Mikey CampbellIn a report released on Friday, sources close to the situation revealed that Microsoft CEO Steve Ballmer allegedly threatened legal action against Apple if the company went through with the reported hiring away of data center chief Kevin Timmons, according to Business Insider.
Timmons was unhappy working in Redmond and wanted badly to return to California, reportedly asking Apple for a job by offering a plan to lower the operating cost of its existing data centers. He was asked to stay by his bosses and co-workers at Microsoft, but "had an attitude" when Ballmer finally talked with him about the situation, said a Business Insider source.
Although Apple liked the pitch and agreed to hire the data guru, a rumored call from Ballmer threatening legal action ended Timmons' would-be deal.
It was reported earlier this year that Timmons had been hired by Apple in April and was thought to have been tapped to oversee Apple's iCloud at the company's North Carolina data center. But when the service rolled out on Oct. 12 there was no sign that Timmons had worked on the project. Five days later it was revealed that Timmons took a job as the new CTO of CyrusOne, an enterprise data center solutions provider owned by Cincinnati Bell.
Meanwhile, Apple appears to have hired hired Scott Noteboom, Yahoo's former vice president of data center engineering. According to his LinkedIn profile, Noteboom has been listed as a "Distinguished Gentleman" at Apple as of October.
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36 Comments
Apple doesn't really need gurus. They need revolutionist.
Apple doesn't really need gurus. They need revolutionist.
Guru is more in keeping with Steve's Buddhist philosophies. Revolution has negative connotations - evolution is more palatable and more consistent with Apples measured, well thought out, and steady improvement methodology. Building upon success usually works better than tearing down and replacing, just look at HP or Netflix as a current example of what not to do.
Guru is more in keeping with Steve's Buddhist philosophies. Revolution has negative connotations - evolution is more palatable and more consistent with Apples measured, well thought out, and steady improvement methodology. Building upon success usually works better than tearing down and replacing, just look at HP or Netflix as a current example of what not to do.
So at the celebrating Steve event they called him a revolutionist and a rebel and other things. I guess they were wrong as well?
So at the celebrating Steve event they called him a revolutionist and a rebel and other things. I guess they were wrong as well?
No those were his character flaws. Some might call them attributes but I think once he returned to Apple he understood that radical has to be tempered with practical to be successful.
Come on guys. Let's not over think this! There is no question that Steve was a revolutionary, and led the company to develop revolutionary products. But he was also a guru in leading the company, and building and mentoring the team.
Balmer on the other hand, monkey-boy. Spoiled little brat that throws temper tantrums with a slash and burn mentality.