SHOCKED TO THE CORE; DEAL A BITTER PILL FOR APPLE DEVOTEES.Byline: Ben Sullivan Daily News Staff Writer Oh the humanity. For Apple Macintosh Apple Macintosh - Macintosh fans it has been one thing to watch their favorite computer company self-destruct in recent years, secure in the knowledge that for more than a decade Apple fought on the side of angels by offering an alternative to the ubiquitous Microsoft DOS Microsoft DOS - Microsoft Disk Operating System and Windows operating systems Operating systems can be categorized by technology, ownership, licensing, working state, usage, and by many other characteristics. In practice, many of these groupings may overlap. . It was something else entirely Wednesday, when Apple co-founder and prodigal son Steven Jobs announced Microsoft Corp. will become a major shareholder in the company and, worse still, that Apple will begin bundling Microsoft's Internet Explorer Microsoft's Web browser, which comes with Windows starting with Windows 98. Commonly called "IE," versions for Mac and Unix are also available. Internet Explorer is the most widely used Web browser on the market. It has also been the browser engine in AOL's Internet access software. software on new Macintosh machines. ``This is huge,'' observed Ken Layne, an editor at Tabloid, an on-line daily news magazine that has been covering Apple's corporate saga. ``For anyone rational, it's really good news for Apple. But for fanatic Macintosh users this is like your mom She goes to the gym. telling you she's actually a serial killer serial killer Forensic psychiatry A person who commits serial murders Prototypic SK White ♂ age 30; 97% are ♂; 80% are sociopaths. See Dahmer, Depraved heart murder, Ice Man. Cf Megan's law, Son of Sam law. .'' The irony of a new Apple-Microsoft accord immediately struck observers who have watched the companies wage aggressive campaigns for the loyalty of computer programmers and users around the world. For Microsoft, it was a battle to control market share. But Apple users viewed it as a struggle for the soul of an industry. ``Some people are going to feel betrayed by Apple,'' said Suzy Prieto, executive director of the Los Angeles Los Angeles (lôs ăn`jələs, lŏs, ăn`jəlēz'), city (1990 pop. 3,485,398), seat of Los Angeles co., S Calif.; inc. 1850. Macintosh Group, which with 5,000 members is the largest Mac club in the United States United States, officially United States of America, republic (2005 est. pop. 295,734,000), 3,539,227 sq mi (9,166,598 sq km), North America. The United States is the world's third largest country in population and the fourth largest country in area. . The unexpected announcement by Jobs in a keynote speech keynote speech n. See keynote address. Noun 1. keynote speech - a speech setting forth the keynote keynote address keynote - the principal theme in a speech or literary work at the annual MacWorld Expo in Boston early Wednesday prompted gasps of disbelief and loud boos from the audience of thousands of Mac users and software developers. Bill Gates, chief executive of Microsoft, appeared on an overhead screen to praise the new alliance, but his mere appearance spurred another round of indignant shouts from a crowd that included some of the world's most passionate Mac aficionados. As part of the agreement, Apple and Microsoft will put aside a long-running patent dispute. Microsoft agreed to release versions of its popular Office software for businesses in Macintosh formats, and Apple said it would make Microsoft's Internet Explorer browser the easiest choice for accessing the Internet from a Macintosh-based computer. In addition, Microsoft agreed not to sell the $150 million, or roughly 7 percent, of Apple stock that it will buy, for at least three years. Microsoft won't get voting rights Voting rights The right to vote on matters that are put to a vote of security holders. For example the right to vote for directors. voting rights The type of voting and the amount of control held by the owners of a class of stock. with its investment. Still, the involvement of Microsoft, and more specifically Gates, in any running of Apple is troubling to some Mac users. ``He's becoming a big, huge megalomaniac meg·a·lo·ma·ni·a n. 1. A psychopathological condition characterized by delusional fantasies of wealth, power, or omnipotence. 