Steve Jobs and Bill Gates Together at D5 Conference 2007

> Most regular people I know enjoy Facebook I enjoy Facebook. I just see opportunity for something next-generation. Also, I disagree with the notion that Facebook will be fine forever as the dominant player in social networking. They are better off with more competition. Gates and Jobs are quoted saying that Microsoft and Apple's existence helped each other become better companies [1] [2], and helped get more useful computers into people's homes and businesses faster. Gmail offers an export feature of its emails and contacts in formats that are importable by other tools. Facebook could do this for your friends list. They don't because they've never had competition that provides such a feature. When internet explorer became free for everyone, Netscape was forced to become free for everyone. > I'm curious about where you see the demand? Demand doesn't make or break a new product. There wasn't demand for cars or iPods before they came out. That's the best I can explain it. If you don't agree that's fine. [1] [this video] [2] [this video]

> Don't you think you're projecting? It's easy to romance competition, but I seriously doubt HTC hopes the OR finds it's feet. Sure, this is my opinion on the internet. I've no idea if the HTC and Facebook CEOs feel the same way about competition helping each other as Jobs [1] and Gates [2] said. But I imagine those at the top of massive organizations know a few things about being successful that might not be obvious to the rest of us. What Jobs and Gates said does ring true about their history. Jobs explicitly pointed out that there was a toxic anti-Microsoft attitude at Apple when he returned, and getting rid of that was critical to their success [1]. > Just as its easy for Gates and Jobs to reminisce after the PC boom after the dust has settled, I doubt they were so romantic during. That's also discussed in the Jobs/Gates interview. There were good and bad times, and historically speaking, they were not always so against each other. MS invested in Apple several times, and Apple took some risk partnering with them. Jobs pointed out Apple (really, himself) wasn't good at partnering with people, but Gates was, and he admired that [3]. [1] [this video] [2] [this video] [3] [this video]

Managers I respect would more accurately be described as saying "join the team or get out". My favorite managers are coordinators and facilitators. They listen to everyone's input, above and below them, and stear the ship towards success. They gauge input commensurate with the experience and knowledge of each person from whom it came. They make decisions with special sauce that can't really be boiled down to words. They're transparent, communicative, thoughtful, available and appreciative. If the manager has heavy experience and success, it may sound like he's saying "do this my way or get out". For example, Steve Jobs felt he had great taste, and many people felt he was a jerk. He obviously received input from a huge number of people and couldn't have made Apple successful alone. He discusses how Apple recovered in the late 90s at D5 in 2007 [0]. The NeXT brainstorms are also interesting to watch [1] [0] [this video] [1] [link]

It may be worth watching D5 again, but here is the bit [1] >We wont so good at partnering with people, where as Bill and Microsoft were really good at it. They learn how to partner with people really well. And I think if Apple had a little more of that in its DNA, it would have become more successful. And I dont think Apple learned that until few decades later. - Steve Jobs. I think Steve Jobs was way way better with partnering in his return from NeXT. From iPhone with Cingular to patent signing with Qualcomm partnership. He really knew which battle to fight and which to work with. Tim Cook seems to have a very bean counting view on almost everything. To the point of not valuing much partnership. Which may be a good thing in Supply Chain but not so good with other businesses. [1] [this video]