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Topic: Microsoft

Photos: Microsoft-Apple collaboration, the 10 greatest moments

Summary: Microsoft versus Apple has long been the marquee rivalry of the technology industry, but the two companies also have a long history as frenemies. Here are their 10 greatest collaborations.

Jason Hiner

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When Apple developed its forward-looking Macintosh computer in the early 1980s to combat the IBM PC, which was out-pacing the Apple II, Microsoft was one of the early believers in the new vision. Gates took a chance on Jobs' graphical users interface and agreed to be one of the early application developers. The result was Microsoft Word, which would eventually be one of the computing world's most popular applications. Gates said, "One of the most fun things we did was the Macintosh and that was so risky. People may not remember that Apple really bet the company." Of course, the collaboration on the Macintosh also led to Microsoft developing its own competing platform, Windows, which later became the source of the bitter rivalry between the two companies.

Photo credit: Apple

If you'd prefer to view this as a text-based list, see the companion blog post.

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Topics: Microsoft, Apple, Collaboration, Enterprise Software, Software

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  • Word & Excel

    I used an early Mac at a company in the 80s - not only Word, but also Excel. That combination, tied to a central laser printer, was magic in those days.
    Ken_z
    Reply Vote

    • True, there was magic.

      @Ken_z ... even in today's developed market, Apple has been able to keep alive a sense of magic, while Windows & Office and the machines they run on have become another gray and somewhat miserable feature of the cube.
      HollywoodDog
      Reply Vote

    • It was magic

      @Ken_z ...and I used MS Multiplan before Excel on my 1984 Mac, both at work and at home. However, there are days when I wish I had access to the simple but powerful MacWrite and MacPaint programs today--they are all I really need for many situations. Young coders: Apple had the Mac OS and both programs, plus room for files, all on a 400 KB diskette. Yes, KB.
      frabjous
      Reply Vote

  • TRUTH!

    Ballmer actually considers all these to be low points!



    http://fakesteveballmer.blogspot.com
    NonZeal0t
    Reply Vote

    • RE: Photos: Microsoft-Apple collaboration, the 10 greatest moments

      @NonZeal0t

      Grow up.
      NoAxToGrind
      Reply Vote

    • NZ says "TRUTH!"

      @NonZeal0t ...and then posts a FakeSteveBallmer blogspot--but look, it's a FakeNonZealot, too! Who thinks we won't notice, or distinguish between 0 and O! But lots of us work with details and notice this crap! Just go away, please.
      frabjous
      Reply Vote

  • RE: Photos: Microsoft-Apple collaboration, the 10 greatest moments

    http://howtozed.blogspot.com
    howtozed
    Reply Vote

  • RE: Photos: Microsoft-Apple collaboration, the 10 greatest moments

    Now I guess all the fanbois will run out an file a law suit, now that the found out that Iphone could not work correctly without the help of, you guessed it, Microsoft. I wonder if they have dranked so much koolaid until they cant see this?? By the way, wonder where they are at?? Maybe they already and decided the could not bash Microsoft?? Come y'all, tell us how bad Microsoft is!
    eargasm
    Reply Vote

  • RE: Photos: Microsoft-Apple collaboration, the 10 greatest moments

    In what way, exactly, was the PowerPC "proprietary"? In fact, as it had more than one manufacturer, as opposed to the x86 line, if anything, the situation was reversed.<br><br>And @windozefreak, nowhere does it say that the iPhone could not "work correctly" without the help of microsoft. Talk about drinking Kool-Aid.<br><br>BTW, I certainly HOPE your first language is not English, because if it is, you don't have a first language.
    DeusXMachina
    Reply Vote

  • An Apple a day keeps......

    An Apple a day keeps Android and all the other bugs away!
    grantje60
    Reply Vote
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