"their polar-opposite philosophies"? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Would that be east-west poles, 'cause they seem pretty close together... - Yep, Germany is on the West side, Ukraine and Belarus on the East. It also borders with Czech Republic, Slovakia, Lithuania, Russia and has a maritime border with Denmark and Sweden, but who remembers those useless facts? You are right though, mostly Poles go East to West and West to East, many of them are bipolar.

  21. 2 CEOs enter... by techmuse · · Score: 4, Funny

    2 CEOs enter...

    One CEO leaves.

    1. Re:2 CEOs enter... by Corporate+Troll · · Score: 1

      I wasn't aware that Billy Borg really had assimilation powers...

    2. Re:2 CEOs enter... by dbug78 · · Score: 1

      Except Gates isn't the Micros~1 CEO, Ballmer is.

  22. Trying to care... by tomstdenis · · Score: 0, Redundant

    Given that I run neither MSFT nor apple products [aside from an ipod which has never seen itunes that was bought for me as a gift] I don't care what "vision" these two can come up with. The fact that they're talking like this at all suggests they're scared about "the other choice." Let's not forget it wasn't long ago that MSFT basically ripped off apple [who rippled off PARC] and they all got mad up in each others face about it.

    Tom

    --
    Someday, I'll have a real sig.
    1. Re:Trying to care... by Jeff+DeMaagd · · Score: 4, Informative

      Let's not forget it wasn't long ago that MSFT basically ripped off apple [who rippled off PARC]

      If Woz's explanation is correct, no one did any "ripping off" in this case. Apple paid for the rights to various parts of GUI from Xerox, and Microsoft traded rights to Apple II Basic in exchange for the GUI rights to make Windows.

    2. Re:Trying to care... by nine-times · · Score: 1

      Even if you don't use either company's products, you still might care on the basis that each company is influential, powerful, and trying to compete with the product of your choice. Sometimes it's good to know your enemies.

    3. Re:Trying to care... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      What??!! Really?? Teh GUI is teh ripoff?

      Seriously. Let it go. It's no longer a valid arguing point.

    4. Re:Trying to care... by tomstdenis · · Score: 1

      My point was that these are not the most friendly of pairings. Apple does try to promote and sell the Apple brand of software let's not forget. They each have minor incursions into each others territory mostly as a way to drive up sales [re: ipod, office] but also lure people to the other camp.

      If they're doing the song and dance on stage together again it's because they're trying to divide the market again between OSS and non-OSS camps.

      Tom

      --
      Someday, I'll have a real sig.
    5. Re:Trying to care... by tomstdenis · · Score: 0

      Life's too short to try and follow the low S/N that is corporate software shops. If either side came up with something I found useful [that I couldn't get elsewhere] I'd already be looking for it or know about it.

      For example, MSFT says that Vista is a whole new OS [lie] that gives consumers new ways to use their PC [also a lie] and opens up a world of multimedia never before possible [another lie]. They say that the UAC will bring security to the desktop [lie], and that signed drivers protect users [another lie]. Balmer often says he wants developers [lie], etc.

      Then you look at the mac. They claim to be hip, but in reality they're just an overpriced gimmick. They claim that multimedia shines on the mac [lie, hint: this isn't 1991, multimedia PCs are just as good, and look at the recent laptop screen fiasco], they claim that their software is basically the only way to organize photos, music and videos [lie], that macs are more "fun" than PCs [lie], etc.

      To be honest I just don't see what all the hoopla is about. A custom built or Dell [style] computer is just as good as an expensive apple laptop. Why would I buy a macbook over a cheaper laptop and just install a linux distro myself? Why would I buy a loaded down Vista box when a high quality custom box is the same cost or cheaper and can be loaded with whatever OS distro I want.

      They may be big companies but they're totally out of the realm of what I care about in computing. They're not making products [or pricing them] according to the way I [and frankly many of my friends] see the market.

      Tom

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      Someday, I'll have a real sig.
    6. Re:Trying to care... by itchy92 · · Score: 1

      The fact that they're talking like this at all suggests they're scared about "the other choice."

      This is so stupid. Perhaps the fact that they're talking like this suggests that they are the current "market leaders" in technology standards (Windows for the OS, iPod for digital media). Besides, as TFA states a whopping paragraph in, they didn't organize this; they were both invited to speak at this third-party conference. Neither one is scared of anything. If Apple or Linux encroach more than 15% of the OS market, Microsoft may start to notice; if the Zune encroaches more than 10% (*snicker*) of the media player market, Apple may start to notice. And if Linux takes over 15% of the embedded market, both may start to notice. Until then, I suspect that neither company is really scared of much.

      I personally think Linux is great... for what it is. But I am not convinced that it will ever be seen as a real contender unless it makes some drastic changes to its very model; changes that would essentially destroy the appeal of F/OSS. And statements like "they're scared about the 'other choice' just sound absolutely ridiculous to me, especially in the context of this article.

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    7. Re:Trying to care... by Jeff+DeMaagd · · Score: 1

      The fact that they're talking like this at all suggests they're scared about "the other choice."

      I've re-read this a few times and I really don't understand how this statement can be true given the circumstances. I don't see any indication that this dialogue is about the server market, which is the main place where Linux is currently doing well. I don't know who would represent Linux in one other place where Linux is excelling, which is in smart phones. Linus has little to do with that effort except that his kernel is one cog in the mechanism.

      I have never really seen the Linux desktop installed base exceed 1% of the installed base of personal computers, so I don't see how Linux on the desktop is worth noticing. Linux pre-installed on consumer computers has failed every time I've seen it tried, be it VA Linux, HP's and Dell's previous attempts, Linspire at Walmart and so on. I expect that Dell's current attempt would be cancelled in six months like the previous attempts because Linux users are better at yelling than they are about putting their money where their mouths are and actually buy one of these machines.

    8. Re:Trying to care... by kuzb · · Score: 1

      ...And then Apple lost because it was the worst business decision Jobs ever made. Not only did he lose, but he went on to throw out the entire Apple II line, going so far as to promote conflict between the Mac and Apple II development teams. Fantastic idea Steve - shit on the very developers who got Apple that far.

      Steve Jobs, paradoxically is both the best and the worst thing to happen to Apple.

      --
      BeauHD. Worst editor since kdawson.
    9. Re:Trying to care... by geekoid · · Score: 1

      Well,MS had an agreement to make some products for apple. Then they distorted the intent of the contract to include OS GUIs, and a judge agreed.

      So the did take the idea from apple, they just happened to have better lawyers.

      --
      The Kruger Dunning explains most post on /. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dunning%E2%80%93Kruger_effect
    10. Re:Trying to care... by mgabrys_sf · · Score: 1

      re:"he went on to throw out the entire Apple II line, going so far as to promote conflict between the Mac and Apple II development teams"

      Not so sure about that. The 8bit market was spinning down with price wars aplenty. Long-term lessie how the players in the day did.

