Don't you mean 1997? In '77 Billy Boy probly didn't have $350 laying
around...
Or did he?
> -----Original Message-----
> From: owner-extropians@extropy.org
> [mailto:owner-extropians@extropy.org]On Behalf Of Harvey Newstrom
> Sent: Thursday, January 25, 2001 11:29 AM
> To: extropians@extropy.org
> Subject: Re: Vegetarianism? Re: CODE: Programming project required
>
>
> At 11:19 AM -0500 1/25/01, Michael Lorrey wrote:
> >Apple is now 50% owned by M$
>
> This is an urban legend. In 1977, Bill Gates bought $150 million of
> stock and paid an estimated $200 million in cash to Apple to finally
> end infringement claims once and for all. The stock was only 7% of
> the company. It was specially limited to be non-voting stock,
> non-sellable for three years, and Apple has buy-back rights in 5
> years.
>
> Before the deal was made public, there was wild speculation that
> Microsoft was buying Apple. After the deal was made public, many
> people misinterpreted the cash and stock purchase as confirming the
> rumors. Even when corrections to these stories were reported in the
> media, many conspiracy theorists claimed that Microsoft did indeed
> buy Apple, but was keeping the purchase secret. The rumors were made
> worse by April Fools jokes and false news items that reported this
> story as fact. This is one of those Internet rumors that just won't
> die. Many people still believe that Microsoft bought Apple.
>
> Here are articles that debunk the claim that Microsoft bought
> part of Apple:
> <http://www.macteens.com/exclusives/jul00/reversal.html>
> <http://www.rc3.org/archive/1m2f/keynote.html>
> <http://www.mir.com.my/mpug/res1.htm>
>
> Hear are some in-passing references to this as a common false belief:
> <http://www.mactoday.com/july_aug/dep1.html>
> <http://www.digiserve.com/eescape/mac/testimonials/Doug-Carter.html>
> <http://msbc.simplenet.com/news/00_06_19.shtml>
> <http://www.azillionmonkeys.com/qed/apple.html>
>
> Here are some humorous claims that Microsoft bought Apple:
> <http://www.patsjokes.com/toptens/ms_buys_apple.html>
> <http://www.macmilitia.com/features/aprilfools.shtml>
> <http://www.ozemail.com.au/~lbrash/msjokes/joke5.html#1>
> --
> Harvey Newstrom <HarveyNewstrom.com>
>
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