Author: Matt

“It’s not a case of making our life simpler or saving money. The goal of sharing code is providing people with a consistent user experience.”

Microsoft president Steve Ballmer, bemoaning his company’s fragmented coding efforts, ZDNN, 22 February 1999

“One of the unfortunate things about open source is that it overshadowed the Free Software Foundation’s efforts.”

Bruce Perens, explaining how a deep, abiding horror at the thought of anyone making money from programming led to his resignation from the board of the Open Source Initiative, News.com, 19 February 1999

“We named them after fruit because when you see them in person you really want to lick ’em.”

Apple iCEO Steve Jobs, salivating over his company’s multicolored iMacs at Macworld Tokyo, MacWeek.com, 17 February 1999

“We’re not aware of any fight. We are aware of a difference in shareholder rights.”

Tom Guilefoile, a Lycos finance executive, pretending not to comment on a shareholder dispute brewing in its recent Wired Digital acquisition, Salon Magazine, 16 February 1999

“It is a lot deeper than just my refund. The issue is as important as the peace issues of the Vietnam era. The difference is that people aren’t dying.”

Marilyn Davis, head of eVote, on the deep political meaning of her participation in a protest over Microsoft’s Windows refund policy, San Jose Mercury News, 16 February 1999