      Atari: Dead (or - bought by the French - same thing)
      Commodore: Dead (now a gamebox brand in Europe - same thing)
      Texas Instruments: Discontinued 8bits in 83. Discontinued comptuers in 97.
      Tandy / Radio Shack: Went to PC compatables in the mid 80s.

      Seems like anyone who didn't get out of 8bits fast, ended up dead. Gross simplification - but your argument sounds silly if you replace the phrase "Apple II line / Mac and Apple II" with "Model T" and "Model A". Way to shit on your workers FORD!

    11. Re:Trying to care... by MajorCatastrophe · · Score: 1

      Let's not forget it wasn't long ago that MSFT basically ripped off apple [who rippled off PARC]

      I see this attitude a lot here on msbashdot. What's the problem here exactly?

      Presumably, the GNOME and KDE teams are also guilty of "ripping off" PARC (let me guess, the argument doesn't apply when the boot is on the other foot).

      Is there some unwritten rule that says once somebody comes up with an idea, that nobody else is allowed to use that idea? Well just patent the fucking thing and have done with it.

      Do you also bitch about Ferrari for ripping off the idea of using a steering wheel to control the direction the car travels in?

  23. Oblig. by vivaoporto · · Score: 4, Funny

    Walt Mossberg: Bill Gates, what about a shared interview with Steve Jobs?
    Billg: Sharing a stage with Steve Jobs? That's the dumbest fucking idea I've heard since I've been at Microsoft.

  24. Not what they say... by paintswithcolour · · Score: 3, Interesting
    What will be interesting is how they come across, Gates has always struck me as lacking heavily in charisma; which just happens to be Jobs strong point. In fact, I'm suprised that Microsoft shuffle Gates out quite so much, apart from being a very notable computing figure he never seems to be a good promoter of tech.; partly because he brings out resentment in many people and partly because he sums up the typical mainstream concept of 'Geekness' and all the ideas of inaccessability that conjures up...

    Jobs on the other hand is gives off (regardless of if it is true or not) a degree of approachability and dramatic flair (but, some would argue, at a hinderence of reality and pesky fact).

    So I'm not going to be too interested in what they say, but how they say, and most interestingly of all how they play it against each other. Although I can't shake the feeling that they will be slapping each other on the back....

    1. Re:Not what they say... by Stormwatch · · Score: 2, Funny

      Jobs on the other hand is gives off (regardless of if it is true or not) a degree of approachability and dramatic flair (but, some would argue, at a hinderence of reality and pesky fact).

      Jobs does not hinder reality.

      He merely... distorts it.
    2. Re:Not what they say... by lucifig · · Score: 1

      The richest man in the world being the spokesman for your company never hurts regardless of his charisma or geekiness.

    3. Re:Not what they say... by codemachine · · Score: 1

      Still, would you rather put Balmer up on stage? If the choice is between those two, the company will wisely pick Gates every time.

      He's not a good as Jobs is on stage, but he's not that terrible either. And he's more recognizable.

  25. Re:heroes (OT) by shadow349 · · Score: 5, Funny

    I envision it starting like this:

    Jobs: I'm a Mac
    Gates: ...and I'm a PC

  26. Imagine by Shelbspeaks · · Score: 0, Troll

    This would be an awesome conference to attend! I'd love to get the heads up on the future of technology. Curious? Check out Christopher Ruddy

    1. Re:Imagine by Goffee71 · · Score: 0

      I hope there's sarcasm buried in there... these two can evangelise and hypothesise all they like at their own events but put on the stand all they'll do is spout the PR fluff about their respective corners - stuff we've all heard before.

      --
      If he's the Walrus then can I be a penguin please?
  27. Man and PC by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0, Redundant

    Wow.

    I hope Jobs introduces himself as Mac and Gates introduces himself as PC.

    "Hi, I'm Mac.. and I'm PC"

    That would be great!

    Jared Farnum

  28. Does Linus have that much power? by MikeRT · · Score: 1

    Perhaps a lot of the problem is that Linus doesn't have as much authority over Linux as Gates and Jobs do over their companies' platforms. Linus may play gatekeeper with the official Linux kernel, but he hardly has any power at places like Red Hat, Novell or IBM where many important decisions about getting Linux out there are made. It would make about as much sense to have Miguel De Icaza join in because of his standing with GNOME development.

    1. Re:Does Linus have that much power? by cyphercell · · Score: 1

      Seems to me like it's more of a spokesperson X talks about the future/past. Linus is the most prevalent name as a spokesperson for Gnu/Linux operating systems. OSS is really interesting and people may very well like to understand what Linus does better. For instance he does have complete control over Linux (the kernel), but has little to no influence over the actual distributions. At the end of the day I think the stories of these three software giants are full of dramatic flare (as far as business stories go) and that's what people want to hear about, this makes Linux's story all the more relevant, especially because it seems like they just want a prediction of where these stories will be heading in the next 5-10yrs.

      --
      Under the influence of Post-Cyberpunk Gonzo Journalism
    2. Re:Does Linus have that much power? by nine-times · · Score: 1

      For instance he does have complete control over Linux (the kernel), but has little to no influence over the actual distributions.

      Isn't that a bit of a contradiction? He may have control over the official kernel, but because he doesn't control the distributions, he doesn't have any control over what the kernel looks like in the distributions except insofar as they choose to stick with the official kernel.

      So, ultimately, he doesn't have complete control over Linux (the kernel). People can do whatever they want with the kernel. That's the whole point.

  29. Not Linus - Stallman! by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 2, Informative

    Three-way cage fight!

    Of those three, Stallman is the only one that cares about anyone but himself.

  30. Who else is going to be there? by Kurrurrin · · Score: 1

    Because I'm more interested as to who will be on the B stage.

    (not so obvious?)

    --
    -Doug
  31. It'll be like this: by d3m0nCr4t · · Score: 2, Funny

    Jobs: Hi, I'm a Mac. Gates: And I'm a PC.

    1. Re:It'll be like this: by MontyApollo · · Score: 2, Funny

      It would be funnier if they were reversed, Bill dressed up as Mac/Jobs and Jobs dressed as PC/Gates. Bill could say something like "Hi, I am a Mac, the 3rd most expensive purchase you will ever make". And Jobs could say "Hi, I am PC. Far from cool, but I do follow lemmings off cliffs". And so on and so on...

  32. I can almost... by Lisandro · · Score: 1

    ...imagine what they would talk about already!

  33. will it go something like this .. by rs232 · · Score: 1
    --
    davecb5620@gmail.com
  34. Ohhhh... Mudslinging or mudwrestling? by Opportunist · · Score: 1

    Either way, it's gonna be entertaining!

