Microsoft is in the middle of a lawsuit that is forcing them to expose some rather embarrassing internal communiques. Here is the story from AllThingsD that provides some additional links. Below is one particularly interesting discussion Bill Gates has regarding iTunes.

—– Original Message —–
From: Bill Gates
Sent: Wed 4/30/2003 10:46 PM
To: Amir Majidimehr; Dave Fester
Cc: Will Poole; Christopher Payne; Yusuf Mehdi; David Cole; Hank Vigil

Subject: Apple’s Jobs again.., and time to have a great Windows download service…

Steve Jobs ability to focus in on a few things that count, get people who get user interface right and market things as revolutionary are amazing things. This time somehow he has applied his talents in getting a better Licensing deal than anyone else has gotten for music.

This is very strange to me. The music companies own operations offer a service that is truly unfriendly to the user and has been reviewed that way consistently. Somehow they decide to give Apple the ability to do something pretty good.

I remember discussing EMusic and us saying that model was better than subscription because you would know what you are getting. With the subscription who can promise you that the cool new stuff you want (or old stuff) will be there?

I am not saying this strangeness means we messed up – at least if we did so did Real and Pressplay and Musicnet and basically everyone else.

Now that Jobs has done it we need to move fast to get something where the UI and Rights are as good. I am not sure whether we should do this through one of these JVs or not. I am not sure what the problems are. However I think we need some plan to prove that even though Jobs has us a bit flat footed again we move quick and both match and do stuff better. I’m sure people have a lot of thoughts on this. If the plan is clear no meeting is needed. I want to make sure we are coordinated between Windows DMD, MSN and other groups.

…. Original Message ….
From: Jim Allchin
Sent: Wednesday, April 30, 2003 4:58 PM
To: Amir Majidimehr; Chris Jones (WINDOWS); Will Poole; David Cole

Subject: Apple’s music store

1. How did they get the music companies to go along?
2. We were smoked.

jim

Steve Ballmer’s idiocy continues. Instead of concentrating on his own company, he sees fit to trash talk another.

In this article at Electronista, he talks about the “tide turning” in the Mac v. PC war. Here’s my point by point counter:

1. Mac sales dropped 12% last quarter -> This is meaningless. Apple’s biggest growth is routinely after new product announcements.
2. The economy is driving people to cheaper computers -> Maybe so. However, the cheaper the computer, the lower the margins. These companies won’t be able to offer these prices for long.
3. People won’t pay for a logo -> WTF! As if Macs are merely just a logo. THE defining characteristic of a Mac is it’s operating system. Mac OS X beats the crap out of Windows. Ask any Vista user.

This coming from a man that is so insecure in his companies products, he won’t let his family own Apple products.

Bless your heart, Steve.

I know many think I have a tendency toward Apple worship, but check this guy out. He loved Microsoft so much, he got 3 Zune related tattoos. For the non-gadget inclined, the Zune is Microsoft’s failed attempt at an iPod competitor. The tattoo guy is said to be unhappy with MS’s commitment to the Zune, and is considering using the “competitor’s” product. 

Maybe I should get an Apple tattoo. I wonder what my mom would think.