Coinciding with the Vista launch, Apple had placed a well done campaign to disparage Windows and showcase the Mac. Bill Gates, uncharacteristically, reacted by calling Steve Jobs a liar. And while I couldn't help but think that it was about Microsoft standing up for itself, it was highly unusual for any company to leave such an attack unanswered for so long.

I can think of other companies in Silicon Valley, Oracle comes to mind, whose response to a similar barrage would have resulted in a massive legal response. Larry Ellison, Oracle's chief executive officer, who has absolutely no sense of humor in this department and were Jobs attacking his company, we'd have plenty of interesting news surrounding what likely would be a one-sided fight and Apple would likely be on the losing end.

But I wonder: Would a less demure Microsoft be better or worse? I believe that companies need to stand up for their employees and products. If they don't, they will bleed customers and good employees over time and risk their future to competitors.

This isn't a consensus opinion, Andrew Orlowski in his piece in the Register argues well on the risks of a dominant company taking shots at the little guy. I would typically agree with him, except Apple commands a great deal of mind share already and the company is dominant in a highly visible market that Microsoft has failed to penetrate - the portable media player segment.

Personally, I think it is part of a CEO's job to stand up for their company and protect its image and the integrity of its products and employees. That is something you can truly admire Oracle's CEO for, even though he scares me half to death. A friend of mine uses the phrase "they need to grow a pair" for companies who he thinks do not stand up for themselves, and I have to say, that seems to apply to Microsoft more than many of us realize.

Microsoft's employees, partners, and a surprising number of customers probably were elated by Bill's comments. Many probably wondered, as I do, why it was Microsoft's Chairman rather than its CEO that was taking a stand to protect his company, his employees, and his product. I am absolutely convinced that, in fact, it would help Microsoft's image a lot of they would actually do more of this.

So, is Bill Gates right and does Apple lie?

Let's check.

Read on the next page: Apple goes overboard