Yes, RFI published it as a "Unconfirmed Rumor" from a source of unknown provenance, but there were potential grains of truth in it. Some of the reactions RFI received over this is that it "didn't make sense" as Mac owners wouldn't install or use Win98 on their Macs, etc. Ad infinitum, ad nauseam.
But, they missed a "key point" intimated in that rumor report. Things relating to previous Recon RFI published in: RFI, RFI's Special Reports, and even on Apple Recon.
The unconfirmed rumor from a source of unknown provenance related that Microsoft was going to "release a BETA within 1 - 2 years" of Win98 for Mac. They weren't referring to Office98 for Mac, or the latest Internet Explorer for Mac that will be part of Win98.
Now, "what" is Apple "releasing" within this general time frame? Bingo! Rhapsody: Premiere and Unified. Could it be that this source of unknown provenance was only relating that part of the memo they got to see? Or that they didn't have full knowledge of what it implied? Possibly and probably.
Let's play "What If". Apple and Microsoft cut a deal that was announced at Macworld Expo Boston in August. Said deal gave Microsoft the "right" to access Apple's technology. All that remained were the details and the price. Which means that Microsoft "got access" to Rhapsody / Yellow Box. Could it be that this unconfirmed rumor report is signaling that Microsoft has decided which way to jump vis-a-vis Rhapsody and Yellow Box? Maybe. As one well-informed Macologist opined: "Win2000 is Rhapsody. That's the joke around here..."
Could it also mean that the purported Win98 for Mac that was reported by the source of unknown provenance might be based on the Mach kernel or would be Yellow Box compatible? Probably.
Listen. Macworld Expo San Francisco (Jan 98) is "only" 2 months away. Take a gander at any possible association / linkage between Apple and Microsoft that is apparent at Macworld Expo San Francisco. After doing that, then all of the skeptics can report back what their perceptions about the possibility of this unconfirmed rumor report from a source of unknown provenance is. Methinks that you might come away from Macworld Expo San Francisco a potential convert to the possibility.
If you've read all of the Special Reports that RFI has sent out from Macworld Expo on, you'd already be persuaded as to its possibility. Which is why RFI ran it even though it was an unconfirmed rumor from a source of unknown provenance.
However, RFI is willing to wait on subsequent events to see where things might lead. Our initial report of this unconfirmed rumor was to basically give you a heads up as to the potential possibilities and not get blind sided later on.
And as for the charges that we were "hard up for something to report/post": Twaddle. If we were, we could always dip into the plethora of press releases we receive everyday or initiate a "Shareware of The Week", etc. feature. Come on.