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Microsoft Businesses Apple

Jobs and Gates Chat Amicably 207

Posted by kdawson from the sittin'-in-a-tree dept.
circletimessquare writes "As noted, Bill Gates and Steve Jobs met at the D conference yesterday. AllThingsD has video of the entire convivial and historic meeting — check the highlights clip. When a reporter asked if their rivalry was overblown, Jobs offered up this joke: 'We've kept our marriage secret for over a decade' — to an apparently flummoxed Gates. Other tidbits: 'His mother loves him!' said Gates about PC Guy in the famous series of commercials. 'And we love them because they're all customers!' said Jobs about Microsoft employees working on Zune who use the iPod. Read more about the event, which also covered a lot of serious ground, such as Apple's iPhone, at CNN and the Times Online."
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Jobs and Gates Chat Amicably More

Jobs and Gates Chat Amicably

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  • We've kept our marriage secret for over a decade


    Well, they fight like an old married couple anyway... ;)

  • What did you expect? (Score:5, Insightful)

    by Anonymous Coward on Thursday May 31, 2007 @10:27AM (#19338133)
    Lesson: sputtering halfwitted rage is for idiot fanboys. The people who actually make things base their self-esteem on what they accomplish, not on how insanely they hate someone else.

    • Re: (Score:3, Insightful)

      by Applekid ( 993327 )
      I completely agree.

      I think some were expecting fire, wrestling, and a Mortal Kombat style finish. It's not the job of these head honchos (even though Gates isn't really chair anymore) to bash the other guy. Especially not in public.

      They leave that for the marketing folks.

    • Re: (Score:3, Funny)

      by Anonymous Coward
      Lesson: sputtering halfwitted rage is for /. posters.

      Fixed!

    • Re:What did you expect? (Score:4, Interesting)

      by Mr. Underbridge ( 666784 ) on Thursday May 31, 2007 @11:03AM (#19338755)

      Lesson: sputtering halfwitted rage is for idiot fanboys. The people who actually make things base their self-esteem on what they accomplish, not on how insanely they hate someone else.

      On the contrary, there are many feuds between high-level execs I could name, some of whom worked together, some of whom were rivals. Some of those feuds get to the rage level. The difference is the savvy ones realize that they can't show it in public, and maintain a calm, even witty demeanor.

      That observation has no bearing on this particular pair of executives, however.

    • Comment removed (Score:5, Interesting)

      by account_deleted ( 4530225 ) on Thursday May 31, 2007 @11:17AM (#19339021)
      Comment removed based on user account deletion

    • Re: (Score:3, Insightful)

      by flyingsquid ( 813711 )
      Lesson: sputtering halfwitted rage is for idiot fanboys. The people who actually make things base their self-esteem on what they accomplish, not on how insanely they hate someone else.

      I wonder. Do you really think the movers and shakers of industry are really any more well-balanced and secure than the rest of us? Personally, I doubt it. For one, they have a lot more stress to deal with and blow off. For another, these are extremely driven, focused people. When you're hellbent on becoming the #1 OS in the w

      • At my company, we joke that everyone promoted is of the type of personality that if half the building fell off, they would calmly tell the survivors to start moving to the safe side and exiting the building.

        A calm cool collegial demeanor is highly valued throughout our corp and acting otherwise can get you written up.
      • When you're hellbent on becoming the #1 OS in the world, making the #1 MP3 player, or the fact that your company's market value went down a billion dollars in the past 24 hours I think that in the case of Gates and Jobs, they're not personally hell bent on those particular things. They're both very driven people, but you can be pretty sure Jobs isn't aiming to make OS the biggest in the world, or even have iPod be #1. Sure he'd like that, but it's not what he aims for - he aims for making a better experien

    • Lesson: sputtering halfwitted rage is for idiot fanboys. The people who actually make things base their self-esteem on what they accomplish, not on how insanely they hate someone else.

      The lesson is not to let someone know you're angry unless/until you can actually strike at them.

      2. Many people I've known who were creative and innovative had short fuses and vendettas a-plenty. Others were peaceful.

      3. These two aren't the "people who actually make things"; these are business leaders.

    • Re: (Score:2, Informative)

      by CaffeineAddict2001 ( 518485 )
      "The only problem with Microsoft is they just have no taste. They have absolutely no taste. And I don't mean that in a small way, I mean that in a big way, in the sense that they don't think of original ideas, and they don't bring much culture into their products."