    --
    We used to have a Bill of Rights. Now, with the rights gone, all we have left is the bill.
    1. Re:Ohhhh... Mudslinging or mudwrestling? by Fission86 · · Score: 1

      Oh dear god please let it be mudslinging... the last thing my poor alcohol soaked mind needs is the image of bill gates and steve jobs mud wrestling in traditional sorority style... with bikinis and everything.... NOOO!!!!! i just got the image in my head!! *cries*

      --
      Coming to you live from another dimension.
    2. Re:Ohhhh... Mudslinging or mudwrestling? by Opportunist · · Score: 1

      (giggle)

      And now imagine all the hair pulling, with that oily bodies stumbling and slipping on the slimy ground...

      Hmm... I do admit, the hair pulling would work better if it at least involved Richard Stallman.

      --
      We used to have a Bill of Rights. Now, with the rights gone, all we have left is the bill.
  35. Because it's Friday..... by bryan1945 · · Score: 1

    Real wrath-of-God type stuff
    Fire and brimstone coming down from the skies. Rivers and seas boiling.
    Forty years of darkness. Earthquakes, volcanoes...
    The dead rising from the grave.
    Human sacrifice, dogs and cats living together - mass hysteria.

    Have a nice day!

    --
    Vote monkeys into Congress. They are cheaper and more trustworthy.
  36. Alreadt been at a party.. by martin · · Score: 1


    from a UK comedy show on the BBC ..

    http://www.youtube.com/results?search_query=harry+ enfield+jobs+gates&search=Search

    (warning some links may not be work safe!)

  37. Thank goodness it wasn't Ballmer by UnknowingFool · · Score: 4, Funny

    I'm sure Apple technicians breathed a sigh of relief when they found it was going to be Gates instead of Ballmer. An anti-pie personal forcefield is much easier to build than an anti-chair personal forcefield. :P

    --
    Well, there's spam egg sausage and spam, that's not got much spam in it.
    1. Re:Thank goodness it wasn't Ballmer by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      That doesn't make sense. Do you mean to say that Gates throws pies at people? Jobs is safe with Gates no matter what, even if we are talking bullets here. Jobs is still safe because Gates would not be shooting the bullets, someone else would be shooting him. Contrast that to Ballmer, who did not have chairs thrown at him but instead throws the chairs at people. Even then, Jobs may still be safe because he doesn't work for Google.

    2. Re:Thank goodness it wasn't Ballmer by UnknowingFool · · Score: 1

      Many years ago, someone hit Gates with a pie. There is a group that goes around throwing pies at famous people. Ballmer has been known to throw chairs. The whole punchlines is that Jobs might be hit inadvertently.

      --
      Well, there's spam egg sausage and spam, that's not got much spam in it.
  38. Re:where's Jonathan Schwarz by clacke · · Score: 1

    Linux is not important, IBM is the big player moving Linux now. But is there a famous face to associate with this golem? I don't know the name of their CEO, I don't know how he looks, and I'm not even sure he knows what they are doing on the Linux front. Some third-level R&D boss, maybe?

  39. Too bad Steve doesn't seem to care about hardware by antifoidulus · · Score: 2, Interesting

    anymore. The macbook was updated after 6 months without a product refresh(I don't consider adding an 8 core option to an otherwised unchanged mac pro a refresh, you could do that aftermarket before anyhow). And the previously updated model was the macbook as well. The mac mini is a joke, hasn't seen a real update in over a year, and there are rumors of its demise. The iMac, macbook pros, and mac pros are no longer price competitive with other manufacturers like they were when they first came out. I don't mind paying a little bit more, but this is just stupid. It just seems to me that Apple no longer cares about computers, they want to peddle ipods, overpriced phones, and crappy media center pc replacements. If Apple doesn't majorly ramp up its lines by WWDC, my powerbook G4 will be the last mac I own. I don't want to sit around and wait until Steve Jobs considers computers are important enought to start making good ones again.

  40. Is it safe? by 140Mandak262Jamuna · · Score: 3, Funny

    Bringing matter and antimatter so close together? What if they annihilate each other in a giant explosion?

    --
    sed -e 's/Chuck Norris/Rajnikant/g' joke > fact
    1. Re:Is it safe? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      What if they annihilate each other in a giant explosion?
      Good riddance, I say.
  41. Left out... by moderatorrater · · Score: 2, Funny

    I'm surprised nobody's excited about the part where Bill Gates walks towards a table of Apple gear and Steve Jobs stops him, yelling, "You shall not pass!"

  42. Not Stallman - Shuttleworth! by FishWithAHammer · · Score: 2, Interesting

    Of those three, Stallman is the only one that cares about anyone but himself.

    Every time rms opens his mouth, he hurts the Free/Open Source Software (I don't care if he doesn't like the term) movement.

    Mark Shuttleworth, please.

    --
    "You can either have software quality or you can have pointer arithmetic, but you cannot have both at the same time."
    1. Re:Not Stallman - Shuttleworth! by Mix+Master+Nixon · · Score: 3, Funny

      Shuttleworth needs to bust through the ceiling and decend to the stage suspended from a cable about halfway through the Gates/Jobs "summit", throwing Ubuntu CDs into the crowd with his full astronaut gear on. That would be entertaining, if nothing else.

      --
      Oppressing an entire population is never cheap.
      --Jeckler (/. Beta IS GARBAGE!)
  43. How Influential is Walter Mossberg? by mpapet · · Score: 2, Interesting

    As someone that has done some DIY once-upon-a-time:

    1. this would be considered a "win" for both companies. IMHO the Wall Street Journal and a mention by Walt Mossberg is the pinnacle of PR success. Literally, it doesn't get much higher than that in the U.S. anyway.

    2. This is a perfect example of the power of the media. Bitter rivals? Not if Walt Mossberg asks you to come to his event.

    3. Walt's not going to do anything to ruffle any feathers. Considering the audience, this will most likely be a snoozer for most ./'ers.

    4. Linus _should_ be in Walt's media contacts list. Does Linus pay an _insane_ amount of money to PR hacks who bribe their way into Walt's assistant's office? That's kind of a pre-requisite.

    --
    http://www.maxineudall.com/2010/02/should-economists-be-sued-for-malpractice.html
    1. Re:How Influential is Walter Mossberg? by micromuncher · · Score: 1

      Reading between the lines of your post is something that I think a lot of people aren't aware of.

      This is Walt's event. Everything Digital is all about Walt. You might as well call this Walt Expo. And that truly shows not only the power of media, but the complete lack of integrity in events such as this.

      It's not that I don't like Walt. I think he is irrelevant. I disagree with most everything he writes - but most of all I disagree with a presentation he puts forward that He represents specific technical camps. Anyone who repeatedly claims to know what consumers, the average users, or business wants, is a prophetic charlatan.

      --
      /\/\icro/\/\uncher
    2. Re:How Influential is Walter Mossberg? by fishboy · · Score: 2, Insightful

      What on earth are you talking about? This isn't a 'win' for Apple and Microsoft, it's a win for Walt Mossberg. These are two of the most powerful people on earth, neither they nor their companies give a shit about what Walt Mossberg thinks, they own Walt Mossberg. Walt's not going to ruffle any feathers because he's paid to keep his mouth shit and his opinions to himself. I think you have the PR thing backward, Mossberg's going to be licking their boots. Seriously man, Bill Gates is the richest man on earth with the richest company ever and Steve Jobs is an visionary in computer marketing, to imagine they need Mossberg for anything is delusional. Walt Mossberg and the media need people and stories like this, not the other way around.

