Bill G attempts to take a jab at Apple

[mac-er]

In this article on Yahoo!, Bill Gates takes a jab at Apple.

Its only a few paragraphs (the rest of the article talks about Xbox 360, overtaking Sony, and stock options, etc).

In response to questions, Gates couldn't resist the temptation to respond to Apple Computer Chief Executive Steve Jobs' persistent jabs at Microsoft's Windows operating system with its launch of the latest version of Apple's OS X upgrade, dubbed ``Tiger.''

``We saw a lot of excitement about the Apple OS,'' said Gates. ``They're the super small-market guy. They get all these statements about them. I thought this was great. Here it is the general press writing about operating systems.''

Gates said that Microsoft's successor to the Windows XP operating system, code-named ``Longhorn,'' will have similar state-of-the-art advances also found in Apple's OS X Tiger update, such as desktop search and support for high-definition video images.

``You can always tell whether you're on a Mac or on a PC,'' said Gates, his voice taking a mischievous tone. ``Just stick your applications in there and see whether they'll run.''

Is that last comment (bolded) really supposed to be a jab at Apple?
Sounds more like a jab at his own OS.

My answer to Bill G. : Yeah, they will work on the Mac and won't on the PC.

UPDATE
This more complete interview with Bill G. reveals that on May 2, he had already gotten his grubby hands on a public release of Tiger.

 

[dotdotdot]

I think Bill got confused - on Macs, you "stick" your Applications in there. In windows, you install it, screw up the registry and install a thousand files which are scattered around the OS.

I'm pissed at Microsoft because I disabled Windows File Protection, a REALLY annoying thing, and THE MAIN THEME GOT MESSED UP!!! I had to copy it from my dads computer onto my shuffle. THE MAIN LUNA THEME!!!

So, which works?

Also, I REALLY want AdiumX on Windows, but THAT doesnt work!

 

[tech4all]

I think Bill got confused - on Macs, you "stick" your Applications in there.

Yea but you do have to use that installer to install apps, right?

Although I did "stick" a screen saver into the Screensaver folder and it worked wonderfully

 

[emw]

Yea but you do have to use that installer to install apps, right?

On some - and I think that's primarily system-related stuff, but many simply copy into the Applications folder and run. Nice.

 

[Mr. Anderson]

`They're the super small-market guy. They get all these statements about them. I thought this was great. Here it is the general press writing about operating systems

blah, blah, blah

I can just imagine all the *press* MS is going to get when Longhorn finally comes out

For a 'super small-market guy', Apple is obviously getting quite a lot of attention - its got to bother him some...

D

 

[calyxman]

LOL! You guys need to give Bill a break, he's the biggest dryball when it comes to humor. If he hosted SNL, he'd put the whole audience to sleep.

 

[yellow]

I think the unspoken finish to that sentence is "And then run another program and see if IT runs or crashes. Mainly because it shares a DLL with what you just installed. I like doughnuts."

 

[dornoforpyros]

I still think Steve Balmers claim that Tiger "copied" a bunch of stuff from Longhorn is the greatest M$ statement as of late. I mean clearly Steve Jobs used his Time Machine to go and copy longhorn!

 

[StarbucksSam]

I think the unspoken finish to that sentence is "And then run another program and see if IT runs or crashes. Mainly because it shares a DLL with what you just installed. I like doughnuts."

I just choked on my seltzer. That was HILARIOUS. Oh my God. The doughnuts thing was utterly great. Hahaha.

 

[Mechcozmo]

I think the unspoken finish to that sentence is "And then run another program and see if IT runs or crashes. Mainly because it shares a DLL with what you just installed. I like doughnuts."

Me too.

 

[BornAgainMac]

But why even mention Apple at all. Apple is just a tiny guy. The real threat is that Linux crap.