I just missed Bill Gates

[Koodauw]

Bill Gates was a surprise guest lecturer at a Comp Science class at the UW yesterday. While I am not a comp sci guy, it would of been cool to sit in on a lecture like that. I feel bad for anyone who skipped class that day.

Link (http://badgerherald.com/news/2005/10/13/gates_serves_as_surp.php)

[clayj]

I've met him (and talked to him) twice. I've also got a Microsoft Mouse 2.0 (the "Dove Bar" mouse) with his signature on it, sealed up in a Ziploc bag. :)

[IJ Reilly]

In that case you need to reload. :eek:

[Sdashiki]

What can the mr im not a programmer I dont write code or really do anything Gates tell you about Computer Science other than what his company does for it?

[im_to_hyper]

Wait. The UW -- that would be Madison... since your location is the #1 party school?

And given who the speaker was, they probably didn't miss too much. Oh well, I don't mind him. Too bad he didn't give away free stuff to the class.

EDIT: Idiot Me. Click link. Badger Herald. Yup.

[Chaszmyr]

What can the mr im not a programmer I dont write code or really do anything Gates tell you about Computer Science other than what his company does for it?

Uhh.... Unlike Steve Jobs, Bill Gates can write code (though I am well aware he didn't write any of the code that he is most famous for).

[tristan]

Gates is trying to get more people into computer science. It's an uphill battle though - the tech job market has been lousy for years and doesn't seem to be getting much better.

[Abstract]

He's also stopping at University of Waterloo in Canada, I believe. One time in the past, he has said it was his favourite university to recruit from. :)

[IJ Reilly]

Uhh.... Unlike Steve Jobs, Bill Gates can write code (though I am well aware he didn't write any of the code that he is most famous for).

Maybe, but I'm quite certain that he hasn't written a line of actual code since the 1970s, and he wrote precious little then either. In any case I wouldn't use the ability to write computer code to be the mark of a real technologist. I think we all know it's really all about ideas. By that measure, Bill can't hold a candle to Steve as a technologist.

[Sdashiki]

Bill Gates is a businessman, and a damn good one. Proven, in capitalism, by him being the richest american (is he still?).

HE IS NOT a computer science, engineering etc person at all.

Why he, in his expertise, should be allowed to speak in front of tech nerds who know 100x more than him, is beyond me. Just because he OWNS M$ dont make him the authority on computer technologies.

[Fukui]

Uhh.... Unlike Steve Jobs, Bill Gates can write code (though I am well aware he didn't write any of the code that he is most famous for).
Who do you think wrote the original game breakout then?
Hint: Woz wrote the other hallf.

[iJon]

Bill Gates is a businessman, and a damn good one. Proven, in capitalism, by him being the richest american (is he still?).

HE IS NOT a computer science, engineering etc person at all.

Why he, in his expertise, should be allowed to speak in front of tech nerds who know 100x more than him, is beyond me. Just because he OWNS M$ dont make him the authority on computer technologies.
Cause people will listen to Bill Gates instead of a nerd who knows 100x then him. I know which one I would want to listen too ;)

jon

[Sdashiki]

Fine listen to that nasaly voice of his, listen with such intenseness that your ears bleed, eyes pop out and your mind explodes.

Id bring earplugs just so I wouldnt have to bear it.

[clayj]

Who do you think wrote the original game breakout then?
Hint: Woz wrote the other hallf.Jobs may have DESIGNED Breakout, but he had nothing to do with coding it... and neither did Woz (http://www.atariage.com/software_page.html?SoftwareID=889).

[IJ Reilly]

Bill Gates is a businessman, and a damn good one. Proven, in capitalism, by him being the richest american (is he still?).

HE IS NOT a computer science, engineering etc person at all.

Why he, in his expertise, should be allowed to speak in front of tech nerds who know 100x more than him, is beyond me. Just because he OWNS M$ dont make him the authority on computer technologies.

I'd argue that he's not much of a technologist, either. Have you ever (tried!) to read "The Road Ahead"?

