The Macworld Experience -- Day 2
By WilliamLH
August 6, 1997, Boston, MA. -- Today is the day we have all been waiting for, the keynote address by Steve Jobs, where we hope to find out what the plans are for Apple's future are and what, if any, decision on licensing has been made.
Steve Jobs took the stage and started to outline Apple's future. In a surprise move, all but two members of Apple's Board of Directors have resigned and are now replaced with four new members. The two members to stay are Gareth Chang, Senior VP of Hughes Electronics Corp., and Edgar Woolard Jr., who is Chairman of the Board at E.I. Dupont De Nemours & Co. The four new members are Larry Ellison of Oracle Corp.(the guy we just fended off from taking over Apple!), previous CEO of Claris Corp. and current CEO of Intuit Inc. William Campbell, and Jerome York, former CFO of IBM Corp. and Chrysler Corp. And finally Steve Jobs takes the head of the Apple Computer Inc. Board of Directors, a job he said he did not want and would not take a week ago!
It is my personal opinion that for the most part this is a good board as long as Ellison and Jobs do not overdo their positions and Ellison does not force his "utopian computer vision" of network computers for everyone onto Apple. Otherwise, this board has what Apple has needed for some time, a group of industry professionals that understands both business and the computer industry. I also feel that Steve Jobs needs to focus on what he is good at, vision, motivation and setting goals. He will have to stay out of areas he is not good at and leave people to get their jobs and responsibilities done, something he has had problems with in the past at Apple.
Steve Jobs then went on to announce Apple's continuing commitment to it's education market and the Internet, right after this he made the surprise announcement that Microsoft has invested $150 million in Apple through a stock purchase at market price and was met with boos from some of the audience, he then added that these were non-voting shares which received applause. He also added that Microsoft Internet Explorer will become the default browser with Mac OS 8 and this was met with boos from the audience. Steve Jobs stated that Microsoft Internet Explorer was only the default browser and that consumers could select one of the other browsers included with Mac OS 8, I will assume this means Apple will continue to include Netscape and CyberDog but just make Microsoft Internet Explorer the default browser with an Easy Install. Along with this agreement Bill Gates agreed to not sell the stock for three years and committed to releasing Microsoft Office for the Macintosh for the next five years with Macintosh specific features.
Once Bill Gates exited (he was there via satellite link up) Steve Jobs said "We have to let go of the notion that for Apple to win, Microsoft has to lose." I would like to note that at the end of the day Apple's stock jumped 3-4 points due to this announcement and I expect it will continue to climb now that Wall Street sees such a big player is involved. We may not like Microsoft and Bill Gates but I think most of us would trade places with him in a minute and even though I can't stand most Microsoft products, I think this is a good move for Apple if it gives Apple a leg up on the stock market. Again I feel this was a "good" arrangement for Apple as long as long as Bill Gates does not impose his vision of computers onto Apple.
This evening Apple put on a huge fireworks display for Boston and the world to "announce" Mac OS 8, and it was grand, set to music and simulcast by a local Boston radio station. Apple lit up the Boston harbor, kind of like it may have looked when the revolutionaries were battling for freedom, Apple battling for it's dominance in the computer industry, but it will take more than a fireworks show to accomplish that!
Well, sit back, think about what has gone on today and I'll have more tomorrow. It's a new Apple era, and the ride has begun -- hang on, it could be bumpy, but we're used to this ride! ;->
Other Macworld coverage:
Intro to Macworld 1997
Macworld Day 1
Macworld Day 3
Macworld Day 4
Macworld Final Day
Copyright © 1997, WilliamLH , All Rights Reserved.