      "I wish developing great products was as easy as writing a check...if so, then Microsoft would have great products."

      "I wish him [Bill Gates] the best, I really do. I just think he and Microsoft are a bit narrow. He'd be a broader guy if he had dro
      • Why bring in pettiness when everything he said was true?

      • Re:What did you expect? (Score:5, Insightful)

        by Admiral Ag ( 829695 ) on Thursday May 31, 2007 @12:26PM (#19340107)
        It's funny you should mention this, since Gates responded to a question by saying that what he most wished he had was Jobs' sense of taste. The crowd laughed (obviously remembering that quote), but Gates told them he wasn't joking, and went on to describe Jobs' sense of product design as "magical". Basically, he admitted something we've all known for many years: Microsoft is not as good as Apple is at making cool user interfaces.

        That was pretty big of Gates. He went up in my estimation for that.
    • > Lesson: sputtering halfwitted rage is for idiot fanboys.

      You TAKE THAT BACK, you $%^#(*$&^% drooling STEVE JOBS ZOMBIE($54^%(*#&#(*&

      NO CARRIER
  • Was that intro music "Love Will Find a Way"?

    That's hilarious.

  • *Brain explode* (Score:5, Funny)

    by mattgreen ( 701203 ) on Thursday May 31, 2007 @10:30AM (#19338173)
    I don't know what to think now! Choosing an operating system is a very serious matter of the highest concern, indeed, a matter of life or death. And to think that these two people have the gall to be civil to each other? They are making a complete mockery of everything we hold dear here! I cannot stand by and let myself watch in an idle manner while they trivialize one of the most epic battles by their 'jokes' and 'conversation'. It is tantamount to Yoda hanging out with Darth Vader! The only explanation is that Jobs has sold out to the dark side!

    • Re: (Score:3, Funny)

      by Nom du Keyboard ( 633989 )
      Choosing an operating system is a very serious matter of the highest concern,

      Yeah, it's the biggest thing since Betamax versus VHS -- otherwise known as Better versus Cheaper.

      • Re: (Score:3, Insightful)

        by CastrTroy ( 595695 )
        Better in what sense? Better in the sense that you couldn't fit most movies on 1 tape, so you had to switch tapes halfway through, or better in the sense that there was only one manufacturer of the devices to play the tapes, so you had to pay more for them. Or better in the sense that the people in control of the technology tried to control which types of films got distributed using that technology.

        • Re: (Score:2, Funny)

          by svendsen ( 1029716 )
          Better in the sense that any person who buys something that later turns out to be crap/dies/whatever has to justify it to death why it is better and why the market was wrong.

          :-)

          • Re: (Score:2)

            by jmorris42 ( 1458 ) *
            > Better in the sense that any person who buys something that later turns out to be crap/dies/whatever has to justify it to death
            > why it is better and why the market was wrong.

            Nah, Beta was better from a techical sense. It had a better picture, I could see that. I bought VHS though because it was better in every other way. Which is pretty much par for the course for Sony. They make good tech then screw it up in the implementation and marketing. See Mini-Disc and I'm afraid we can add Blue-Ray t
            • If the only criteria you're judging "better" is on in how good it looks, then yes, Beta was the "Better" technology. By that logic, the PS3 is the best console, even though sales show otherwise. And although MiniDisk wasn't better in terms of quality, the small form factor was definitely a plus, as well as the protective casing. But again they screwed up the marketing and implementation.
    • Unfortunatly to many people take competition very personally. For some large companies that you have to deal with as customers/Relationship/clients you may also be competing with them in other areas.
      Lets say that Phillips buys material from GE to make products that compete with other devisions of GE, Say they buy plastic from GE for part of their florcent lightbulb. They are competing but still work together. It is not that other side is the Devil but just a competitor. They make a product that competes

