Apple, Inc. CEO Steve Jobs and Microsoft Corp. Chairman Bill Gates, the seminal figures in the development of the personal computer, will make a rare joint appearance at The Wall Street Journal’s “D: All Things Digital” conference this year. The two men will jointly discuss the history and future of the digital revolution in an unrehearsed, unscripted, onstage conversation on May 30 with D co-producers Walt Mossberg and Kara Swisher.
Both executives have made multiple individual appearances at the conference, which will celebrate its fifth anniversary this year, and is known as D5. But this will be their first joint session at D, and a highly unusual event.
In addition to participating in the joint session with Mr. Gates, Mr. Jobs will appear on his own in a separate segment at D5 to discuss the latest developments at Apple, including new ventures such as the iPhone and Apple TV. Microsoft CEO Steve Ballmer will also appear at the conference in his own segment, to discuss Windows, Office, the Xbox, Zune, and other topics.
The D5 conference will also feature an impressive roster of other leaders in technology and media. Confirmed speakers include Google CEO Eric Schmidt; CBS President Les Moonves; Cisco CEO John Chambers; film director George Lucas; online pioneer Steve Case; Time Inc. CEO Ann Moore; News Corp. President Peter Chernin; Palm founder Jeff Hawkins; and Steve Chen and Chad Hurley of YouTube.
Like past editions of the conference, D5 will be an all-interview event, without canned speeches. The conference, which is sold out, will take place May 29-31 near San Diego, California. For more information, see http://d.wsj.com/
To see past D videos, and to sign up to be notified when the all-new D Web site launches, users can go to http://allthingsd.com
D5 is sponsored by Cisco, Hewlett-Packard, Houlihan Lokey, IDA Ireland, Kodak, NYSE Group, and Qualcomm.
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I didn’t know Steve and Bill smoked rare joints together. How nice.
The comparisons between Jobs and Gates to follow this conference will be interesting, to say the least.
Once again-
“iPhone, Bitch!”
I thought it was dangerous to mix matter and anti-matter….
Jobs will appear at the seminar on “How to do it right”. Ballmer will follow in the seminar “How to do it wrong”.
This rare appearance together happened last year at the same conference. As a matter of fact they sat right next to each other and talked it up as old buddies all throughout the evening! I don’t know if the writer of this knew this or not, but it reads as if they’ve not talked in public in years.
“Steve Ballmer will also appear at the conference in his own segment, to discuss Windows, Office, the Xbox, Zune, and other topics.”
I didn’t know Zune was still considered a topic. I was sure it was just a footnote these days.
Seminal: Highly influential in an original way; constituting or providing a basis for further development.
As in, Ballmer will be at the seminal D conference to discuss all the squirting going on in Redmond.
Ah, the old “rare joint”, that would not be surprising considering San Fran has some of the best weed on the planet there.
Perhaps Steve is softening Billy up…..
Steve “Bill, you hold the smoke in your lungs for a while, then let it out slowly”….. cough cough cough….. ssmmooooottthh
Bill “Yea, I think I’m feeling something… ooo, I feel giddy”.
Steve “yea, now put this little piece of paper under your tongue and suck on it”
Bill “who’s that little guy on there?”
Steve “that’s Mr. Natural, a, uh, I mean Woz, , yea that’s Woz, Woz loves to have fun”
Bill “I love fun” slurp slurp, slobber slobber
All I’m thinking right now is, “Oh God…Oh God…Oh God…Oh God!”
That’s probably what Bill will be thinking afterwards too.
The Ultimate “PC Guy vs. Mac Guy” ad! I can’t wait to see Steve bury Bill!
This should be interesting, especially after Mr. Gate’s rants recently…
Wouldn’t it be sweet if they pulled a Mike Tyson and just started brawling on stage?!
right on “reality check”
would love to see Jobs introduce his self “Hi i’m a Mac”
Do you think Gates would go along with, “and I’m a PC”
would be priceless
While the prospective musings of His Steveness and Billy-boy (together) might
make for some great fodder for MDN and the like… I think a more interesting
story, .. might be having Cisco CEO John Chambers and Steve Jobs in the same room …
considering the flack they are giving over the name “iPhone” …
Just a thought ..
For those attending the Ballmer “segment” if you are sitting in the first 5 rows you will need a dropcloth. Ballmer is known to squirt, spit, and sweat. If he Zune’s I would just recommend leaving.
Unbeleivably the MDN Magic Word is
develop
They should play clips from “Pirates of Silicon Valley”. That would be a great prelude to the history part of the discussion.
I agree TowerTone
and must add that “PC’s are for fart-huffers and Macs get you laid”
there ya go
Steve Jobs discusses Apple’s vision and answers questions.
Bill Gates provides hints of Microsoft’s “really cool” products in development and obfuscates.
Having Steve Ballmer as your CEO is like having your boyfriend take a dump on your chest.
Steve Ballmer… to discuss Windows, Office, the Xbox, Zune, and other topics.
YAWN!
ZZZZZZ!
Maybe SJ can ask Bill to explain his lies on the “Today” show.
I’m hoping Steve will walk on stage and deck Bill with a quick left-right combo.
Hey, I can dream!
The “I’m a Mac, and I’m a P.C.” ad comes to life?!
Vista Security Agent – “Steve Jobs is whipping your ass live and in public, Bill. Cancel or Allow?”
BG – “Allow…”
Vista Security Agent – “Bill, Windows Vista is a chrome-plated turd, Cancel or Allow?”
BG – “Allow…”
Vista Security Agent – “Steve’s presentation looks better on Keynote, Bill. Cancel or Allow?”
BG – “CANCEL!”
Vista Security Agent – “I am unable to process your request, Bill, as Keynote is an iWork application. Steve Ballmer is eyeing up a chair, Cancel or Allow?”
BG – “Allow…”
Vista Security Agent – “One moment, please…DRM violation!! Steve Ballmer’s chair is in HD, automatically downscaling video output…setting tilt bits…your video card has been disabled because Vista thinks you are pirating. Cancel or Allow?”
BG – “Um, allow?”
I’m imagining Gates talking about the Zune while Jobs trys desperately not to crack up.