February 4, 1997: Apple Buys NeXT

by Chris Seibold Feb 04, 2011

Take a large software company and tell it to create a new OS from scratch and you are in serious trouble. At this point most people will think of the constant delays of Windows Vista, but in reality it was Apple who couldn't create a new operating system no matter how much money was thrown at the project.

Copland, the code name for the all-new operating system, was the penultimate example of vaporware. Apple would promise one time frame and then fail to meet it time and time again. Out of desperation Apple tried to put a positive spin on Copland by announcing that the new system would ship piecemeal. Unfortunately, one tenth of something nonexistent is still zero, so Apple was forced to look outside for a new operating system.

The winner of the sweepstakes for Apple's next OS was, surprisingly, NeXT. The reasons given for the choice were varied; some maintained it was because Microsoft refused to develop for an OS based on Be computer technology, while others opined it was an obvious attempt to get Steve Jobs to rejoin Apple. Speculation aside, it was February 4, 1997 when Apple consummated the deal to purchase NeXT Computers.

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Comments

  • Obviously you are forgetting the handful of OSs that Microsoft failed to deliver.

    Cairo?

    It must be fun writing articles out of historical context.

    mitchell_pgh had this to say on Feb 04, 2007 Posts: 18

  • Who cares? This is called Apple Matters, it’s a story about Apple buying Next. You don’t actually have to connect every single chuffing story to Microsoft.

    It wasn’t written out of historical contect, Cairo isn’t relevant to the story.

    Now stop being silly and go and annoy someone else.

    hitchhiker had this to say on Feb 04, 2007 Posts: 48

  • I agree that Microsoft has been more guilty of vaporware than Apple has.  In actuality, Steve Jobs had begun consulting with Apple before this purchase.  The purchase of NeXT was the best thing that could have happened.  I had used NeXTStep/OpenStep while working for AT&T;and, I loved it.  I was very happy when I found out about this purchase.  In a way, NeXT took over Apple instead of the other way around.

    Howie had this to say on Feb 04, 2009 Posts: 2

  • People will not be bored for this products because they are innovative. If you want to launch a product, make sure it is innovative. The key for these products’ success is because they try to be innovative.    Architect Services, architectural services, interior design architect

    Jenkel had this to say on Apr 03, 2011 Posts: 3
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