    • Re: (Score:3, Funny)

      by El_Smack ( 267329 )
      "It is tantamount to Yoda hanging out with Darth Vader! The only explanation is that Jobs has sold out to the dark side!"
      Apple is actually creating the dark side. Remember? It started out as a republic. Everyone votes; do what you like; run your planet however you like; we all prosper. Like a big hippie commune. But then it got big. Trade groups sprung up, deals got made and broken. Whispers in back rooms. Greed, ego, power. Even now, the power hungry are positioning to fill Jobs' seat. Dark ti

  • I'm just impressed they found a venue big enough (Score:4, Funny)

    by bad_fx ( 493443 ) on Thursday May 31, 2007 @10:30AM (#19338181) Journal
    To fit those egos in... :p
  • 'And we love them because they're all customers!' said Jobs -- as Gates drank a glass of water....

  • Other topics not broached (Score:4, Funny)

    by Dachannien ( 617929 ) on Thursday May 31, 2007 @10:35AM (#19338239)
    While the talks were described by Jobs as being "positive", rumor has it that neither side brought up hot topics such as Microsoft's continued use of centrifuges for uranium enrichment or Apple's purported covert operations in Redmond.

  • Behind the scenes (Score:5, Funny)

    by packetmon ( 977047 ) on Thursday May 31, 2007 @10:37AM (#19338269) Homepage
    As captured by planted Microphones...

    Jobs dressing room:
    Jobs in the background squeezing the head off a Bill Gates bobblehead doll... "As a kid I broke more windows than an urban problemed child on ritalin in an abandoned factory full of windows and an endless supply of rocks. I hate you [infiltrated.net]"

    Gates dressing room:
    "Who thought it would be funny to send me Apple pie? I want him DEAD! I want his family DEAD! I want his house burned to the GROUND! I wanna go there in the middle of the night and I wanna PISS ON HIS ASHES!     (Untouchables movie quote)
  • Would have been more interesting if Bill Gates had spoken with Fake Steve Jobs. This would have been possible since Gates claims I'm not Fake Steve Jobs. [allthingsd.com]

  • Conspiracy... (Score:4, Interesting)

    by Notquitecajun ( 1073646 ) on Thursday May 31, 2007 @10:45AM (#19338419)
    Has anyone ever got the sinking feeling that Gates and Jobs have been pulling the wool over our eyes with their "rivalry" for 30 years? Blatant cooperation on such a scale would have been even MORE monopolistic than Microsoft is now, and such competition has always been good press. I say they've had a weekly phone conversation since their supposed "split." Pirates of Silicon Valley, indeed.

    Am I making sense, or is this just pure flamebait?
    • Whadyamean? MS Office was first developed for Apple. When Apple was in financial trouble, MS invested in them. They have been working together for decades.

  • They don't hate each other (Score:3, Insightful)

    by Bullfish ( 858648 ) on Thursday May 31, 2007 @10:46AM (#19338447)
    The fanbois might wish they did but they don't. MS actually has actually helped Apple more than once. They even gave them a much needed cash infusion at one point in the 90's. And back in 83, at a meeting of my local apple users group, there was a MS shill talking up the apple and the software ms was making for it. Any bad blood is more between the basement dwellers of the world than these two. They have both contributed to the other being very rich. There are other examples, but the apple/ms rivalry is more of a media/fanboi concoction

    • Re: (Score:2, Insightful)

      by drinkypoo ( 153816 )

      MS actually has actually helped Apple more than once. They even gave them a much needed cash infusion at one point in the 90's.

      Someone around here has a quote that says something to the effect of "If there were no Apple, it would be necessary for Microsoft to create one" (with apologies to Voltaire)

      It is quite true. Microsoft needs a Great Satan to keep certain people whipped into a frenzy, and to keep others from concluding that they have a 100% monopoly position.

      This may not always be true... in which

    • Re: (Score:3, Insightful)

      by Mordaximus ( 566304 )

      They even gave them a much needed cash infusion at one point in the 90's.

      Right, in a history of dirty dealing, Microsoft just decided to give Apple a friendly loan! ;) That cash injection wasn't for Apple's benefit. I'd wager on that move having been an attempt to look better in the face of the pending anti-trust case. Although, I wouldn't be surprised if it were something to do with the deals MS Signed with Apple in 1986 (GUI) and 1991(truetype.)