  44. Ladies and Gentlemen by Scoldog · · Score: 1

    Lllllleeeeeetttttt'sss get ready to RUUUU-MMMMMBBBBBBBLLLLLLEEEEEE!!!!!
     
    *DING-DING*

    --
    This space for rent
  45. Shuttleworth by Sweetshark · · Score: 1

    But is there a famous face to associate with this golem? I don't know the name of their CEO, I don't know how he looks, and I'm not even sure he knows what they are doing on the Linux front. Some third-level R&D boss, maybe?
    Neither Sun nor IBM are really important for the desktop. But an earlier post is right: Bring in Mark Shuttleworth.

  46. Mac and PC by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1, Funny

    Wow.

    I hope Jobs introduces himself as Mac and Gates introduces himself as PC.

    "Hi, I'm Mac.. and I'm PC"

    That would be great!

    Jared F

  47. Re:heroes (OT) by Naatan · · Score: 1

    Ok totally off topic but; Amen.. xD

  48. Jobs with iPod icon by Nymz · · Score: 1

    an icon for jobs on slashdot. gates has his borg visor one. why not jobs with an ipod?

    The Gate-as-Borg icon is typical /. humor, so would Jobs-with-iPod meet /. standards?
  49. Interesting, but by Centurix · · Score: 1

    This would be more interesting as the two Steve's, Ballmer and Wozniak. More chair throwing involved, sweating , big bushy beards and lots of phone hacking.

    Or the two Larry's, Ellison and Page. I can't imagine what would happen, but Larry Ellison always reminds me of the pencil neck EPA character from Ghostbusters, which could be funny for the first five minutes...

    --
    Task Mangler
  50. Gates, Jobs, and Balmer by Laebshade · · Score: 1

    Can you picture the side show event for this? Ballmer is off to one side, throwing chairs...

    How much is a ticket for this event again? :)

  51. You know... by Pojut · · Score: 2, Funny

    ...you would think that Gates and Jobs would be best buddies....

    After all, who else besides them have duped and lied more than them? (outside of politics, of course)

    The difference between Gates and Jobs is only this: Gates TELLS you he is fucking you in the ass, whereas Jobs just hopes you won't notice.

    1. Re:You know... by Xyde · · Score: 1

      Oh I noticed, and I LIKED IT.

      xoxoxoxo Steve, love u long time ;)

      rabid apple fan.

  52. Better than the alternative... by TheVelvetFlamebait · · Score: 1

    Two CEOs enter...

    Three CEOs leave!

    --
    You know, there is a difference between trolling and pointing out the flaws in your reasoning. Just saying.
  53. The more things change... by withoutfeathers · · Score: 5, Interesting

    Almost 25 years ago I was working as a programmer/analyst at Aetna Life & Casualty in Hartford CT. The company brought in Gates and Jobs for a one day seminar/meet-and-greet to help decide how seriously we should take the personal/desktop computer revolution. AL&C was at the time, of course, heavily into mainframe computing and barely looking at workgroup computing (System/38) let along personal computing.

    The two gentlemen were cordial, but not particularly friendly toward each other and clearly had different visions of the future of corporate computing. Now here's the punchline: The big debate between the two was over the viability of COBOL. Jobs passionately prevailed on AL&C to drop the use of COBOL altogether (money quote: "Aetna is just about the only place left in the world that still uses COBOL, everyone else has migrated to C") while Gates was just as passionately (albeit not as charismatically) espousing the virtue of moving COBOL off of mainframes and on to the desktop.

    Not a word from either of them about GUI or operating systems. Jobs was all about "new programming paradigms" and Gates was all about "the craft of programming" and how the broad range of Microsoft programming languages on PCs would accomodate that model. Gates was even promoting the idea that each programmer would have a wide range of programming languages at hand, using each one as appropriate for the task at hand like tools on a workbench. Of course, at the time, Microsoft's bread and butter was programming languages.

    My, how times have changed!

    1. Re:The more things change... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Or.. not changed at all.

      Microsoft and Gates STILL promote multiple languages and tools on their (one) platform.

      And Apple STILL pushes people to drop their old tools and learn C (Objective C even) for their development environment on their platform.

      And there is NO question that Aetna today would have Microsoft software, while it is debateable whether they have any Apple products whatsoever (except employee iPods, granted). Point awarded to Gates.

    2. Re:The more things change... by bill_mcgonigle · · Score: 1

      My, how times have changed!

      Indeed. Jobs was trying to sell into the wrong market and Gates was offering a solution that CYA bean counters could feel comfortable with.

      As much as we knock COBOL, C was the wrong language for an insurance company. I'm not sure what would have been a good alternative in '82 - ADA? Pascal?

      --
      My God, it's Full of Source!
      OUTSIDE_IP=$(dig +short my.ip @outsideip.net)
    3. Re:The more things change... by mibus · · Score: 1

      Gates was even promoting the idea that each programmer would have a wide range of programming languages at hand, using each one as appropriate for the task at hand like tools on a workbench.


      Seems like they're finally getting there with .NET?
  54. Re:heroes (OT) by flight_master · · Score: 1

    I believe that was "How to Stop an Exploding Man". Would be nice to see wether Mr. Jobs, or Mr. Gates explodes :D

    --
    "Free software" is a matter of liberty, not price.
  55. Share a stage? by DrivingBear · · Score: 1

    I hope the amount of stage you get isn't based on PC market share or Jobs might fall off. Probably into an ocean of iPod shaped pillows.

    --
    How can that be?
  56. meh. by XJHardware · · Score: 1

    Let me know when Allen and Woz share a stage. THAT I might be interested in seeing.

    --
    The more I get to know people the more I like my dogs.
  57. This must have happened before by simong · · Score: 1

    Ah yes, way back in 1983. Although they had a phone call after Microsoft put some cash into Apple in 1997. I bet they go to the pub when they're both in the same town too.

  58. my god by circletimessquare · · Score: 1

    that is one internet meme taken way, way, way, too seriously

    --
    intellectual property law is philosophically incoherent. it is your moral duty to ignore it or sabotage it
  59. Re:heroes (OT) by Trent+Hawkins · · Score: 0

    Jobs: I'm a Mac Gates: No... you're a PC with a dress on.

  60. Its a fairly close business relationship by Budenny · · Score: 1, Troll

    Difficult to see why this is surprising. Its a fairly close business relationship. Office for the Mac is a critical element of keeping the platform alive. Apple and Microsoft have similar approaches to the software business - they both believe in controlling the experience - the display manager, window manager, desktop environment. There are no published APIs which will let another party make a competing window manager for either OSX or XP/Vista. Both also believe in restricting the availability of the applications software to promote their OS. But both have been tempted outside this, though not as far as Linux. Neither one makes applications software for Linux. Both do for the others OS. Apple for instance has released Filemaker for Windows.

