Log In | Register
Looking at Seattle and Silicon Valley from outside world, we look pretty much the same - after all, we are both bunch of software geeks. But as a bad case of sibling rivalry, we are very different.
When I moved to Silicon Valley from New York, I quickly learned that I am supposed to use Peet's Coffee for a meeting place with Silicon Valley geeks, instead of Starbucks. I also have to use Firefox instead of Internet Explorer, because otherwise people think I am an amateur if they see IE on my presentation.
It is sure that we are very close to each other business-wise, and that is why shuttles fly quite frequently between San Francisco and Seattle. When I arrive in Seattle, the airport feels quiet somehow. People dress neatly over there with V-neck sweaters (I never see them here in the Valley), and the tone of the town is basically dark brown. Redmond is in a thick woods. Then I come back to San Francisco, see people's crazy dress code, psychedelic colors and palm trees, and I finally feel home.
Although struggling, Yahoo is still an icon in this crazy, free-minded Silicon Valley. It is not only that Valley people are jealous to Microsoft's past success, or that they are still furious about Netscape demise. They see MS "militant" culture is VERY different from their style. Oh, and by the way, MS people don't think themselves as "militant" or "500-lbs. gorilla" anymore, though.
My friend at Yahoo was telling me, before this MS-Yahoo case arose, "now that all the hoopla of media and entertainment is over, with Jerry Young's return to helm, Yahoo engineers are relieved to be back to their Net geek roots." Sounds like Terry Semel's "Hollywood Style" did not fit to their body.
Now, if MS is successful acquiring Yahoo, as many people predict, they have to face another different fashion style. I guess, realistically speaking, there is not much they can do otherwise, in the face of mighty Google. Well, so this time, Yahoo people have to try the new V-neck sweater style. I wonder how many engineers there would take it - and that is probably the biggest challenge for our sibling in Seattle/Redmond.