      Gates and Jobs may not hate each other, but that doesn

      • Although, I wouldn't be surprised if it were something to do with the deals MS Signed with Apple in 1986 (GUI) and 1991(truetype.)

        Close. [wikipedia.org]

    • In a letter to Jobs, Gates even layed out his strategy and suggested Steve adopt it as well. Make your OS run on as many platforms as possible, and team with hardware manufacturures to make it pre-installed. Then leverage your OS to make big money on the applications. Bill followed his own advice, Steve didn't. Now Bill's a deca-billionaire, and Steve's just a billionaire. C'est L'vie

      • Re: (Score:2)

        by dabraun ( 626287 )

        In a letter to Jobs, Gates even layed out his strategy and suggested Steve adopt it as well. Make your OS run on as many platforms as possible, and team with hardware manufacturures to make it pre-installed. Then leverage your OS to make big money on the applications. Bill followed his own advice, Steve didn't. Now Bill's a deca-billionaire, and Steve's just a billionaire. C'est L'vie

        If they had both used this strategy then one of them would have won and the other would be gone. Because they have different

        • Like Ford, Chrysler, and Cheverolet. AT&T, Verizon, and MCI. NBC, ABC, CBS, FOX. Yes, companies like Nash, and UPN died or were bought and merged away but most markets have room for more than one player. Apple actually licensed and then killed it's clone market. IBM just stopped sueing theirs, but misstepped when it tried to take the market away by selling the closed archetecture in the PS/2.

          You're right in that Steve probably would have misstepped agained the Bill, but it wasn't guarenteed.

    • Re: (Score:3, Insightful)

      by swillden ( 191260 ) *
      I agree with all but the "much-needed cash infusion". MS made a tiny investment in Apple, partly as a PR gambit, but mostly as part of a settlement of a couple of lawsuits Apple had filed against MS. Apple didn't need the money -- MS only gave Apple $150M, and Apple had over $1B cash on hand -- but was certainly happy to take it.

    • Re: (Score:2, Interesting)

      by dmarcoot ( 96402 )
      bullshit.
      the "much needed cash infusion" of $150 mil of non voting stock was more symbolic than anything. Apple had over $4 Billion in cash at the time

    • Re:They don't hate each other (Score:5, Interesting)

      by vought ( 160908 ) on Thursday May 31, 2007 @11:51AM (#19339515)
      MS actually has actually helped Apple more than once. They even gave them a much needed cash infusion at one point in the 90's.

      I'm very tired of hearing this - because it has no basis in reality.

      In 1997, Microsoft invested $150 million in Apple's non-voting stock. They sold this stock earlier this decade. Apple did not need cash at the time - the company had over $4 billion in the bank, but was losing money each quarter. They didn't need $150 million in stock sales to keep them afloat, and such a stock sale certainly couldn't be characterized as a "much needed cash infusion". It was a vote of confidence in Apple by Microsoft - a PR move and little more.

      The most important announcement made on the same day was that Microsoft would continue developing Microsoft Office for the Mac. This announcement was important to Apple's future in a way that a simple $150 million stock sale simply couldn't be - it sent the message to customers that the key to productivity software compatibility for Mac users would remain updated and supported.

      The most important announcement not made that day was that Apple and Microsoft settled a rather serious suit over Canyon Software's appropriation of Apple's QuickTime code, which was used by Microsoft and shipped in Windows Media Player. The suit could have been worth quite a bit more than $150 million - and would have led to a protracted court battle and some very embarrassing revelations about Microsoft's business practices during the government's antitrust investigation of the software giant.

      PLEASE stop repeating the canard about Microsoft "giving" Apple a cash infusion. It's not true, and never was.

  • Skip the highlight reel (Score:5, Insightful)

    by Nymz ( 905908 ) on Thursday May 31, 2007 @10:50AM (#19338529) Journal
    The interview is not as fanboy biased as the /. summary implies. Watching the entire interview is worth it, and entertaining, and you'll be able to see why these two are still such great leaders.
    • I don't have time to watch the video right now. I want a transcript. It looks like I have a lot of time because of the voluminousness of my slashdot comments, but I type quickly, think even quicker (aww yeah) and I often write half of a comment before some business meeting of some sort, and the other half later. Why do people (who release videos of talks) not provide transcripts for those who won't watch? Is it really that much more trouble?
  • I still see the iPod dancers on TV.
    Then there cool Apple guy versus the business nerd (could be IBM but is probably MicroSoft).