    Despite the feeling that many Mac people have that Micsrosoft must be the enemy, they are in fact very close. The analogy might be if Coke and Pepsi were to share procurement of some of their flavorings.

    The real threat to both is similar. It is that Open Source makes possible unlimited quantities of derivative works. In the end, this must dethrone both MS and Apple. In the end, they will not be able to compete with a business model which promotes unlimited derivative works. It destroys entry barriers on which they both depend. It is more cost effective, quicker to market and will lead to better quality products.

    So, when they are sitting together on stage, I would like to see Walt, instead of asking silly questions about linking hardware and software and end to end models, and similar trivia, cut to the main issue.

    He should ask as follows. We know that in essentials you both have the same closed business model. How do you think that business model is going to compete against open source in a world in which hardware is open, and open source allows an unlimited quantity of derivative works to run on it?

    1. Re:Its a fairly close business relationship by JustNiz · · Score: 1

      >> Office for the Mac is a critical element of keeping the platform alive.

      I really don't get this. I've been using OpenOffice for quite a while now and it seems much more useable and intuitive than MS Office. Its also compatible with MS formats and is free in all senses of the word.

      Mac users surely don't have the same locked-into-Microsoft mentality as Windows users as they chose a mac over a PC in the first place, so why don't most Mac users switch to OpenOffice?

    2. Re:Its a fairly close business relationship by jb.hl.com · · Score: 2, Insightful

      I really don't get this. I've been using OpenOffice for quite a while now and it seems much more useable and intuitive than MS Office. Its also compatible with MS formats and is free in all senses of the word.

      Only problem is that OpenOffice doesn't run nicely on the Mac. And by "doesn't run nicely", I mean it's a bloated, ugly, craptacular pile of shite that doesn't integrate with OS X at all.

      --
      By summer it was all gone...now shesmovedon. --
    3. Re:Its a fairly close business relationship by Jeff+DeMaagd · · Score: 1

      We know that in essentials you both have the same closed business model. How do you think that business model is going to compete against open source in a world in which hardware is open, and open source allows an unlimited quantity of derivative works to run on it?

      Right now, open source hasn't been a threat to either desktop platforms that I've seen.

      BTW: I don't use MS Office and I own both Mac and Windows PCs. There are a few alternatives out there, but that doesn't mean that they are a threat to the OS platforms. I even use a lot of open source software, but the OS I use them on is closed, and frankly, I don't mind that much at the moment. I do hope to try Ubuntu some time though.

    4. Re:Its a fairly close business relationship by mcho · · Score: 1

      Office for the Mac is a critical element of keeping the platform alive.

      Bullshit. So the only reason why Apple is increasing their hardware sales is because people only want to run Office on that platform?

      Recently I switched to Apple (from Windoze), not because of Office (which was the only pre-installed software I immediately uninstalled), but because it is a better experience. After the nth time of re-installing Windows because of a Service Pack that rendered it useless, I had enough.

      The only "killer app" missing from Apple is a spreadsheet application. You can use the text editor that comes with all Macs to edit Microsoft Word documents (or use Pages).

      Maybe the only thing keeping the Windows platform alive is Clippy or Bob...

    5. Re:Its a fairly close business relationship by Budenny · · Score: 1

      I really do not get why this is rated a troll. Its a serious point. The argument from derivative works is basic economics, applied in a slightly unusual context and way, but its intellectually respectable. Yes, it is true that so far open source has not made inroads. But that does not mean the economic foundations are not laid to make its model, long term, more likely to win out. Nor does it mean that the MS and Apple model do not have more in common than they have differences.

      You have to imagine someone arguing, and being ridiculed for arguing, before the advent of the AT, that open hardware, and OS independent hardware, was going to be the future. He would have been ridiculed for not being able to point to signs of it happening. But it did happen. He would have argued also that Univac, IBM, Dec, Control Data, all would rise and fall together, and that they were using the same model. Again, he would have been ridiculed by moderators. And right.

      If you want to argue with the point, don't reach for moderation, reach for the keyboard and ARGUE. Explain why, in your view, open source with the ability to spawn derivative works, does not offer a more competitive business model.

      Maybe there's a reason. But labelling arguments to the contrary trolls is not giving one.

    6. Re:Its a fairly close business relationship by Budenny · · Score: 1

      No, this is mistaken. If you subtracted Office compatibility, you would destroy Macs as a platform in business.

      I did not argue that the only reason Apple is increasing hardware sales is 'because people only want to run Office on that platform', and do not think that is true. I argued that the ability to run Office is a necessary condition of increasing hardware sales. That is a completely different argument, and it is true.

      If you doubt the significance of the business relationship between MS and Apple, look at the size of the MS sales to the Mac. Its big business by most standards. Its significant business even by MS standards. Look it up and tell us how much it is.

    7. Re:Its a fairly close business relationship by SoulGrind · · Score: 1

      The only "killer app" missing from Apple is a spreadsheet application. You can use the text editor that comes with all Macs to edit Microsoft Word documents (or use Pages). Ever hear of OpenOffice (yes, it's free, yes, it's cross platform, yes it works, but don't tell anyone, k?)

    8. Re:Its a fairly close business relationship by SoulGrind · · Score: 1
      Only problem is that OpenOffice doesn't run nicely on the Mac. And by "doesn't run nicely", I mean it's a bloated, ugly, craptacular pile of shite that doesn't integrate with OS X at all.

      I would disagree with this statement.

      I too recently shifted from MS Office to OpenOffice 2.x. While OO still requires X11 and is not native to OS X, this is a minor inconvenience when compared to MSO continually crashing, stating docs are corrupted when they are not and hogging system resources when Entourage goes on an email puking binge.

      I find OO no more bloated the MSO in terms of a physical footprint on my hard drive. In fact, I find it considerably less irritating without a million spin-off sub directories placed all over my system the way MSO does (/Applications, /Library, ~/Library, and God only knows where else).

      As for ugly - OO is as ugly as MS Office 2000 was [is] ugly, therefore if we could endure that (and we did), then we can endure an ugly OO - At least OO works! Oh wait - I'm sorry - no ActiveX/VBScript support - I'm screwed now! [AS IF! {my sarcasm drippeth thusly}]

      When it comes to business - I have had absolutely no problem with sharing word/excel, and even powerpoint documents with coworkers and colleagues. Most don't even know I'm using OO,let alone a Mac in their all Wintel world.

      If you want a more OS X integrated Open Source "Office" package, checkout NeoOffice. It's got the native Aqua interface you're coveting.

      I find being 99.9% MS free quite liberating. Mac may be a "closed" system (in comparison to Windows), but it's the lesser of two weevils in my book. As for that remaining 00.1% - I'm sure there's some Mickey$oft code in there somewhere... I just haven't found it yet!

