Netscape's general smiles as the smoke clears seattletimes.com
This article from the home town rag doesn't add much, but it's good for a few quotes.
Two years ago, when Bill Gates announced Microsoft's plan to "embrace and extend" Web browsing with its Windows operating system, observers said the game was over for what was then the leading browser maker.
"What this means is that Netscape is dead," intoned David Coursey, a leading industry analyst.
Coursey a leading industry analyst? Leading Microsuckup, perhaps. And leading Java basher, of course, except in the properly embraced and demolished, Windows-only version. Everybody's entitled to their chosen mouthpiece in the press.
Others lampooned the Gates phrase.
"Engulf and devour," said Wall Street analyst Rick Sherlund.
"Embrace, extend and exterminate," said Web pundit Jesse Berst.
"Draw and quarter," said computer network pioneer Bob Metcalfe.
And, of course, we all know Steve Ballmer's internal version, "Embrace and Demolish". Speak of the devil, old Steverino gets his say too.
Microsoft's charismatic No. 2 executive, Steve Ballmer, has been passing the word in media interviews that the company acts ethically and politely when doing business.
Right, I'm sure the Microsoft representative were ever so ethical and polite when they informed Compaq that their Windows license was caput if they didn't show the proper respect for the sacred IE icon. And I'm sure Microsoft's legal eagles are quite personable and friendly as they go after web sites that dare to publish "nonexistent" secret API's, or show a lack of respect for Bill & Co.
"This is business - you play hard, you drive yourself," Ballmer said in a recent telephone interview. "But this company behaves with good integrity. It's important for Bill, for me and for the company." Ballmer downplayed a national business magazine's comparison of him to Gen. Patton, saying "I'm enthusiastic," where Patton "seemed like an aggressive butt-kicker" with little sense of fun or humor.
That Steverino, just a barrel of laughs. Just doing his part to maintain that integrity and uniformity thing, with a song in his heart and a smile on his face. I'm sure many polite and friendly calls were made by Steve and friends to convince the OEMs to profess their undying love for Microsoft in the current dispute.
Cheers, Dan. |
