Sun deals widens Microsoft-Apple rift
WinInfo | at | by Mike
A report in C/NET-ZDNET (they're the same now, right?) this weekend either explains the secret reason for the very public Microsoft-Apple rift that came to light two weeks ago, or provides all the ammunition Microsoft needs to finally bail from its failing relationship with the Mac maker. According to the report, Apple is working with Sun Microsystems to port the OpenOffice and StarOffice office productivity suites to Mac OS X, providing Mac users with free or low-cost alternatives to Microsoft's pricey Office v. X, which retails for $500.
Let that sink in for a moment, because the potential repercussions are huge. In August 1997, Apple CEO Steve Jobs announced that the then-failing company was receiving an important shot in the arm from its one-time rival, Microsoft: The company invested $150 million in Apple along with an undisclosed sum--said to be in excess of $1 billion--to settle previous patent disputes. But more important, Microsoft agreed to a five year software development deal, during which time it would continue releasing new Office versions for the Mac, a crucial sign for consumers that the platform was still viable. In return, Apple also agreed to replace Netscape with Microsoft Internet Explorer (IE) as the default Web browser on new Mac systems.