He might be a good businessman, but so are lots of other people. They just aren't as lucky as Bill Gates has been.

[Lord Blackadder]

I'd argue that he's not much of a technologist, either. Have you ever (tried!) to read "The Road Ahead"?

He might be a good businessman, but so are lots of other people. They just aren't as lucky as Bill Gates has been.

Gates made some savvy business moves at a critical juncture in the develoment of the home computer as a mainstream appliance. He had enough technical knowledge to guess that the computer could be big and enough business knowledge to believe he could cash in on it.

Right place, right time. Nothing more or less. Most people don't get those kinds of opportunities.

You could probably say much the same for Jobs, though he is more of an idea person and charismatic figure than a businessman.

[watcher2001]

Next time may I suggest.

USMC M40A3

Caliber 7.62x51mm NATO (.308 Win)
Length 44.25" (1124mm)
Weight 16.5 lbs (7.5 kg)
Barrel Schneider Match Grade SS #7
Barrel Length 24 inches (610mm)
Trigger Weight 3 to 5 pounds
Magazine Capacity 5 rounds
Sight Unertl 10x with Mil-Dots and BDC
Stock McMillan Tactical A4
Max Effective Range 1000 yards (915 meters) :)

[clayj]

Next time may I suggest.

:)You know, that's really not funny or cute.

[watcher2001]

You know, that's really not funny or cute.
Oh come on, It was a little funny. And yes, it was meant as a joke, just like the "reload" comment from earlier in the thread.

[clayj]

Oh come on, It was a little funny. And yes, it was meant as a joke, just like the "reload" comment from earlier in the thread.Neither of them was funny or cute. I wonder what would happen if someone came in here and made a "joke" threat against Steve Jobs.

[watcher2001]

Neither of them was funny or cute. I wonder what would happen if someone came in here and made a "joke" threat against Steve Jobs.

If it was obviously a joke then I would take it in that context. Sorry that I have such a sick twisted mind, I did not mean to offend.

[anonymous161]

Neither of them was funny or cute. I wonder what would happen if someone came in here and made a "joke" threat against Steve Jobs.

I'd tell them to lead him a little to compensate for the "reality distortion field"

[Lord Blackadder]

I'd tell them to lead him a little to compensate for the "reality distortion field"

Ah, then you'd need a .50BMG rifle with DU armor-piercing ammo, otherwise the rounds would just bounce off the reality distortion field. Or Steve would channel his RDF and send the bullets flying towards Bill Gates.

[Jon'sLightBulbs]

Neither of them was funny or cute. I wonder what would happen if someone came in here and made a "joke" threat against Steve Jobs.

Lighten up a little clay. That goes for this whole board!

[anonymous161]

Ah, then you'd need a .50BMG rifle with DU armor-piercing ammo, otherwise the rounds would just bounce off the reality distortion field. Or Steve would channel his RDF and send the bullets flying towards Bill Gates.

I often anticipate the day when BushCo gets wind of this "reality distortion field"
and begins planning an invasion of Cupertino to "protect our freedom"

[Lord Blackadder]

I often anticipate the day when BushCo gets wind of this "reality distortion field"
and begins planning an invasion of Cupertino to "protect our freedom"

At which point Steve will install Nanosaur II on Bush II's Powerbook and the Chief Executive will be lost in Dino-land for the remainder of his term.

[ibook30]

I often anticipate the day when BushCo gets wind of this "reality distortion field"
and begins planning an invasion of Cupertino to "protect our freedom"

Our freedom from reality distortion ???
Isn't reality distortion the Bush administrations main tool - like their flux capacitor ?
:D

[IJ Reilly]

Gates made some savvy business moves at a critical juncture in the develoment of the home computer as a mainstream appliance. He had enough technical knowledge to guess that the computer could be big and enough business knowledge to believe he could cash in on it.

Right place, right time. Nothing more or less. Most people don't get those kinds of opportunities.

