Given Apple's current situation and the market and political forces that drive ALL tech sector companies, maybe placating IBM and Motorola was exactly what they were doing and was an appropriate business decision. I'll agree on the short-sightedness, though "blackballing" is a pretty strong term. And yes maybe they have "blown it" with regards to the "tech specs" and "fastest desktop" marketing opps, but business is business.
Apple's bad press, clone negotiation delays, CHRP/PPCP delays, etc. are APPLE problems. Agreed, companies associating themselves w/Apple during these tough time are taking a hit too, but I'm not hearing other companies screaming "Apple put us out of business!" Whatever back-up plans Exponential had were clearly not robust enough to weather this worst-case scenario.
As regards sour grapes, karma, booties and shame, I suspect Apple's posterior will suffer an enthusiastic, but toothless gumming for a few days from Exponential and its investors and then return to the task at hand: rebuilding a once-great company.
Dirk |
