Stand-in CEO Tim Cook attacks netbooks and issues legal threat to mobile rivals.
Apple's acting CEO Tim Cook used the firm's Q1 conference call to slam netbooks and issue a warning to other smartphone manufacturers that it will not hesitate to protect it IP if it feels their devices are too much like the iPhone, signalling a marked departure from Jobs' traditionally sedate calls.The vendor beat Wall Street estimates passing $10bn in revenue for the first time in its history, despite a backdrop of stalling PC sales.
However, Cook's outbursts were the highlight of the conference call, with the firm's chief operating officer blasting netbooks as 'inferior'.
He said that they offered "hardware that was much less powerful than what customers want," had "cramped keyboards and small displays," adding "we think the products are inferior."
He also addressed the issue of mobile phone vendors increasingly encroaching on Apple's hitherto perceived technological advantage.
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"We've said from the beginning that software is the key ingredient and we believe we're years ahead in software development... We like competition as much as they don't rip off our IP – and if they do, we're going to go after anyone who does," he added unprompted.
