If this is true, it could be a tactical move on Apple's part. If you think about it, they really aren't going to get Jack from Mot in the way of money. Even if they win the suit, is Chris Galvin going to find the money under the couch cushions in the break room? And even if he could pony up, why give an endangered partner an extra push? Plunging Mot (and/or SPS) further into debt won't get them chips any faster, or free them from the need to sole-source their CPUs.
In this case, I think Mot dropped the G5 project as triage: Mot SPS looked at what they had to do to stay afloat, and thought it better to spare the expense now and weather the suit later. A lawsuit can be an effective way of telling a waffling or unenthusiastic partner to PAY ATTENTION, and to gain leverage in the subsequent negotiations. So, this is the sequence I'm imagining:
1) The 970-based Macs are unveiled.
2) Apple sues Mot for breach of contract, damages, etc., etc. Both parties know that Mot has no chance in a trial.
3) Behind the scenes, Steve will offer Mot a choice: You restart and complete the G5, and we get one hell of a sweet deal on it, as well as a license to have it fabbed by whomever we please if you can't do it yourself, or: You turn over the designs, any relevant patents, and (perhaps) the engineers involved in the project, and we'll call it even (give or take).
The only cards Mot will be able to play are: Apple's current marriage to the G4, and Apple's presumed reluctance to go from depending on Mot to depending on IBM. But, really, between the suit and threat of insolvency they won't have much room to maneuver. And I don't know Chris Galvin, but I do know that I would not want to be on the business end of Steve's temper any more or any longer than was absolutely necessary.
If Apple did get the G5 or its plans/engineers from Moto, what would it go to? I guess I need to be 'debriefed' on the whole vapor-ware-G5 --- was it going to be a completely different architecture or just another 600-series variant? Would it become a consumer-grade chip?
The lawsuit would be great and aptly-timed. 970 Macs out, great new music service (and division ), great new OS on the way. Then they call Moto's bluff.
Until we see a 970, mot still provides the fastest mac CPU's. When you think about it, IBM has been as negligent as mot has been incompetent, don't cheer too loudly at a one supplier scenario, however magical that suppliers wares may seem today, things can change quickly. Listen to Amorph.
So as long as the jury is made up of die hard Mac fanatics Apple will win.
The problem with these lawsuits is that they drag on for years until no one can even remember why the companies are sueing each other and then they settle for about the same thing as in the begining. the only people who profit are lawers.
For years the rumors have gone around that Motorola slowed the G4 development as payback for Steve cancelling the clones. I find it hard to believe that Motorola would give up hundreds of millions in revenue just for spite. On the other hand, I have heard stories supporting this that supposedly came from friends of relatives of the Motorola founders. Only the true insiders really know. If Moto was guilty then one can only say - payback's a bitch.
It may not accomplish much but it would sure feel good.
Comments
Karma-wise, bring it on!
Screed
Originally posted by sCreeD
Lawsuits are costly and generate bad PR regardless of the outcome.
Not really.
http://billyblob.com/animation_f/karma.html
sue them
sack the lot of 'em
take over their plants and use them to build kick ass apple gear with.
wipe the name motorola off the face of the earth forever.
a great example...IBM
If this is true, it could be a tactical move on Apple's part. If you think about it, they really aren't going to get Jack from Mot in the way of money. Even if they win the suit, is Chris Galvin going to find the money under the couch cushions in the break room? And even if he could pony up, why give an endangered partner an extra push? Plunging Mot (and/or SPS) further into debt won't get them chips any faster, or free them from the need to sole-source their CPUs.
In this case, I think Mot dropped the G5 project as triage: Mot SPS looked at what they had to do to stay afloat, and thought it better to spare the expense now and weather the suit later. A lawsuit can be an effective way of telling a waffling or unenthusiastic partner to PAY ATTENTION, and to gain leverage in the subsequent negotiations. So, this is the sequence I'm imagining:
1) The 970-based Macs are unveiled.
2) Apple sues Mot for breach of contract, damages, etc., etc. Both parties know that Mot has no chance in a trial.
3) Behind the scenes, Steve will offer Mot a choice: You restart and complete the G5, and we get one hell of a sweet deal on it, as well as a license to have it fabbed by whomever we please if you can't do it yourself, or: You turn over the designs, any relevant patents, and (perhaps) the engineers involved in the project, and we'll call it even (give or take).
The only cards Mot will be able to play are: Apple's current marriage to the G4, and Apple's presumed reluctance to go from depending on Mot to depending on IBM. But, really, between the suit and threat of insolvency they won't have much room to maneuver. And I don't know Chris Galvin, but I do know that I would not want to be on the business end of Steve's temper any more or any longer than was absolutely necessary.
The lawsuit would be great and aptly-timed. 970 Macs out, great new music service (and division
Eggggcellent...
The problem with these lawsuits is that they drag on for years until no one can even remember why the companies are sueing each other and then they settle for about the same thing as in the begining. the only people who profit are lawers.
It may not accomplish much but it would sure feel good.
View at your own risk...may contain material not suitable for young people, and sane people.
Originally posted by kim kap sol
Send in the Criton! THE CRITON!!!
View at your own risk...may contain material not suitable for young people, and sane people.