You could probably say much the same for Jobs, though he is more of an idea person and charismatic figure than a businessman.

Not sure what those savvy business moves were exactly. He had nothing to do with the creation of the PC or even more importantly, PC clones. He basically had a monopoly fall into his lap.

[IJ Reilly]

Oh come on, It was a little funny. And yes, it was meant as a joke, just like the "reload" comment from earlier in the thread.

I honestly thought somebody would take offense to my reload remark and was surprised when nobody did.

[OnceUGoMac]

I think it would've been neat to hear him speak to a class. It would be interesting.

[anonymous161]

I honestly thought somebody would take offense to my reload remark and was surprised when nobody did.
I took offense that you posted it before I could. Does that count?

[OnceUGoMac]

Not sure what those savvy business moves were exactly. He had nothing to do with the creation of the PC or even more importantly, PC clones. He basically had a monopoly fall into his lap.

No one has a monopoly fall into thier laps. That's a ridiculous comment. He did make very tactful and savvy business deals. Tricking IBM into believeing MS had DOS when they didn't, licensing DOS, etc. Most people would have just sold it to IBM, but he saw the bigger picture.

[Lord Blackadder]

Not sure what those savvy business moves were exactly. He had nothing to do with the creation of the PC or even more importantly, PC clones. He basically had a monopoly fall into his lap.

Any business manuvers that make you the world's richest man is savvy in my book. So whatever he did to get where he is was savvy. Savvy. Now I said it too much. Savvy. Kemosabe. You sabe?

[im_to_hyper]

I often anticipate the day when BushCo gets wind of this "reality distortion field"
and begins planning an invasion of Cupertino to "protect our freedom"

No political comment, but :D :D :D :D

Waste of smilies: number one sign of a useless post. Acht. Oh well.

Jobs/Clinton '08, anyone? "Putting the country under our RDF"

Press Release: "The US Government reccomends everyone purchase Apple computers to protect against the rising instances of hijackings of Windows AI (Version 7.0, SP10) and the inherent increase in circumstances of computers taking over the house in which they are installed"

[anonymous161]

Any business manuvers that make you the world's richest man is savvy in my book. So whatever he did to get where he is was savvy. Savvy. Now I said it too much. Savvy. Kemosabe. You sabe?

Oh stop before you make me sabe.

[IJ Reilly]

No one has a monopoly fall into thier laps. That's a ridiculous comment. He did make very tactful and savvy business deals. Tricking IBM into believeing MS had DOS when they didn't, licensing DOS, etc. Most people would have just sold it to IBM, but he saw the bigger picture.

He didn't "trick" IBM. I don't know where you got that idea. I also don't know where you get the idea about this "bigger picture" that he supposed saw, since that "bigger picture" didn't even exist, and it never would have existed but for the efforts of Compaq. In fact in some ways, Compaq is more responsible for Bill billions than Bill is.

[IJ Reilly]

I took offense that you posted it before I could. Does that count?

Sure, but in a good way. ;)

[OnceUGoMac]

He didn't "trick" IBM. I don't know where you got that idea. I also don't know where you get the idea about this "bigger picture" that he supposed saw, since that "bigger picture" didn't even exist, and it never would have existed but for the efforts of Compaq. In fact in some ways, Compaq is more responsible for Bill billions than Bill is.

You know, you always seem the need to argue with every point even if it's fact.

Fact #1: Bill Gates met with IBM and offered them a Disk Operating System (DOS).

Fact #2: The problem is, MS didn't have DOS. He lied.

Fact #3: Per usual business practice, IBM offered to buy DOS from MS (remember, MS didn't have it). However, Bill convinced IBM to license it from MS, because "all the profits come from hardware, anyways".

If you don't call that savvy and a mighty good trick, then I don't know what you call it. So, that's where I get the idea. Also, the bigger picture is licensing software. Had Bill just sold it to IBM, MS wouldn't be the giant that it is.

