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Jobs and Gates Chat Amicably

Posted by kdawson on Thu May 31, 2007 10:23 AM
from the sittin'-in-a-tree dept.
Businesses Microsoft Apple
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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[+] Gates and Jobs to Share A Stage 210 comments
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."
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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.

        • Sure, but that's the point. Hating is a distraction from the goal. For fanboys, ostentatiously deranged hatred *is* the goal.

          Ah, but that's *my* point. It's not that they don't hate; it's that the smart ones don't show it. Although I agree with you on the latter point; for the maladjusted it seems all they need is an outlet for their general rage.

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

      by jcr (53032) <jcr@ma[ ]om ['c.c' in gap]> on Thursday May 31 2007, @11:17AM (#19339021) Journal
      The people who actually make things base their self-esteem on what they accomplish, not on how insanely they hate someone else.

      And that's why Microsoft's shareholders really need to kick Ballmer to the curb.

      -jcr

    • 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

      • 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.
  • 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!
    • 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.
    • 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
    • "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
  • 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?

  • 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: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

    • 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: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 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@anarchysof t . 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?

        • 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.

  • Neat. (Score:4, Interesting)

    by sootman (158191) on Thursday May 31 2007, @11:42AM (#19339395) 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.

  • Two different people (Score:3, Insightful)

    by sg3000 (87992) * <sg_public&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.

    • Re: (Score:2, Insightful)

      by jollyreaper (513215)

      A little off topic...

      I saw a news video online with Bill Gates regarding that new touch table thingy last night.

      During the interview, he laid his credit card down on the table. It got me to thinking, what kind of credit limit do you think Bill Gates' credit cards have? (Now I know the obvious answer is that he could buy the credit card company).

      The interviewer asked him how he tipped, and Gates' response was "I like to meet expectations..." :P

      Oh, great. This gives me visions of a CARNIVORE system firing up to index and weight the waiter's internet postings, tip weighted according to what the waiter thinks of Gates. "Ah, MScarnivore says that you think I'm a skinflint bastard. As you expect, so shall you not receive."

      I'm only halfway joking here. Computerized information systems are the wet dreams of the secret police. The classic problem in intel is that data is gathered at a rate far greater than it can be classified, organized, and analyzed.

      • Re: (Score:3, Interesting)

        by CastrTroy (595695)
        Why would he bother even using credit? Couldn't he just get a very high daily limit debit card and use that? Doesn't using credit decrease your wealth? Although I'm sure he would have enough to pay the card(s) off at the end of the month, what advantage does somebody like Gates get from using credit? Does he like collecting the Airmiles? Credit should only be used if you don't have the cash to pay for something. Unless you have some weird credit card where the interest rate is lower than what the bank

    • Re: (Score:2, Informative)

      by schiefaw (552727)
      Well, if you call a $150 million investment in a company that has $4 billion in cash reserves "bailing out". I would consider it a darn good investment considering what the stock has done since then.

    • 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:Cryptic Comments (Score:4, Insightful)

      by vought (160908) on Thursday May 31 2007, @12:06PM (#19339761)
      ". . . isn't it funny, a ship that leaks from the top."

      Definitively:

      This has nothing to do with Spindler's "ship with a hole in the bottom" comment. The "ship that leaks from the top" is CEOs and VPs who blab about future products to the detriment of current, shipping products while admonishing the vast majority of employees not to leak product details.

      When I joined Apple in 1995, we had to watch a security video. It schooled us about export control, "tailgating" through badged entryways, and not talking about product details with the press, friends, etc. It was silly to expect employees to keep their traps shut while they watched Diesel Spindler yak about upcoming products like the PowerBook 5300 which would have "unprecendented speed and battery life". (It didn't.)

      The ship that leaks from the top comment is simply a jibe at the days of Sculley, Spindler, and to a lesser degree, Amelio - braggadocio CEOs who represented the "old way" of doing things at Apple, and who didn't hold themselves to the same standards they expected of their employees.

        Sculley used to talk about pie-in-the-sky projects like the Knowledge Navigator, Newton, etc. well ahead of the projects actually, you know, working. Spindler was too stupid not to let stuff slip about future product direction. And Amelio talked up future products and strategies in order to keep the company relevant.

      • Re:credit card (Score:5, Funny)

        by businessnerd (1009815) on Thursday May 31 2007, @02:20PM (#19342219)

        Btw, Black Amexes ain't something you request. It's something you get.
        So you might say that the American Express Black card is like a "Soviet Express" card.

        In Soviet Russia, credit card applies for you!

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