simX
Unofficial Mac Genius
According to sources within Apple, the company is preparing to stun the personal computer industry by calling for a "do-over" of the period from 1985 to the present. Apple CEO Steve Jobs will make the announcement during his Monday keynote at Apple's Worldwide Developers Conference.
As part of Apple's ongoing effort to increase market share from its current 5%, the company will exercise a little-known clause of a number of binding contracts agreed to by the major personal computer manufacturers. Found deep within contracts related to the design of certain industry-standard components, the clause originated in a contract covering hard drives that was created in 1985. Designed to create a level playing field in the industry, it has unwittingly been brought foward in subsequent contracts, but has never been exercised.
As part of an industry "do-over", all personal computers, regardless of operating system or purchase date, must be returned to the manufacturer for a refund at the original purchase price. The race for market share will then start again as manufacturers scramble to woo customers all over.
"This is the perfect time for Apple to call 'do-over'," one source said. "Current Macintosh users are unlikely to switch to a PC, but Apple's product line is very strong right now and is likely to entice a significant number of PC users. I think Apple will come out around 20% in a 'do-over'."
There is controversy surrounding the interpretation of the clause. Lawyers representing Microsoft believe that any "do-over" should be a total "do-over", with companies forced to return to the state of technology in 1985. Under this scenario, Microsoft feels it would achieve the same market share it currently holds.
Apple sources, however, believe their firm's chances are good, even in a total "do-over".
"That scenario would allow us to re-select our partners," an Apple source said. "We totally got stuck with Motorola the last time. That was so not fair. This time, we could get Intel, depending on the coin toss."
Jobs' attempt to exercise this clause is likely to meet with severe industry resistance and may face challenges from the Federal Government, over concerns about its effect on the economy.
Federal Reserve Chairman Alan Greenspan was decidedly negative on prospect of a computer industry "do-over".
"That's not fair," Greenspan said. "They can't just call 'do-over' just because they're losing. What a bunch of babies."
Nice! But it's typical of Microsoft to pull that kind of legal BS same with Greenspan.