Nobody would deny that Apple's attempt to create a new operating system (OS) was brave.
It is also brave to admit it is unable to do it alone and that Copland, the system it had under development, is a failure.
Apple has shown another kind of bravery by buying NeXT Software, founded by Steve Jobs, the man Apple fired 11 years ago and who is recognised as the father of modern personal computing.
Apple announced last month that it will buy NeXT for US$400 million and hire Mr Jobs to help revamp its Macintosh software. The ailing PC-maker will use NeXT technology for the new version of the Macintosh operating system, due out next year.
None of this will mean a thing if Apple cannot get developers to write software for the new OS.
One of Apple's most important allies is Metrowerks, a firm that rose to great heights when it brought out the first C/C++ compilers for the PowerPC chips a few years ago.