2. An obsession with grandiose or extravagant things or actions. , and that's a little scary,'' said Nathalie Miller, co-owner of Performance Graphics in Studio City. Miller's design house uses Macintosh computers exclusively in its work. Prieto, for her part, said most disturbing about Wednesday's announcement was Apple agreeing to bundle Microsoft's Internet Explorer software with its new machines. Much as it fought Apple in the 1980s over computer operating systems, Microsoft is in a battle with Netscape Communications for the hearts and minds of World Wide Web surfers. Both Netscape and Microsoft make browser programs that let users view and explore Internet content. Because of their common foe and underdog personas, Netscape and Apple had generally been considered allies before the announcement. ``The Internet is the future of everything right now,'' Prieto said. ``For Apple to almost force people to use Internet Explorer will be a disservice to Mac users.'' Yet, the news of an Apple-Microsoft alliance was good news to at least some Macintosh advocates. Michael Spivak, president of retailer Mac Universe in Tarzana, said that while zealots Zealots (zĕl`əts), Jewish faction traced back to the revolt of the Maccabees (2d cent. B.C.). The name was first recorded by the Jewish historian Josephus as a designation for the Jewish resistance fighters of the war of A.D. 66–73. may disparage dis·par·age tr.v. dis·par·aged, dis·par·ag·ing, dis·par·ag·es 1. To speak of in a slighting or disrespectful way; belittle. See Synonyms at decry. 2. To reduce in esteem or rank. Microsoft, the deal has given Apple's reputation a needed shot in the arm. ``The world's picture of Apple just went up,'' Spivak said. ``This is going to put money on our bottom line.'' Shareholders were likewise optimistic. News of the alliance sent Apple's stock up $6.69 per share on the Nasdaq stock market Nasdaq stock market The first electronic stock market listing over 5000 companies. The Nasdaq stock market comprises two separate markets, namely the Nasdaq National Market, which trades large, active securities and the Nasdaq Smallcap Market that trades emerging growth companies. to $26.44 on Wednesday. Microsoft, meanwhile, rose 25 cents to $143.56 on the Nasdaq. WHY DID HE DO IT? There are numerous reasons why Microsoft CEO (1) (Chief Executive Officer) The highest individual in command of an organization. Typically the president of the company, the CEO reports to the Chairman of the Board. Bill Gates would invest $150 million in Apple, his company's once bitter rival. Among them: A SHIELD: It's in Microsoft's best interest to keep Apple from failing so it doesn't incur additional scrutiny from the antitrust regulators at the Justice Department. MORE WEAPONS: Microsoft is currently battling Netscape Communications for control of the Web browser The program that serves as your front end to the Web on the Internet. In order to view a site, you type its address (URL) into the browser's Location field; for example, www.computerlanguage.com, and the home page of that site is downloaded to you. market, a key component of Microsoft's future growth. Apple now has agreed to use Microsoft's Internet Explorer as the built-in browser for Macintosh computers, whose users have been loyal to Netscape simply to spite Microsoft. FOOTHOLD: Until now, Microsoft has not been able to crack the loyalty of the artistic community to the Macintosh. If Apple begins using more Microsoft software on the Macintosh, it'll open new markets for Gate's company. MORE SALES: Microsoft's top-selling Office software, used mostly by businesses, has 8 million users. It'll soon be available for Mac users. HIGHLIGHTS IN APPLE HISTORY 1976 _ Apple Computer is formed on April Fool's Day April Fool's Day or All Fool's Day, holiday of uncertain origin, known for practical joking and celebrated on the first of April. Prior to the adoption of the Gregorian calendar in 1564, the date was observed as New Year's Day by cultures as , shortly after Steve Wozniak and Steve Jobs create a new computer circuit board in a Silicon Valley garage. 1977 _ Sales soar to the $1 million-a-year rate. 1980 _ Apple goes public. 1984 _ The easy-to-use Macintosh computer is unveiled. 1985 _ Wozniak resigns, and Jobs leaves to start a new computer venture, Next Inc. 1993 _ Apple reports quarterly loss of $188 million in July, and CEO John Sculley is replaced by Apple president Michael Spindler. 1994 _ Apple allows other companies to ``clone'' the Mac. 1995 _ Microsoft Corp. releases Windows 95, narrowing the Macintosh's traditional ease-of-use advantage. 1996 _ Apple reports a $69 million loss for the last three months of 1995. Directors oust CEO Spindler and hire Gilbert Amelio, CEO of National Semiconductor. Jobs returns as an adviser when Apple announces $420 milion purchase of his Next Softare Inc. July 1997 Company fires Amelio. Aug. 6 1997 Apple and Microsoft Corp. reveal a surprise alliance. Apple stock soars on the move but it stuns Apple loyalists, who had regarded the company as a buffer preventing Microsoft from monopolizing computer technology. CAPTION(S): 2 Boxes, 2 Photos, Chart Box: (1) WHY DID HE DO IT? (See text) (2) HIGHLIGHTS IN APPLE HISTORY (See text) Photo: (1--Color) Apple Computer Inc. adviser Steve Jobs before a video of Microsoft CEO Bill Gates on Wednesday. Associated Press (2--Color) No caption (Bill Gates) Chart: (Color) Apple's stock Associated Press |
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