    9. Re:Its a fairly close business relationship by Jerry+Rivers · · Score: 1

      "Look it up and tell us how much it is."

      No, you look it up and tell us how much it is since it is you who is making the argument that Office so important. Claims without references are pretty much hollow and useless speculation.

      --
      The pursuit of absolute tolerance leads to the most rigorous and ludicrous intolerance. - REX MURPHY
    10. Re:Its a fairly close business relationship by mcho · · Score: 1

      ...Open Office...

      True that. Open Office was omitted from my comment only because of my ignorance.

    11. Re:Its a fairly close business relationship by mcho · · Score: 1

      Look it up and tell us how much it is.

      Yeah, like I know how to use Google. :)

      Just to be clear, I am not arguing the historic significance of Microsoft Office to Apple. What I am arguing is that this is becoming less important due to many factors, including the available of substitute applications such as Open Office (which I unfortunately did mention in my original post).

      Although Apple has not experienced a "tipping point" with their hardware sales, I believe, as a recent "switcher" myself, that this point is closer than ever before. Apple has delivered (by most accounts) what Microsoft has always preached: having software/hardware that fits your lifestyle and that just works.

    12. Re:Its a fairly close business relationship by Budenny · · Score: 1

      I think its around $100 million a year in revenue terms. Do you have a better estimate or any reason to dispute this one? How much do you think Mac Office sells for on average? That lets you estimate the units. Then we know that a great many of those are sold with new machines. How many of those machine sales would be lost if Office were to vanish?

      My estimate would be 20% of total Mac sales would go in year one, but increasing over time to around 50%. There would be a delayed impact, and the Mac would vanish from business. Education would be hit hard too, but they keep their machines a long time.

      I don't really understand why people are so uptight about the idea that MS and Apple are in a fairly close business relationship. What is so awful or novel about it? There was the investment years ago. There was the technology agreement. What's the fuss about?

    13. Re:Its a fairly close business relationship by Jerry+Rivers · · Score: 1

      "Do you have a better estimate or any reason to dispute this one?"

      First of all, I haven't disputed anything. Second, what you "think", without any concrete evidence on which to base your estimate, is completely worthless. Sorry.

      Periodically I see this claim (that Office is critical to the Mac) on various forums and blogs. Unfortunately, I NEVER see ANY evidence to back up these claims. It's all idle speculation based on nothing more than personal bias. Therefore it is completely without foundation.

      If you have facts lets see them please. Otherwise you have nothing.

      I could give you all kinds of anecdotal evidence that completely refutes everything you have speculated, but that would also be completely worthless because I also have zero facts to back up what I say. So I just don't say it.

      --
      The pursuit of absolute tolerance leads to the most rigorous and ludicrous intolerance. - REX MURPHY
    14. Re:Its a fairly close business relationship by Budenny · · Score: 1

      There's well available evidence which, if you look and put it together, will suggest around $100 million in revenues. If this is so, it would suggest sales of between 500k and 1 million units a year. This, if they vanished, would be a significant hit. I would like people not simply to focus on denial or ridicule of what I've said, by simple assertion, but on coming up with some alternative and real estimates of numbers. That is how the factual discussion can advance.

      There are two further interesting questions to ask, in addition to the level of sales. One is, what level of sales would it take to prove the point? Do you agree that if the above numbers are correct, they amount to a significant dependency? Or if not, where is this threshold? And second, do you think the Mac would survive specifically in the business market without Office? Then one could go on and try to estimate the percentage sales into business environments which pretty much require Office. That is another way in.

      My view is yes, the above numbers, if correct, are a significant dependency, and no, it would not survive in business, at least not in any numbers, and that would have a follow on effect on non-corporate and educational sales over time.

      It may be that something has changed since the days when Gates was persuaded, for whatever reason, to make a public commitment to Office for the Mac. Clearly, then, in the view of Cupertino, that was important and valuable at the time. It doesn't look from here as if much has changed however. Office is still central in business and institutions. If you are photographer doing Photoshop in your studio on a high end workstation with a couple of monitors and a ton of memory, you really do not care. But any time you're swapping documents within an organization, surely nothing has changed?

      Its a great paradox. One knows lots of left leaning people who have Macs, and apart from simply being used to them and liking them, do also think of it as an appropriate lifestyle choice, on the side of freedom so to speak. They also without exception run Office. If you suggest to them that there is maybe not as much political difference as they might like to feel between running Office as a workhorse on XP or on OSX, but that there is a real difference between running either of those and running Open Source, they become a little uncomfortable. You have defined yourself as being on the other point of the triangle, geeky. To me, the dependency is part of this. You have coke or pepsi, and then on the other side of the line, you have your own squeezed fruit juice. What makes a real difference is, are you drinking juice, or are you drinking sugared carbonated phosphorized water from one or other large company? Whose name is on the can is not unimportant in terms of taste, but that's all the difference is. and one is not in any real sense an alternative to the other. Saks or Barney's - you're still wearing suits.

      I guess that is what the argument about dependency is really about at bottom. Unsurprisingly, I think the facts about it are on my side if you just look. But in the end, its also about something more, its about what we would like to believe is a real different choice, if we make it. People who say things like this are very uncomfortable. The next thing they'll be saying is, East Side or West Side is not a fundamental choice either....

  61. A complete set by DeFender1031 · · Score: 3, Funny

    Where's Linus and Stallman? Throw them in there for Super Smash CEOs Brawl!

    1. Re:A complete set by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Who?

    2. Re:A complete set by FusionDragon2099 · · Score: 1

      Hmmm... now that I think about it, Ballmer does have a striking resemblence to Donkey Kong...

  62. Oh please oh please invite Ballmer by multipartmixed · · Score: 1

    So, like, if Jobs is winning.. when he's busy trying to pin Bill to the canvas, Steve Ballmer can climb through the ropes with a couple of chairs from the front row and hit Steve in the head.

    I've thrown charis before and I'll do it again! I'm going to fucking nail that guy!

    Awhrwhrewhehsdbhfgshfhasdf!

    --

    Do daemons dream of electric sleep()?
  63. Re:Too bad Steve doesn't seem to care about hardwa by UnknowingFool · · Score: 2, Interesting

    Well, what updates do you have in mind? The Macs run the fastest processor available. They run 802.11n, have blue tooth, integrated camera, etc. Maybe they will work on a tablet someday but I suspect that will only happen when they finish the iPhone. Apple always take small but measured steps. Getting multi-touch screens to work is probably a first step in that direction.

    --
    Well, there's spam egg sausage and spam, that's not got much spam in it.
  64. hardly imaginable by AlgorithMan · · Score: 1

    I can hardly imagine this to not end in jobs beating up gates
    or at least saying something like "I wont tell anything about my visions about the future, because gates here would steal them AGAIN.............. ISN'T THAT RIGHT, YOU THIEVING BASTARD!?!? COME ON, GET YOUR FISTS UP - YOU'LL GET THE BEATING OF YOUR LIFETIME NOW"... uhm... yes... as I saied - i can hardly imagine it not to end in jobs beating gates up...

