Gates and Jobs Banter in Rare Face-to-Face

Tech gods praise each other, discuss the PC guy from the Mac ads

By Sam Gale Rosen, Newser Staff

Posted May 31, 2007 12:18 PM CDT

(Newser) – Long-time rivals Bill Gates and Steve Jobs quipped and reminisced their way through their first joint public appearance in two decades at last night's D: All Things Digital conference in San Diego. The two tech kings ditched their traditional rivalry for a cozy, back-and-forth love fest. We've been "secretly married for 10 years," Jobs joked.

Also making an appearance was a 1983 "Macintosh Dating Game" promotional video, in which a fresh-faced Gates tells customers: "During 1984 Microsoft expects to get half of its revenue from Macintosh software," CNET blogs. But the most contentious topic of conversation? The new Mac ads. "PC guy is great," said Jobs. Gates looked less sure. At least, he said, "His mother loves him."

[Images (1)]

[Videos (2)]

Gates and Jobs ((c) whatcounts)

« Prev« Prev | Next »Next » Slideshow

Mac/PC Wall Street Journal Ad (fonash (YouTube))

Macworld Boston 1997-The Microsoft Deal (peestandingup (YouTube))

View larger videos >>

« Prev« Prev | Next »Next »

To report an error on this story, notify our editors.

More Newser Stories

Apple Takes a Bite Out of the Competition

iPod maker replaces Microsoft as industry bully, monopolist

(NEWSER) - Apple has replaced Microsoft as the tech industry’s “biggest bully,” according to PC World. The iPod dynamo has shed its rebel rep and assumed Microsoft’s former mantle as a monopolist, copycat, and bully. “Bundling,” a tactic Microsoft used to tie together Windows and Internet Explorer and thwart competition, is Apple’s game plan with the iPod and iTunes. More»

Melinda Gates: Apple Banned at Our House

She. Is. Not. Kidding.

(NEWSER) - You might think the world's second-richest guy's kids would be spoiled, and they might be: But they sure as hell don't have iPods. Melinda Gates revealed a household ban on all things Apple in an interview with the New York Times Magazine (via HuffPo): Of the kids, she says, "I have gotten that argument—'You may have a Zune.' " Pressed as to rumors that Bill works on an Apple laptop, Gates says, "False. Nothing crosses the threshold of our doorstep." More»

Apple Directors Discuss CEO Succession: Report

With Steve Jobs' ailing health, company looking at options: Journal

(NEWSER) - As much as Apple fans might believe otherwise, Steve Jobs might not be able to run the company forever. With the company CEO on another medical leave , some board members have held discussions with recruiters and the head of another big tech company to talk about succession, says the Wall Street Journal . It describes the talks as an "informal exploration of options." More»

Control-Freak Apple Headed for Backlash

No longer an upstart, Apple needs more openness to succeed long-term

(NEWSER) - Steve Jobs' Apple has gone from underdog geek favorite to the No. 2 company in the world (behind petro-behemoth Exxon Mobil), and the new big dog is facing some backlash for its control-freak ways and "highly closed" approach. Apple's stranglehold is giving app developers, publishers, and service providers fits, reports the Independent , but the question is whether growing discontent will spread to Apple's legions of devotees. "This is a brand that was built on being avant garde, obscure and underground and everybody has now got one," says one expert. More»

Why the Press Loves Apple, Google

Because they're the most interesting companies in tech, that's why

(NEWSER) - Pew Research recently unveiled a stunningly obvious study concluding that the tech company most written about—and fawned over—by the press was (drum roll, please) Apple. In second place? You guessed it, Google. About 26% of all tech articles are about those two juggernauts. But Farhad Manjoo of Slate isn’t apologizing. “Sure, I write about Apple and Google more than any other companies,” he says, “but I don’t think my coverage is unwarranted.” More»

NEWS FROM OUR PARTNERS

What is Newser?

Face it: there's too much news. At Newser, we choose the most thought-provoking and entertaining stories from hundreds of US and international sources and reduce them to a headline, picture, and two paragraphs. And we do it 24/7—you can come back morning, noon, night (and in between) for something new that matters. Read less, know more.

Learn more »

Partnering with: Slate

View Newser on the mobile website

Gates and Jobs Banter in Rare Face-to-Face