    MicroSoft has the "dont be a dinosaur" campaign. But I thought that backfired referring to MicroSoft itself.

  • Mac vs PC ad (Score:4, Funny)

    by objekt ( 232270 ) on Thursday May 31, 2007 @10:53AM (#19338593) Homepage
    Weren't you hoping you'd see something like this?
    http://i17.tinypic.com/52ax05t.jpg [tinypic.com]

  • Amicably? (Score:3, Interesting)

    by Anarchysoft ( 1100393 ) <[anarchy] [at] [anarchysoft.com]> on Thursday May 31, 2007 @10:59AM (#19338675) Homepage
    Respectfully perhaps, but I didn't perceive any genuine warmth between the two. Their body language clearly indicated that they were uncomfortable, especially Bill Gates. It also seemed like there was a lot of unspoken (or merely hinted at) anger from Steve Jobs towards Gates and, given the history of the two companies, I wouldn't be surprised if this was the case. They were both nervous, but Gates seemed scared and embarrassed at several points. This whole interview would make an excellent study for a psychology or communications student. ;)

    • Re:Amicably? (Score:5, Interesting)

      by hondo77 ( 324058 ) on Thursday May 31, 2007 @11:43AM (#19339399) Homepage
      I think Gates is just socially awkward. Have you ever seen him look comfortable in public?

      • I know, remember when Gates was on Jon Stewart, and the moment the interview was over he sprang up out of his chair and booked the hell out of there? Totally unlike every other interviewee on the history of the show?

        --Rob

        • Re: (Score:3, Interesting)

          by Anarchysoft ( 1100393 )

          I know, remember when Gates was on Jon Stewart, and the moment the interview was over he sprang up out of his chair and booked the hell out of there? Totally unlike every other interviewee on the history of the show?

          You and the parent poster are right about his social akwardness, though a review of the video [comedycentral.com] I think reveals a much more comfortable Bill Gates. He does a lot of public speaking and, while not (IMO) charismatic, can communicate clearly. He looked much more like he was sweating bullets in the interview with Steve Jobs and this wouldn't be very surprising given the history of those two.

  • Winston Churchill Said it Best (Score:4, Interesting)

    by germansausage ( 682057 ) on Thursday May 31, 2007 @10:59AM (#19338679)
    When you have to kill a man, it costs nothing to be polite.

  • Why would they care? (Score:5, Insightful)

    by El_Smack ( 267329 ) on Thursday May 31, 2007 @10:59AM (#19338681)
    Do they really dislike each other? Really? Maybe they used to, back when business was shaky and they were only multi millionaires. But now? They both won.
    Both Apple and MS could go bankrupt tomorrow and Gates/Jobs would still have more money that they could ever spend. It's easy to be magnanimous when you are untouchable.

    • You really think it's about the money? These guys made so much money that they both could have walked away years ago and never looked back. Why do they keep coming back?

      Two options: ego and pleasure. Now, I wouldn't be surprised if each guy got some level of enjoyment from their respective work, but I'm absolutely sure they both have huge egos that need feeding. I'm sure Microsoft's dominance bothers Steve, and everyone constantly praising Apple bothers Bill.

      Do they hate each other? Maybe not. But I

  • There is absolutely NO reason why Gates and Jobs should hate each other. They should LOVE each other. Two reasons why:

    1. Both of them are masters at milking people out of their money. Outside of religion and politics, they are the kings of bullshit.

    2. The people that love Gates hate Jobs, and vice versa. Hence, their PRODUCTS may be similar but their CUSTOMERS are definately not the same people.

    • Re: (Score:3, Insightful)

      by drinkypoo ( 153816 )

      The people that love Gates hate Jobs, and vice versa. Hence, their PRODUCTS may be similar but their CUSTOMERS are definately not the same people.

      riiiiight, that's why Apple has the "Switch" ads, because they aren't trying to attract Microsoft customers. Good reasoning, sparky.

