The day Bill Gates overthrew Big Blue
Article Abstract:
The turning point of the rocky Microsoft Corp/IBM relationship came in a garishly decorated conference room at the Comdex trade show in Nov 1989. Microsoft Chmn Bill Gates and IBM microcomputer executive James Cannavino had reached an agreement. Before two dozen or so of the top executives in the microcomputer software business, Cannavino would endorse the forthcoming upgrade of the Microsoft Windows graphical user interface software, while Gates would say that Windows was a low-end product and OS/2, IBM's next-generation software, should be used on more powerful microcomputers. Gates would also agree to focus Microsoft's efforts on developing OS/2. While a noisy air conditioner drone on, neither Gates nor Cannavino went quite as far as they had committed to. When Gates refused to commit to OS/2, all the executives realized that Microsoft had won the battle for industry dominance; all the numbers were on its side.
Publication Name: The Wall Street Journal Western Edition
Subject: Business, general
ISSN: 0193-2241
Year: 1993
User Contributions:
Comment about this article or add new information about this topic:
Next task at Apple: first order, then orders
Article Abstract:
Newly appointed Apple CEO Gilbert Amelio has had successful experience restoring profitability to National Semiconductor, but he will face more deeply entrenched problems in his attempt to revive Apple's status. Apple's inability to innovate new technologies in recent years is at the center of the company's loss of market share, and National Semiconductor experienced the same problem under Amelio. Reports indicate that Apple's acquisition talks with Sun Microsystems have not broken off because of the personnel move, but those familiar with Amelio insist that he would not accept the Apple post on simply a short-term basis. Analysts suggest that Amelio's technological expertise and superior management skills make him an excellent candidate to lead the restoration of Apple's prestige.
Publication Name: The Wall Street Journal Western Edition
Subject: Business, general
ISSN: 0193-2241
Year: 1996
User Contributions:
Comment about this article or add new information about this topic:
IBM expected to try to bring order to software chaos
Article Abstract:
IBM will introduce a broad initiative to help corporate customers deal with their problem of writing software fast enough. IBM will introduce its own new software and also alliances with developers that offer software-writing tools. Other developers are expected to announce that they will make their products compatible with IBM's products. Some competitors and consultants are concerned that IBM will focus on mainframes and IBM-compatible systems, ignoring minicomputers, microcomputers and hardware made by IBM's competitors. But, IBM would like to provide a framework for computer-aided software engineering, the main technology that customers are incorporating to solve their software development backlog problem.
Publication Name: The Wall Street Journal Western Edition
Subject: Business, general
ISSN: 0193-2241
Year: 1989
User Contributions:
Comment about this article or add new information about this topic:
- Abstracts: Justice's Microsoft investigation extends to bundling of navigation software. Undone deal; Microsoft drops bid for Intuit- a victory for Antitrust Agency; already hurt by its rivals, software giant feared delays from litigation; is another round looming?
- Abstracts: IBM's short list in search of a chief dwindles once again. IBM won't get two key aides of Gerstner's. IBM's new chairman shuns tradition as he puts together his own team
- Abstracts: The virtual future. A software boom for CD-ROMs. Small firm's usage patterns
- Abstracts: Net is a surprise for National Semiconductor. Motorola posts surprising 16% decline in profit for 4th quarter; sales rise 13%
- Abstracts: Millar, builder of computer consulting at Unisys, quits, is seen joining AT&T. Unisys revamping leads to departure of its president