Speaking at a European Technology Forum event in London on Thursday, McNealy claimed that his firm's open approach to computing -- its Solaris operating system source code was made available in 1999 -- has given it a clear advantage over Microsoft, which has traditionally kept tight controls over its intellectual property.
"Our interfaces are open, so when there is a system problem we get help from the industry, but Microsoft flunked Sharing 101. I think that was a third year Harvard course," he said.
McNealy's jibe relates to the fact that Microsoft's billionaire chairman and chief software architect famously dropped out of Harvard to set up Microsoft with his childhood friend Paul Allen.
He joked that a lot of Microsoft's success could be put down to the fact that both Gates and Microsoft chief executive Steve Ballmer "got a head start" on their competitors by dropping out of university early. Ballmer spent a year at Stanford before joining the Redmond start-up.
"I was in Harvard when Bill quit early, I was in Stanford business school when Ballmer quit early. They had a head start on the rest of the industry," he said.
Despite a recent run of disappointing results and questions over the company's future -- as increasing numbers of potential customers opt to use Linux and Microsoft rather than Sun's Solaris server platform -- McNealy was typically bullish about the future.
"A lot of customers ask us, 'are you going to make it?' and I say 'how much cash have you got in the bank? Is that all? That's so sad.'"
The Sun chief executive -- whose children Maverick, Dakota, Colt and Scout are named after cars -- said that the IT industry is needlessly complex and should resemble the automotive or aerospace industries where customers simply buy a complete product rather than building it themselves.
He claimed that companies should be buying "gift-wrapped" software and server capacity from service providers rather than opting to build their own systems. "Most companies are going to stop buying components. If you want to fly you don't buy your own aeroplane. Do you know what operating system is in your car?" said McNealy.
Sun has traditionally aimed its high-end servers running on Solaris and its UltraSPARC III processors at the telecoms and Internet industries, but has recently seen this market shrink considerably.
Despite claiming that his company had done more than any other vendor to support Linux, McNealy, referring to the continuing lawsuit between SCO and IBM, warned that Linux users would have little protection if SCO was successful.
"IBM won't indemnify you for Red Hat software. This is a big issue," he said.
European Technology Forum is owned by ZDNet UK's parent company CNET Networks UK Ltd.
Talkback
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Ballmer and Gates are quitters, says Sun boss
Andrew Donoghue
ZDNet UK
August 01, 2003, 11:15 BST
This is SOOO!! wrong it is unbelievably stupid. College is a forum for people that want to know something and don't. Bill Gates and Steve Ballmer KNEW enough to create the best products for the industry, initiate a higher standard in communication and make it easy enough for a child to do. Linux and Unix have their benefits but has anyone just tested the ease of use with Linux and Unix with technologically challenged end users? I am running 2 versions of Linux. Neither of which I would recommend to my Father-in-Law because Linux is JUST NOT THAT USER FRIENDLY. Get off of this petty argument, kick out the people that are keeping it going and work together. The people who are keeping this argument going are just creating a smoke screen to cover for their own inefficiencies. Recommendation for SCO and the Linux companies, "USE 7 YEAR OLD KIDS TO TEST YOUR PRODUCTS". If they can run it then you will have a competitive enough OS to go up against Microsoft.
K-I-S-S
What a load of rubbish! Talk about sour grapes, so they dropped out of college to get a head start? They just made the best of a good opportunity, thats business and about time mcNealy realised it!
What arrogance and elitism.
Contrary to McNealy's snide arrogance, history is littlered with very successful people who have contributed great things to mankind who had not had one let alone two university degrees.
I think he's sensitive to the rather obvious fact that even with his eduction, he's running a second-rate company that's barely staying above water while two 'univerdity drop outs' have managed to create the world's most successful and wealthy software company.
Let's not forget that two other university drop-outs created one of the most influential computer hardware companies: Apple.
Creative people often find it difficult enduring the mechanical, rote learning style many universities inflict on undergraduate students and decide to leave to pursue their interests on their own. That almost always takes more courage and work than kowtowing to the curriculae and waltzing out with a meanless average degree knowing very little about real world problems yet thinking that they'll have an easier time getting a higher paying job.
Cheers
I dont agree fully with Jeff! Ahh common, you talking rubbish & nonsence by calling Sun a second grade company! You were insane on those remarks....
Well, coming to education part; It their decision & timing! One way, Gates/Ballmer did extremely well butttt at what cost? Unfair Trade practises? Monopoly? Law Suits? And the recent Linux conspiracy?
If you compare the Sun, its solid OS when compared to any other Enterprise OS! Sun is UNIX No:1, infact THE best Enterprise OS. I think Jess forgot MS too was in love with Solais when its own Hotmail porting experiment bombed on Windows NT platform....
This is NOT just the begining! Its started against MS with the DOJ, now MS would be attacked in the far greater market, its the EU. And, from the third side, which would be more or less like a death blow, its Linux!
Jeff, control your emotions, don't type nonsense!
FROM: A wise old man.
I used to work for Sun and always thought McNealy a big mouth, talking about 'slapping competitors in the chops' and the like. He is also a 'quitter, a 'product' quitter. Ask Scott about the demise of the following, each touted as ‘strategic’ in their day:
 JOE
 NEO
 Enterprise Manager
 Domain Manager
 Site Manager
 Job Scheduler
 Java Management API (JMAPI)
 Javastations 1 and 2
 A7000 disk subsystem after the Encore acquisition
 Scott McNealy’s ‘auction’ plans
 MAJC
 The Genesys architecture, touted 1998 on and never delivered.
 Sun is a product company and anyone who relies on services, like Unisys, ICL and so on, is a 'goner'. (Scott c. 1999). What is the only part of Sun revenue that is increasing?
 Test: Enter your own similar input here!
Mr. Scott Nealy, this is way "below the belt" approach and really not expected from you "a well educated CEO".
"Respect others", sir