      • Re: (Score:2)

        by Pojut ( 1027544 )
        riiiight, and a gates fanboi is going to suddenly love jobs and ipods.

        please. there is a difference between speculation and stupidity.

        • riiiight, and a gates fanboi is going to suddenly love jobs and ipods.

          I've never met a gates fanboy. I think they're mythical creatures, like virgins.

          Hmm, come to think of it, this is probably the wrong place to make that joke.

          please. there is a difference between speculation and stupidity.

          You know, many left Windows for OSX. So you really do not know what the hell you are talking about.

          • Re: (Score:2)

            by Pojut ( 1027544 )
            You know, many left Windows for OSX. So you really do not know what the hell you are talking about.

            And windows is still prevelant to nearly 90% of the computing world.

            Think of it this way. Microsoft could lose literally HALF of their installed user base, and they would still be installed on 45% of the computers in the world.

            45% of an entire market is nothing to sneeze at. It's not as insane as 90%, but it's still very fucking high. See, you may not realize this, but outside of geeky fanboy circles and wh

            • You can cry and bitch and moan about how shady their practices are (which they are) or complain about how what they do "isn't fair", but guess what: it's fucking buisness. Go back under your rock, or grow a spine and deal with it.

              Wow, I guess I have to pass the "#1 Slashdot asshole" hat to you. My hat is off to you, sir.

              This is completely irrelevant to the original conversation. The issue, if you may recall, was a statement that people who buy Microsoft things don't buy Apple things. This is, of course, p

              • Re: (Score:2)

                by Pojut ( 1027544 )
                I love how you assume to know what companies I do and do not purchase from.

                Not once did I ever say what Microsoft has done/is doing was right. Not once. I simply said they have a deeper market penetration than any other software company. Is that statement wrong? Am I lying? Is that innaccurate?

                Don't forget, Microsoft didn't just magically get into this position. People continued to buy their bullshit (and still do) and as a result they have flourished. But you know what?

                The average consumer doesn't k

  • Neat. (Score:4, Interesting)

    by sootman ( 158191 ) on Thursday May 31, 2007 @11:42AM (#19339395) Homepage Journal
    The highlight clips were great. I look forward to watching the whole thing. As much as we vilify Gates, he is a bright guy and he did some good stuff once upon a time and I could listen to either of them tell stories all day. That said, Steve is far and away the better presenter.

    Note to interviewers: SHUT UP! When you ask a question and the guy is trying to answer, quit trying to get your stupid little Friends-esqu quips in. NO ONE is there to hear you speak. Quit trying to be the life of the party. Example: watch Steve TRYING to tell his story at the 5:40 mark in the highlight reel and the inane banter at around 6:15.

    • Re: (Score:2, Interesting)

      by mgabrys_sf ( 951552 )
      Ditto - there were many points that carried a lot of drama, that were utterly fsked up by Mossberg and Swisher. Swisher was particularly cheesy after the admittedly over the top sentimental Beatles' reference, but screwed up what would have been better served by silence or audience reactions either of which would have been more interesting. As much as it's easy to bash professional broadcasters and interviewers, if you compare these print-geeks to someone like Leo Lapporte - I think someone like Leo would h

  • Two different people (Score:3, Insightful)

    by sg3000 ( 87992 ) * <sg_public@nOSpaM.mac.com> on Thursday May 31, 2007 @12:34PM (#19340301)
    I'm watching the highlights on the Wall Street Journal, and it's interesting how different these two guys are. Gates is a dumpy, middle-aged guy who is slouching in his chair. He starts telling the story about how Apple paid Microsoft for a floating point version of BASIC. Jobs, who sits up straight and appears to be in fairly good shape (particularly since his cancer surgery) has to interrupt him, saying "let me tell the story." Gates is polite and lets Jobs interrupt him. However, suddenly the boring anecdote becomes interesting, since Jobs is just a better storyteller.

    In a related note, at time index 12:04, Jobs starts talking about the memory capabilities of computers back then, and how different they are today. Same theme as the Mac Plus v AMD Dual Core [slashdot.org] article today!

    On the whole, it's fascinating to see these two giants in the same interview.

  • The article summary made me think Bill Gates said something about loving his customers. Silly me, no such thought ever ran through that man's head.

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