The world according to Ellison

Of late, Oracle CEO Larry Ellison has spoken on issues throughout the industry, including everything from giving accounts of Digital's NC woes with Microsoft and Andy Grove's push for Unix, to saying he could have owned Apple. He's also embracing Linux through partnerships with four vendors and revealing his firm's Net focus through details on the upcoming Oracle 8i database.

Ellison calls Gates the PC pope update "Bill Gates...decides who's going to build a PC," Oracle's chief tells a press gathering, describing Unix and NC initiatives stymied by the software giant. Ellison: I could have owned Apple If not for some lawyerly advice, the Oracle CEO reveals today, he would be a proud owner of Apple Computer. Oracle's Internet embrace growing The scope of Oracle's Net gambit becomes clearer as more details of the company's flagship Oracle 8i database emerge. Oracle dives deeper into Linux Oracle announces that it is forming partnerships with four vendors who specialize in Linux operating systems.