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The Macintosh Affair

Xerox PARC, you probably never heard of it. These were the guys that invented the first PC like we know it today, the Xerox Alto. It utilised a mouse, something that had never been seen before, a GUI (Graphic User Interface), computers before this were just things you typed commands on. But Xerox didn't commercially release the Alto, they weren't interested in it. A waste of innovation. That was until some Apple employees finally convinced Steve Jobs to go check it out and he was completely blown away by the GUI. Jobs sold 100,000 shares of Apple to Xerox in exchange for his entire programming team to get full demos, Xerox management none the wiser.

Now, Microsoft was already working with Apple to develop 3rd party software for the Macintosh, Steve Jobs' pride and joy at the time. They had already worked together previously on other Apple computers, Jobs meeting Bill Gates for the first time in the late 70s. He made a deal with Microsoft that they couldn't release a mouse-moused based software until a whole year after the release of the Macintosh; autumn of 1983. Steve Jobs and Bill Gates' relationship through the development of the Macintosh was intense, to say the least. Often Gates would go to Cupertino to watch Macintosh demos. One day Jobs was his typical cocky self. “I don't need you, but I might let you be involved” he's quoted as saying to Gates. He would spout how the Mac would change the world and overwork his employees like mad. Then the next, day he would be completely paranoid about the project. “Oh shit, is this thing going to sell, oh God, I have to raise the price, I’m sorry I did that to you, and my team is a bunch of idiots” he is also quoted as saying to Gates.

Apple software wizard, Andy Hertzfeld, noticed his contact at Microsoft was far too many detailed questions about how the Macintosh operating system worked and so he told Jobs that he believed Microsoft would clone the Mac, stealing from Apple. The Macintosh got pushed back though all the way until 1984 and Bill Gates in November of 1983 made the surprise announcement at COMDEX that Microsoft would be releasing Windows, their very own GUI along with a mouse based word processor called Microsoft Word. Imagine the betrayal, the anger on Jobs’ part. It was more than a lovers quarrel, it was complete betrayal. His artistic vision trampled on through a relationship built on lies.

“Get Gates down here immediately,” Jobs ordered Mike Boich, another Apple employee. And Gates got down there - alone. “You’re ripping us off!” he shouted at Gates, surrounded by 10 other Apple employees. “I trusted you, and now you’re stealing from us!”

“Well, Steve, I think there’s more than one way of looking at it. I think it’s more like we both had this rich neighbor named Xerox and I broke into his house to steal the TV set and found out that you had already stolen it.” He replied coolly. Steve sued Bill but Microsoft got away with it. The Macintosh sold poorly, leading to Steve being fired from Apple by John Sculley. Bill and Steve's break-up changed his life.

Steve Jobs: Wait, please... I-I still make computers...