Gates: we’ll continue to challenge iTunes, iPod
Posted by Dennis Sellers 
Feb 11, 2006 at 2:29pm
Microsoft and its hardware partners will continue to develop new digital media devices aimed at challenging the dominance of Apple Computer’s ubiquitous iPod music player, Chairman Bill Gates said on Friday.
“I don’t think what’s out on the market today is the final answer,” Gates said, speaking to a group of minority students (as reported by CNET. “Between us and our partners, you can expect some pretty hot products coming out over the next few years.”
Gates praised Apple’s iTunes Music Store and said the software giant was talking with hardware partners to create media devices that can be less expensive and easier to connect and can handle pictures and video better. Gates said the market share for digital music players compatible with Microsoft software is around 20 percent, a figure that is lower than he would like, CNET added.
Jared Ferguson Says:
Gates can talk all he wants about what they *plan* to do, but the fact is, Apple is already *doing* it. M$ will continually be playing catch-up on this one. They’ve long-since missed the boat.
Posted on February 12, 2006
ziggybop Says:
the software giant was talking with hardware partners to create media devices that can be less expensive
Apple already has the advantage of large-quantity discounts on flash and microdrives. How does Billy think his partners can beat those prices? Flash in a condom with reservoir control?
Posted on February 12, 2006
ProEducator Says:
Mac, the Moron Accessible Computer? I think not. Mac and Apple have provided this ex-Gates consumer with finer productivity tools and multimedia capabilities for the classroom than I gained in 15 years of the MS world. Whether Gates introduces some “pretty hot” stuff is irrelevant. Apple has taken a bite out of him. He now longs for the seeds to replenish his own stock. However, my students enjoy my Mac-integrated teaching to the point of making the switch from M$ to Mac themselves. Sorry Bill.
Posted on February 12, 2006
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Contributor
Dennis Sellers
Dennis has been a newspaper editor/reporter (seven years) and teacher (seven years). He has over 4,000 magazine, newspaper and online articles to his credit. He has also covered the Mac and tech industries for over a decade for such online publications as MacCentral, MacMinute and now MacsimumNews.
Rainy Day Says:
Billy Boy: The times, they are a changin. M$ no longer dominates the world. In ten years people will be saying: MicroWhat?
Posted on February 11, 2006