Wozniac dismisses discord story
p2p news / p2pnet: The other Apple Steve, Steve Wozniak, is denying a story by Peter Nowak in Canada’s Globe & Mail saying he (Wozniak) isn’t overly keen on Apple’s move to Intel, and that iPod should be a spin-off from the main computer business.
"Wozniak responded in a statement posted today to TheMacintoshGuy.com’s Titanium user list," says Open for Business.
"The man who designed Apple’s first successful computer systems denied that a spin-off was an idea he supported. ‘I heartily deny saying this,’ Wozniak stated, ‘the strength of the iPod came from treating a music device as a "satellite" to a computer, and the intertwining of iTunes and the iPod made this possible. I did NOT say that the iPod division should be spun off and I feel used in that regard.’
"Wozniak responded similarly to the suggestion that he viewed Intel as the enemy. In response to reported comments on both Intel and Microsoft, he stated, ‘I myself am not known for taking the enemy approach to anything’.”
And on the Intel move, Open for Business has Wozniak saying, "I have consistently backed that decision. But virtually every issue ever is not black or white.”
Wozniak did, however, acknowledge he’d only made one "slightly negative" comment on the transition.
The pic is from Wozniak’s home page. It’s captioned, "Steve Wozniak and Steve Jobs in 2005 at Macworld Keynote in San Francisco, 1/11/05 (photo by Al Luckow)."
Also See:
denying a story – Apple: sleeping with the enemy, February 25, 2006
Open for Business – Wozniak Denies iPod Spin-Off Story, February 25, 2006
February 27th, 2006 at 6:16 am
Woz is probably telling the truth, his words where almost certainly mis-interpreted and his clarification is probably quite honest – here’s how I know.
I was at Moscone with my boss at the time, for the WWDC 2005 June keynote … we were all somewhat stunned with the Intel transition but nevertheless, quite excited to be at the World Wide Developers Conference … after the keynote, we where getting our composure back and on our way to get lunch across the street at the Metro(something) mall. Standing right there, at the crosswalk, was Woz … and just like any other human being, he was waiting for the light to change: so my boss at the time had the presence of mind to ask the big question:
“So, what do you think of the announcement on the Intel Transition?”
His reply – was, and this is almost word for word, because it was so short, and it was the first time I’d ever heard Woz say anything in person (so it ’s hard to forget)
“I think it’s great, they should have done it a long time ago”: not a hint of hesitation, he was quite positive – not ebullient mind you, but definitely, absolutely, and without a doubt … positive … quite.
Now, who knows, he maybe he had changed his mind since he’d said that for the Globe & Mail article, and then changed it back for the article above – or some sort of maneuver thing – but I seriously doubt it.
I suspect he was just misunderstood by a reporter looking a little too hard for a story. Woz probably spoke a little too in depth … as is his wont, being a former circuit board designer – and the reporter just didn’t sum things up correctly.
Charlie Macchia