Geert
Aug 5, 2002, 06:45 AM
This one is for Rower.
Apple Enlists Sun As Ally Against Microsoft.
Capping off several weeks of conflict between Apple and Microsoft, Cnet has learned that Apple is forging an alliance with Sun to develop an OS X version of Sun's StarOffice suite, a competitor to Microsoft Office. Crazy Apple Rumors Site has further learned that Apple and Sun, in an effort to perform an end-run around Microsoft, have entered into an agreement to bring two killer features to OS X: hot chicks and ninjas.
"Traditionally, our competition with Microsoft has centered around the operating system," Apple Senior Vice President for Software Development Avie Tevanian explained. "Sun has now entered into competition with them in the productivity application space."
Tevanian points out that the difficulty in competing with Microsoft in both those markets is that the company is already firmly entrenched.
"So we thought, what could we bring to OS X that is not even on Microsoft's radar?" Tevanian said.
In a series of "outside of the box" brainstorming sessions between Apple and Sun, the companies used their combined creative talent in an effort to leap-frog Microsoft. The result is a new agreement between the companies under which Sun will supply hot chicks and ninjas exclusively for OS X.
"This is a compelling value proposition," the San Jose Mercury News' Dan Gillmor said. "If I'm a computer buyer and I have a choice between a platform without hot chicks and ninjas and one with hot chicks and ninjas, which do you think I'll pick?"
"Well, I don't know about you, but I'm picking hot chicks and ninjas."
Asked to explain the concept behind hot chicks and ninjas, Sun Executive Vice President Jonathan Schwartz said "The appeal of ninjas is universal. Ninjas are silent, deadly and disciplined. In short, they're bad-asses who seriously whale. People love these guys. And hot chicks? Well, that's fairly obvious."
A number of details remain to be worked out between the two companies before hot chicks and ninjas on OS X will become a reality. While the companies agree that these are the features that will finally put Microsoft on the defensive, there is a great level of uncertainty on how to best implement them on OS X. Sun believes they should exist as a series of Java extensions while Apple holds that they should be native Cocoa implementations.
Whatever the case, Gillmor believes Microsoft will be forced to follow suit and will find itself playing catch-up.
"Expect Microsoft to try to co-opt this announcement with one of its own about ugly chicks and gym teachers or something," Gillmor said. "They're always doing crap like that."
posted by CARS Staff | 7/29/2002
Nice article, can't wait to see the Ninja's in action ;)
Apple Enlists Sun As Ally Against Microsoft.
Capping off several weeks of conflict between Apple and Microsoft, Cnet has learned that Apple is forging an alliance with Sun to develop an OS X version of Sun's StarOffice suite, a competitor to Microsoft Office. Crazy Apple Rumors Site has further learned that Apple and Sun, in an effort to perform an end-run around Microsoft, have entered into an agreement to bring two killer features to OS X: hot chicks and ninjas.
"Traditionally, our competition with Microsoft has centered around the operating system," Apple Senior Vice President for Software Development Avie Tevanian explained. "Sun has now entered into competition with them in the productivity application space."
Tevanian points out that the difficulty in competing with Microsoft in both those markets is that the company is already firmly entrenched.
"So we thought, what could we bring to OS X that is not even on Microsoft's radar?" Tevanian said.
In a series of "outside of the box" brainstorming sessions between Apple and Sun, the companies used their combined creative talent in an effort to leap-frog Microsoft. The result is a new agreement between the companies under which Sun will supply hot chicks and ninjas exclusively for OS X.
"This is a compelling value proposition," the San Jose Mercury News' Dan Gillmor said. "If I'm a computer buyer and I have a choice between a platform without hot chicks and ninjas and one with hot chicks and ninjas, which do you think I'll pick?"
"Well, I don't know about you, but I'm picking hot chicks and ninjas."
Asked to explain the concept behind hot chicks and ninjas, Sun Executive Vice President Jonathan Schwartz said "The appeal of ninjas is universal. Ninjas are silent, deadly and disciplined. In short, they're bad-asses who seriously whale. People love these guys. And hot chicks? Well, that's fairly obvious."
A number of details remain to be worked out between the two companies before hot chicks and ninjas on OS X will become a reality. While the companies agree that these are the features that will finally put Microsoft on the defensive, there is a great level of uncertainty on how to best implement them on OS X. Sun believes they should exist as a series of Java extensions while Apple holds that they should be native Cocoa implementations.
Whatever the case, Gillmor believes Microsoft will be forced to follow suit and will find itself playing catch-up.
"Expect Microsoft to try to co-opt this announcement with one of its own about ugly chicks and gym teachers or something," Gillmor said. "They're always doing crap like that."
posted by CARS Staff | 7/29/2002
Nice article, can't wait to see the Ninja's in action ;)
