Netgear CEO: Steve Jobs' death will open up Apple

Lo quotes below the belt?Computing News By Patrick Goss January 31st | Tell us what you think [ 8 comments ]

Tweet Netgear - quotes will cause storm

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The CEO of Netgear has apparently told journalists that Apple will need to abandon its walled garden approach if Steve Jobs 'goes away'.

Steve Jobs has again taken a leave of absence due to ill-health, but Patrick Lo – the Netgear CEO – has courted controversy by apparently stating his belief that the only way Apple will abandon its principles and open up will be if Jobs dies.

"It's critical for Apple to make a decision how to go forward," Lo is quoted as saying by Gizmodo Australia.

As long as he lives...

"And I think as long as Steve Jobs lives, there's no way they're going to open it up," he continued. "But once Steve Jobs goes away, then Apple probably would have to make a very strategic decision to open up their platform.

"I personally think that if they open up their platform and let more people jump on it, they're going to dominate.

"We've seen this movie played many times. A classic example is in networking: Years ago it was dominated by proprietary networking.

"You've got IBM's SNA, you've got digital's DECNET, and then you've got Europeans pushing for OXI. Guess what?

"Finally TCP/IP just won, hands down. It might not be the most efficient, it might not be the most elegant, but it's the most open."

Worse still

Interestingly, the Sydney Morning Herald's quote from the same event reads: "Once Steve Jobs goes away, which is probably not far away, then Apple will have to make a strategic decision on whether to open up the platform."

Musing about what will happen in the event of Jobs' death may not seem particularly seemly, especially at round tables, but Lo's statement does at least predict a positive outcome for Apple.

But not so much for Jobs, of course.

From Sydney Morning Herald, Gizmodo.au

Tags: Netgear, Steve Jobs, Patrick Lo, AppleTweetreddit!StumbleuponComment on this article  Your comments (8) Click to add a new commentbrokenthinker

February 1st

8. Patrick (lo) indeed.

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duskrider

January 31st

7. Yeah, because Apple's walled garden approach has proven to be so very unsuccessful. I mean, really, making such a puny amount last quarter, having only one tablet out there with such minuscule market share, such crappy phone sales... yeah, future looks bleak with this walled garden approach. I'm sure it's going nowhere.

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holybinch

January 31st

6. nice place to work?

try again Weezer...

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weezer

January 31st

5. I think most of Apple will wonder who will guide them when Jobs ceases to be Apple's figurehead. The company might be a nicer place to work at, but I bet it's not as successful. I'd definitely be wondering about the size of my next bonus...

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slaguru

January 31st

4. @tentimes

What a stupid thing to say.

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tentimes

January 31st

3. Frankly I think most of Apple will sigh with relief after his final death rattle. I can't stand the guy and would be glad to see the back of him, even if that means he goes down to his permanent bath of fire.

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optimaximal

January 31st

2. Yeah, this is horrible case of TR reading into what was said.

Lo was definitely referring to Steve leaving the company - publicly wishing the death on anyone, let along the head of Apple, would be a PR disaster.

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mlezz666

January 31st

1. Love the way you get your news. Are you sure he meant his death ?

Most tech CEOs are out of the business by Steve Jobs age.

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