Portrait of Steve Jobs
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Steve Jobs on Microsoft

Vocal critic of taste (strong)

TL;DR

Steve Jobs consistently criticized Microsoft, viewing them as lacking taste and originality in their product designs.

Key Points

  • He famously stated that the main problem with Microsoft was that they possessed absolutely no taste in their product design.

  • In 1997, Jobs negotiated a $150 million investment from Microsoft into Apple to secure continued software development and end lawsuits.

  • Jobs accused Microsoft's co-founder of shamelessly ripping off other people's ideas, though the two companies' foundational GUI work shared roots at Xerox PARC.

Summary

Steve Jobs held a strong, consistently negative opinion of Microsoft, primarily centered on what he perceived as a fundamental lack of aesthetic sensibility and originality in their products. The most widely cited criticism from Jobs was that Microsoft "just have no taste," elaborating that this was not a minor point but a major failing in that they did not think of original ideas and failed to bring culture into their products. This assessment stood in stark contrast to his own design philosophy, which emphasized starting with the customer experience and working backward to the technology, a standard he felt Microsoft often inverted by pushing technology first.

While Jobs's rivalry with the company's co-founder was public, his specific jabs at the corporation focused on product execution and originality, such as the comment about taste emerging from a newly discovered 1995 interview. A period of pragmatic collaboration occurred in 1997 when Jobs returned to Apple, negotiating an investment and a cross-licensing deal that included Microsoft continuing to develop Office for the Mac, which provided a crucial financial lifeline to Apple then.

Key Quotes

The only problem with Microsoft is they just have no taste. They have absolutely no taste. And I don't mean that in a small way, I mean that in a big way, in the sense that they don't think of original ideas, and they don't bring much culture into their products.

You've got to start with the customer experience and work backwards to the technology. You can't start with the technology and try to figure out where you're gonna try to sell it.

Frequently Asked Questions

Steve Jobs was an outspoken critic of Microsoft, viewing the company as fundamentally lacking in design sense and originality. His position was largely negative, often focusing on their products being devoid of 'taste' and genuine innovation.

Yes, the relationship involved significant rivalry but also a crucial moment of collaboration. When Jobs returned to Apple in 1997, he secured a $150 million investment from Microsoft that helped save the company from financial trouble.

The primary criticism Jobs leveled against Microsoft was their alleged lack of taste, meaning they did not develop original ideas or infuse culture into their products. He believed they started with technology rather than user needs.