The recent announcement that Google CEO Eric Schmidt had joined Apple's board of directors set off a flurry of speculation in tech circles. Was Google going to buy Apple? Would they team up to deliver ninjas to Microsoft headquarters?
But, shockingly, the most nonsensical response out of the pack comes courtesy of John Dvorak, the Mac fan's most-hated provocateur. As usual, he's about as far off the mark as it's possible to getm speculating that it might be time for Apple and (I swear I'm not making this up) Sun to merge. Remember Sun? Hot in the mid-'90s? Java? The Dot in Dotcom? Forget about it. Let's hear what John has to say.
Um...no. Sun did once almost buy Apple, during the early part of the great Gil Amelio's tenure in Cupertino. (Did you know he SAVED Apple? You can read about it in his book!) The deal fell apart largely because Sun said they would probably kill the Apple brand in the process, according to Amelio. That was the chance. A year later, the company buys NeXT, Jobs comes back, and most people let it go. But not Dvorak.
This is nothing new. I still remember with great rancor the day he posted his column about how the original iBook looked like a make-up kit, managing to incorporate several very offensive stereotypes of women in the process. It was charming.
I don't know what to make of Schmidt on the Apple board, other than to say that Google loves Apple and vice versa. Microsoft hates them both for succeeding in areas (digital media and search) that the Redmond-based giant has so far had no luck with. There's potentially something huge stewing in the background.
But don't bet on it. For a long time, everyone that Larry Ellison's presence on Apple's board meant that he was about to sell Oracle. Did. Not. Happen. And for heaven's sake, Sun doesn't have anything to do with the Apple hearts Google love affair.
Via Digg.
