Slashdot Comments We Liked

I bet I can see why the talks broke down. Licensing Java 1.1.1 to Microsoft for integration into Windows/IE worked out real well for Sun.

Oh, to be a fly in that Adobe/Microsoft boardroom....

Adobe:

So, we're glad you want to license the PDF spec from us.

Microsoft:

Yeah, how 'bout that. Say, we thought it would value-enhance PDF to add the Win32DisplayDraw method to our implementation.

Adobe:

Umm, adding in Windows-specific bits would make the Portable Document Format kinda non-Portable, doncha think?

Microsoft:

Sure, but right now, the vast majority of your users use Windows, do they not?

Adobe:

Uh, yeeeah....

Microsoft

And you want them to have the richest eXPerience they can with your PDF format and tools, yes?

Adobe:

Yeeeaah...

Microsoft:

So why shouldn't we give them Win32PaintControl to take advantage of the capabilities of 99% of your userbase?

Adobe:

Because it's the Portable Document Format! Hey, wasn't "Win32PaintControl" "Win32DisplayDraw" just a second ago?

Microsoft:

[waves hand dismissively] Details, details. We thought that the whole Portable thing was funny, since the portability only matters to 0.001% of your customers.

We also thought you might want to take advantage of the new encryption capabilities for protecting your customers' valuable data with the upcoming Vista Next Generation Secure Computing Base.

Adobe:

PORTABLE! How is "Vista-only" more portable than "Windows-only"?!

Microsoft:

We understand. You see, we have a passion for your business. We can see that these minor modifications to the PDF standard require quite a bit of time and effort to help upgrade your customers' eXPerience and open to them new Vistas in computing through our partnership. [gets out checkbook]. How much time and effort do you think you'll need?

Adobe:

[eyes checkbook hungrily] Fi... Hey. Aren't you working on a PDF competitor for this new "Vista in computing"?

Microsoft:

Now you're just being difficult. For a talking point in our Office 2007 feature laundry list, you're sure annoying us. I think we'd better settle this in the market. We've tried to be reasonable.

Adobe:

Fine with me. I'm outta here! Enough of this "Windows users are the only users" crapola. [gets up and heads out]

Microsoft:

What was that?! You say you'll sue us for anti-trust, because you won't license PDF to us! Greedy backstabbers!

Adobe:

[from a ways off, without looking back] portable!

Microsoft:

[rolls eyes, sighs] Always with the zealots....