Wednesday, August 06, 1997

From sources close to the Microsoft-Apple negotiations... The key point of the deal was the settlement of a patent dispute. Since we don't know what Apple gave up, we can't really evaluate this part of the deal.

The clone issue is still around. In the SJ Merc Jobs says "Apple lives in an ecosystem and it needs help from other partners. Relationships that are destructive don't help anyone in this industry." Hey, that's slippery. Are users, who he's stealing choice from, in the industry?

News.com: More tough talk from Apple about cloners.

Henry Norr reviews Apple's new machines in MacWEEK. They're the fastest Macs for now.

From "Can Apple Survive?", 4/21/97: "License the Mac OS cheaply to clone makers. Look to differentiate your product with software you license from developers. The truth -- most of the value is out of the Mac OS. To charge a premium for it now defeats the purpose of having a separate platform. We all must get in line on this one and agree that we want lots of Macs from anyone, not a small number of Macs just from Apple. If that's how it plays out, the Mac loses all its remaining developer energy."

DaveNet: "Microsoft Backs Apple". More info...

• The Motley Fool weighs in on the Apple-Microsoft deal.

• Press releases: Microsoft, Apple.

• Upside has set up a bulletin-board to discuss today's announcements.

• Reports: CNN, Wired, InfoWorld, PC WEEK, SJ Mercury, MacWEEK.

• 8:31AM: AAPL up $7.50 at $27.25.

• Apple will collaborate with Microsoft on Java Virtual Machine compatibility.

• News.com: Jobs names new Apple board. (Markkula is out.)

"Mail Starting 8/6/97".

SJ Mercury: Mac cloners threaten protest.

InfoWorld: Marimba to add non-Java software updating.

Peter Wayner in NY Times: Cross-platform Java problem.