    --
    The MAFIAA is a bunch of mindless jerks who will be the first up against the wall when the revolution comes
  65. Re:heroes (OT) by PMuse · · Score: 2, Informative

    Sort of. I can explain why the mods thought it was +5 funny.

    YMMV.

    --
    "We reject as false the choice between our safety and our ideals." --The American President (20.1.2009)
  66. Two peas in a pod. by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    Most likely, Gates and Jobs will use the occasion to do some friendly sparring on their polar-opposite philosophies on personal computing.

    Oh please. These guys are far more alike than they are different. They both built their fortunes on the philosophy that proprietary, patented, copyrighted work protected by armies of lawyers makes the world go 'round. In the history of computing, they will both go down as important yet ultimately shortsighted corporatists who's big ideas made a big splash, but then became irrelevant.

  67. Re:heroes (OT) by lilomar · · Score: 1

    no, that was "Dark Future", "How to Stop an Exploding Man" was the final episode.

    --
    The creator of this post (Jacob Smith) hereby releases it, and all of his other posts, into the public domain.
  68. At some point during the conv... by Vodkaneat · · Score: 1

    Jobs: That's the dumbest fucking idea I've heard since I've been at Apple!
    Gates: .....?

  69. Re:heroes (OT) by vikstar · · Score: 2, Funny

    I envision it starting like this:

    Jobs: I'm a Mac
    Gates: ...and I'm a PC I was worried that it might start like this:

    Gates: Hello, I'm a Wii
    Jobs: ...and I am a Playstation 3
    --
    The question of whether a computer can think is no more interesting than the question of whether a submarine can swim.
  70. Re:heroes (OT) by datapharmer · · Score: 1

    Forget Heroes...
    If Ze Frank were here he's say this interview is going to be:
    The Worst. Fashion show. Ever.

    --
    Get a web developer
  71. Re:heroes (OT) by dctoastman · · Score: 1

    Pedantically, the episode was entitles "Five Years Gone".

  72. Re:heroes (OT) by lilomar · · Score: 1

    *forehead*
    I knew that. Really. ;)
    Dark future was the name of that timeline, not the episode that Hiro and Ando visited it.
    I have been out-geeked. *hangs head in shame*

    --
    The creator of this post (Jacob Smith) hereby releases it, and all of his other posts, into the public domain.
  73. Re:heroes (OT) by vimh42 · · Score: 1

    I was more hoping for a steel cage suspended forty feet above a pool of sharks with lazer beamz!

  74. Not that I really care but when is this????!!??? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    Time and place, time and place, time and place...

  75. Lost Jobs and Gates Interview by johnrpenner · · Score: 1


    back in the mid 1990's, there was a feature interview in some magazine
    (was it Time, or Forbe, or Business Week -- I don't know) -- with
    Steve Jobs and Bill Gates -- it had pictures of Jobs barefoot in his house,
    and Jobs complaining how everyone had to go through Gate's portal
    to do anything in the computer industry (except him, of course).

    the interview came out maybe 1993 - 1994 -- just before they
    offered online or archived versions of these things. it was a good
    and informative interview.

    does anyone know where i could find a copy of this lost interview??

    j

    1. Re:Lost Jobs and Gates Interview by Wolvie+MkM · · Score: 0

      I'll guess at the content maybe:

      Jobs: Fuck You
      Gates: No Fuck You!
      Jobs: No Fuck You!!
      Gates: No Fuck You!!!

      etc...etc.. Before breaking down in to a high profile geek slapfest.

      --
      I Like Pie...
    2. Re:Lost Jobs and Gates Interview by johnrpenner · · Score: 1
  76. mhb by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    hnjhvhhj

  77. Re:Too bad Steve doesn't seem to care about hardwa by gig · · Score: 2, Interesting

    C'mon, man ... it is a few months until Leopard. These systems don't exist in a vacuum. You are looking right now at the very end of the end of the Intel transition. All of the machines pretend to be their immediate PowerPC predecessors in some way to minimize the fuss. The Intel transition is over and Leopard is coming that is going to mean new machines and probably a whole new model of some kind, like a very small notebook or something that fits between Mac mini and Mac Pro.

    Also, the Mac Pro update to 8 processors was very significant because it is like Apple putting their multi-processing money where their mouths are. Big developers have these machines now and they are making their apps work better across 8 processors, which we will probably see in the iMac by 2010 or so. And there are going to be a lot of new Mac Pros purchased just to run Photoshop v10 which just came out. Photoshop is so interactive that a faster machine will be noticed immediately in work output ... none of those shops was going to buy a 4-way and pull the processors and put in some Intel part that has been found to be compatible by somebody "on the Internet."

    The most interesting Mac hardware rumor for me is that they will have multi-touch screens, like the iPhone. Mac OS X Leopard has the same resolution-independent display from the iPhone, the menu bar or windows can all scale up if you have fat fingers or bad eyesight or both. If you look at Mac OS X Tiger on a 30 inch display, you don't want to push a mouse cursor around that thing, you just want to press icons in the Dock with your finger. You want to push mixer sliders around in Logic, or scrub video in Final Cut just by applying the fingers directly. This is also a feature that DJ's want to replace the turntables in an electronic setup, it is very hip. And it would make Mac users buy new Macs for Leopard and it would take 5 years to come to the PC in a real way. Look at all the stuff that is in iPhone for $500, why can't I get a touch screen on my $1200 iMac? Also it would enable them to make even smaller systems, such as a sub notebook with no track pad.

  78. Final 2 Contestants of Tech Idol: Gates & Jobs by SoulGrind · · Score: 1

    Viewers can text their votes.

    1 for Gates

    2 for Jobs

    Stay tuned for the final showdown... ...There's more to come!

  79. Influence by LKM · · Score: 1

    However, Microsoft and Apple are influential, I'm struggling to figure out Linux's level of influence in determining the direction of personal computers and personal electronic devices.

    I guess that's pretty much it. If Apple does something, the rest of the industry (and I don't just mean the computer industry) will follow a few months later. If Microsoft does something, 80% of all people will know about it or use it.

    1. Re:Influence by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      110% of all statistics are made up on the spot!

    2. Re:Influence by LKM · · Score: 1

      What I wrote was obviously not a statistic. I did not mean "literally 80% of," I meant "a large part of." I think most humans are perfectly capable of understanding the meaning of my sentence.

  80. Also.... by MahariBalzitch · · Score: 1

    And then you hear "weighing in at 300 pounds due to bringing his wallet into the ring... BIIIIIILL GAAAAAAAATES!".

  81. One shot service by Simonetta · · Score: 1

    If you get your angle just right in advance, you might just be able to get them both with one shot. Best to use armor-piercing bullets because both of them tend to be rather dense at times like this.

