Technology legend and Apple co-founder Steve Wozniak has voiced his opinion on former rival Microsoft. The co-founder of Apple Computer (now Apple Inc.) claims that Microsoft has been ‘resting on its laurels’ over the past era of leadership.
In an interview with the BBC, Wozniak, who founded Apple with Steve Jobs in the late 1970s and was involved in the company’s first decade of business, noted that Apple’s long-term success had been driven by its ability to remain innovative.
The company, which is now the largest technology company in the world, remained able to innovate and make nimble decisions as it grew, Wozniak claims. Microsoft, a former rival for Apple in the 1990s, had not managed that dual focus in recent years.
Wozniak went on to explain that Microsoft’s most significant growth occurred under the leadership of Bill Gates, and that Microsoft’s period as chief executive was not as significant as that of his predecessor.
The legendary engineer also showed approval for current Apple CEO Tim Cook. The Apple CEO has been criticised for failing to live up to the innovative legacy of Steve Jobs – something that Wozniak believes is not as accurate as many people think.
‘Great advances for mankind don’t happen every year,’ the co-founder said, noting that Apple’s choice of Tim Cook as CEO was made primary because Steve Jobs was confident in his abilities and thought Cook shared his belief in what made Apple so great.
Mr Wozniak spoke about Apple’s ‘fight’ with Samsung for control of the smartphone market, and how the company was struggling to compete with the Korean company for valuable emerging markets.
Samsung has ‘distribution channels in so many markets of the world that Apple was not in,’ making it difficult for the Cupertino-based company to compete. Competing with Samsung will be a ‘worthy fight’ for Apple, according to the co-founder.
