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The Vultures Multiply (2/5/98)
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Yesterday, it was Sun who was ready to pounce on Netscape's weakening form and swallow it whole. Today, the circle of potential predators has grown-- and rumor has it that Netscape itself is eager to sell. Beyond Sun, Netscape is reportedly talking to Oracle, IBM, and AOL about a full or partial sellout. Inter@ctive Week Online's got coverage based on the Wall Street Journal's story.
If a buyout happens, it won't be for a while, said the WSJ, but that didn't stop Netscape's stock from climbing still higher today, shooting up almost 14% as everyone wants a piece of the takeover action. (Interestingly, Netscape's stock only fell about 13% when the Microsoft-troubled company posted its recent higher-than-expected quarterly loss and layoff plans. Seems like if you ever want to give your company's stock a little kick, all you need to do is start some buyout rumors and stand back.)
Many of AtAT's viewers have voiced concern over the potential consequences to Mac users if Netscape is indeed bought by Sun. Quite a few of you were not thrilled with the prospect, given that Sun's support of the Mac platform has been lackluster, particularly in the area of Java development kits; that attitude could certainly spill over and make Netscape browsers even less Mac-friendly. On the other hand, Sun and Netscape are both deadly enemies of Microsoft, because of Java and Internet Explorer, respectively; if they were more closely aligned via a buyout, there's a chance of some real fur flying if Sunscape decided to release a kickass free browser with excellent Java support. Would there be a Mac version? Well, isn't that always the question?
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SceneLink (425)
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 | | The above scene was taken from the 2/5/98 episode: February 5, 1998: The other half of the Apple legend looks sadly back upon what might have been, and considers where his old partner will take the company. Meanwhile, the Department of Justice sharpens its knives in preparation for a full-scale attack on the Redmond Giant, and Netscape is seen holding a sign that reads "Will Sell Out For Food..."
Other scenes from that episode: 423: The OTHER Steve Speaks (2/5/98) The modern legend of "two guys in a garage" is part of the Apple mystique, but while Steve Jobs has returned very forcefully to the Apple spotlight, the "other guy" isn't quite so visibly involved in the Apple soap opera any more... 424: Microsoft: Charge THIS (2/5/98) Lessee, there's the Sun/Java lawsuit, the antitrust investigation from eleven states, the inquiry by the European Competition Commissioner, the threat of possible antitrust action by the government of Japan, a slew of smaller legal skirmishes, and of course the big brouhaha with the Department of Justice...
Or view the entire episode as originally broadcast... | |  |
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