Bill,
I thoroughly agree that a choice to discontinue cloning would be a terrible mistake. But you talk as though this has already happened. In my opinion, we're only seeing posturung during negociations. It's a damn poker game. You know that. If Jobs were to nix cloning, I'd reverse my position on the spot. But that has not happened yet, and I don't think it will. He's probably just trying to get Power to line up with the program. These guys (Power) have been aggressive and innovative, but they've acted like loose canons, cherry-picking Apple's market and showing no interest in expanding the market. They've got to learn which side their bread is buttered on. Without Apple, they're out of business. With Apple, they can both get rich. They've acted like precocious teenagers and it's time to grow up (a little).
Regarding NeXT, I agree as well, but Lordy Bill that was a different world then and a long time ago. You may have been hep to NeXt's future in 1985, but most folks have had to rely on 20-20 hindsight. I think the Apple/NeXT experience was a valuable lesson for Jobs. The question is: "Did he learn?". The only way we can address that question is to analyse his CURRENT behavior. Let's remember the past, but not live in it. Do you agree?
The real hoot, IMO, is that, from what I've learned of Rhapsody, NeXt may well end up succeeding in the final analyses. If this happens, it will mark the most incredible comeback story in the history of the industry. We shall see.
Regards,
Scott |