  82. it needs Shao kahn by Z80a · · Score: 1

    just to yell FINISH HIM! (and round 1 & 2 fight)

  83. HE'S TOO BUSY SUCKING COCKS by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    OSS fags...

    BTW Linux is a non-player. Every day Microsoft sells more copies of Windows than the highest ever number of Linux installations.

    And that's not counting the illegal ones..

  84. Re:Too bad Steve doesn't seem to care about hardwa by Yvan256 · · Score: 1

    The Mac mini still uses the Core Duo and only has 802.11g. No Core 2 Duo, no 802.11n. And it's still too expensive too. When it lauched it was 499/599$US. Not anymore.

    AOpen just released their own Santa Rosa "Mac mini-sized" desktop computer. I'm hoping Apple will release a new Santa Rosa Mac mini next tuesday.

  85. not news. by Krishnoid · · Score: 1

    Or an iGasm. That would be news.

  86. Ultimate death match by CmdrPorno · · Score: 1

    I thought the title read, "Gates and Jobs to share a cage."

    --
    Sent from my iPhone
  87. Re:Too bad Steve doesn't seem to care about hardwa by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    It's been there for over a year. It just doesn't show on the shell of the mouse.

    And the trackball is also a third mouse button.

  88. Costanza by Ranhert · · Score: 1

    I can just hear it now ... "Worlds are Colliding!" They are killing independant consumer!

  89. Re:heroes (OT) by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    I envision it starting like this:

      Jobs: I'm a Mac
      Gates: ...and I'm a PC

    or
    Jobs: I'm a human
    Gates: I'm a borg

  90. Re:heroes (OT) by Tarlus · · Score: 2, Funny

    Hope to God that Gates doesn't wear an assless hospital gown...

    --
    /* No Comment */
  91. Steve will speak first... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    ...then Bill will repeat what Steve said and take the credit.

  92. SECOND! by fmobus · · Score: 1

    That was by far and large, the best heroes episode so far. The finale sucked balls hard, I was expecting something more Battlestar-3rd-season-finale-ish but got total crap instead.

    But on-topic: if Bill brings Ballmer along, Jobs is history.

  93. What about security? by Avatar8 · · Score: 2, Funny
    Will Jobs and Gates bring their own security teams? Will they be like their operating systems?


    The Apple attendees will walk in casually in their tie dye shirts and Birkenstocks, sit down and wait for the movie... er event to start with a glaze in their eyes and a half smile on their lips. Their wallets and ID will be safe and no one will get sick. They paid twice as much to attend, but no one will complain.

    The Microsoft attendees will each be stopped at the door and asked "You are entering the auditorium. Accept or cancel?" When they go to sit down they'll discover their wallet is gone. Every fifth person will have a cold or some sort of virus so by the time the event is over, all the attendees will leave sick. They'll sit expectantly waiting for something to happen, but each time Bill walks out onto the stage he stumbles, falls and has to restart his entrance. Once he does get going all he'll talk about is how beautiful the backdrop is.

    I personally think it would be rather humorous that they each give a presentation created and shown on their respective systems. We know Bill has been embarrassed by crashes a few times. Think he'll use Vista or XP?

  94. It's because geeks ... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    It's because geeks here are still stuck in the silly Mac vs. PC holy wars of the past 20 years. The fact that someone can like and use both without any problem, just ruffles too many feathers.

  95. Jobs had better watch out... by damacus · · Score: 1

    Ballmer will probably be lurking in the shadows, chair at the ready...

  96. And if Linux were represented... by PhotoGuy · · Score: 1
    --
    Love many, trust a few, do harm to none.
  97. It'll go like this by rice_burners_suck · · Score: 0
    It'll go like this:

    Darl Gates: It is the year 2023. Microsloth Doors PW has just been released, after 8 years of delays, and without any of the features slated for release in PW, except for additional eye candy, as if the eye candy in prior versions, like Doors Chello, Doors F4, Doors Vista, Doors XP, and prior versions were not enough. It requires at least one Intel Core 16 Millennial processor with 1024 cores minimum, 16TB of RAM, and minimum flashdrive capacity of 64TB to install. Feature highlights include slightly improved performance over a DOS-based 486 SX when performing similar tasks such as word processing. Also of note is the improved security center, which upon detecting a network connection, displays the message, "Microsloth Doors PW has detected a network connection. Please wait while Doors downloads the latest viruses." Heck, why fool ourselves? We may as well admit it.

    Steve Jobs: It is the year 2023. Mac OS 11.3 Coyote is available for immediate release. The transition from our Darwin-based OS underpinnings to our Plan 9 based system which we announced six months ago is now complete, making Coyote the world's most advanced operating system once again. Existing UNIX-based applications will continue to run under our improved Rosetta environment, and the original Classic environment is back, making Mac OS 11 the only OS to seamlessly integrate the UNIX, Plan 9, Carbon, Cocoa, Java, BlackTea, and Classic environments. Our implementation of Grokcode is now complete, making Coyote the only OS in the world that can convert single-threaded applications into massively multithreaded code on the fly, taking full advantage of all cores. Some new announcements. Our newest Mac lineup takes advantage of Intel's newest Core Millennial architecture, integrating 4 chips with 4096 cores each, for a total of 16384 cores in our base model MacBooks. This year, iPhone sales have captured 87% of the cellular phone market. We are shooting for 90% by the end of 2025. And this year marks the first year that Macs outsell Windows PCs 2 to 1, capturing 68% of the market, up from 62% last year.

  98. Dude, get a Dell! by bill_mcgonigle · · Score: 1

    I don't want to sit around and wait until Steve Jobs considers computers are important enought to start making good ones again.

    If OS and apps aren't more important to you than hardware, you're buying the wrong computers. Head over to Alienware (err... Gateway)... no, build yourself a killer machine from parts from Newegg. It'll be marginally faster and cheaper than the Apple. Except for the MacPro which uses a CPU you can't buy on the open market yet.

    OK, I'll stop being sardonic and really wonder what you compare to Apple as a company that considers good computers important. I have an Apple Laptop and it has a better featureset than any of the others I looked at. It runs all OS's I care about really well.

    --
    My God, it's Full of Source!
    OUTSIDE_IP=$(dig +short my.ip @outsideip.net)
  99. Re:Too bad Steve doesn't seem to care about hardwa by AttilaSz · · Score: 1

    All my life (well, since I own computer displays, that is), I'm ready to bite off people's fingers if they touch the display. Fingers leave grease marks.

    I just can't imagine myself interfacing with my machine by smudging grease on the display.

    --
    Sig erased via substitution of an identical one.
  100. Re:Too bad Steve doesn't seem to care about hardwa by UnknowingFool · · Score: 1

    True. The Mac Mini hasn't been updated in a while but it looks like Apple may not update it. Many feel that the AppleTV will replace it as many people who do buy the Mac mini use it for the purpose of a headless media unit.

    --
    Well, there's spam egg sausage and spam, that's not got much spam in it.
  101. There is something like that. by feedmetrolls · · Score: 0

    Go to Youtube and type Gates Jobs into the search box...

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