A lot of good comments about BG being a darkworker.
Just a few thoughts about Apple/Steve Jobs and Microsoft/Bill Gates (I think these two are contributing mostly to the companies mindset).
Apple, while Jobs was gone, went more open for other hardware companies. There had been talks about letting other companies sell their own hardware with licensed MacOS - when Jobs got back he stopped that, closed MacOS again, made sure it would only run on their own hardware (control).
Microsoft is open for every hardware company. Since there had been a lot of stability problems with windows due to poorly written device drivers for cheap hardware, they added testing centers, certificates to help windows stability (since the users always blamed microsoft when windows crashed due to a poorly written device drivers) (contributing?).
I don't know how it is today, when I tried to create programs for MacOS you had to buy expensive compilers, had to register with Apple, got strict guidelines what you were allowed to do and how, Apple being able to revoke your license anytime. Apple always tried to control the contributors market (control).
Microsoft gives away compilers for free, allows everyone to contribute. They are trying to get higher quality by offering certifications, but you are not forced to do them (yet - contributing).
So, as I see, Apple is working with control and fear: they control their hardware, and the software market, using the fear that apple might revoke your developers license if you do something they don't agree to.
Microsoft invites people to contribute giving information and help for free.
I'm really very excited what will happen to Microsoft when Bill Gates is really gone for good!
As with Apple, we already had a glimpse where they will go when Steve Jobs was gone.
Microsoft even went through hoops to allow as much backward compatability as possible, so you can run ancient programs as long as they dont compromise system stability (but are starting to block more stuff since system stability is suffering through this).
By the way, microsoft is developing programs for the MacOS platform. And I think Microsoft even is a shareholder of Apple, but I don't know how much they own.
Just a few thoughts, though. Sometimes I got the feeling people are blinded a bit much by their emotions about MS/Apple.
Love you!
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