I guess you going to attempt to argue that Wikipedia is incorrect. Go ahead, try me.link (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bill_gates)
And another link for you to argue about (http://inventors.about.com/library/weekly/aa033099.htm)

[Josh396]

If you don't call that savvy and a mighty good trick, then I don't know what you call it. So, that's where I get the idea. Also, the bigger picture is licensing software. Had Bill just sold it to IBM, MS wouldn't be the giant that it is.
Savvy is good way to describe it, as well as lucky. Now I'm not trying to disagree with you because that was a brilliant move by Gates but it took a lot of luck for IBM to respond the way they did also.

[OnceUGoMac]

Savvy is good way to describe it, as well as lucky. Now I'm not trying to disagree with you because that was a brilliant move by Gates but it took a lot of luck for IBM to respond the way they did also.

You're right. Luck was on his side. As was Apple when HP turned down Wozniak's computer. It's a matter of exploiting that luck as well.

[Mac_Freak]

Judging from the title of this thread one might think that you missed Bill Gates while trying to hit him with pie. :D

[angelneo]

No one has a monopoly fall into thier laps. That's a ridiculous comment. He did make very tactful and savvy business deals. Tricking IBM into believeing MS had DOS when they didn't, licensing DOS, etc. Most people would have just sold it to IBM, but he saw the bigger picture.
I believe opportunity and luck do play a important part. You may be right that he did make quite a number of tactful decisions but I think too many people are elevating his position way too high.

[IJ Reilly]

You know, you always seem the need to argue with every point even if it's fact.

Fact #1: Bill Gates met with IBM and offered them a Disk Operating System (DOS).

Fact #2: The problem is, MS didn't have DOS. He lied.

Fact #3: Per usual business practice, IBM offered to buy DOS from MS (remember, MS didn't have it). However, Bill convinced IBM to license it from MS, because "all the profits come from hardware, anyways".

If you don't call that savvy and a mighty good trick, then I don't know what you call it. So, that's where I get the idea. Also, the bigger picture is licensing software. Had Bill just sold it to IBM, MS wouldn't be the giant that it is.

I guess you going to attempt to argue that Wikipedia is incorrect. Go ahead, try me.link (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bill_gates)
And another link for you to argue about (http://inventors.about.com/library/weekly/aa033099.htm)

You need only read the very articles you cited to see how incorrect this is. Gates never said he "had DOS." In fact IBM didn't want a thing called DOS (which didn't even exist), but CP/M. IBM didn't so much license DOS from Microsoft as Microsoft retained the right to sell it independently. Nobody had any reason to think this was very important -- Bill Gates included -- because at that time nobody else but IBM could build a machine to run it. Cloning came afterwards, and not because IBM wanted it (very much to the contrary), or because Bill Gates willed it into existence. It happened because Compaq figured out how to do it.

I have all the important books on Gates and Microsoft on my bookshelf. Trust me, I've read them.

[clayj]

Let's not forget the part where Gates, realizing he could not create an OS quickly enough for IBM, sent them to Gary Kildall of Digital Research. DR had CP/M already... but Kildall blew off IBM*. By the time IBM went BACK to Gates, he'd bought DOS from Tim Paterson.

* Or whatever. The end result was that DR did not do business with IBM.

[IJ Reilly]

Savvy is good way to describe it, as well as lucky. Now I'm not trying to disagree with you because that was a brilliant move by Gates but it took a lot of luck for IBM to respond the way they did also.

Gates has never been one to let an opportunity slip through his fingers. He was like that from the very start, which is why he had the nerve to tell IBM that his company could produce an OS for their new computer when they'd never done anything like it before. It could not have hurt that he had family connections with IBM, that probably helped convince them that he could be trusted with the work.

Without a doubt, Gates has good business instincts. But the fact is, a lot of people have good business instincts -- and they aren't all multibillionaires. I can cite several major instances in the Microsoft story where it could all have come crashing down, but didn't for reasons pretty much out of the company's control. Luck was their constant companion during the early years. And in the end, it's always better to be lucky than to be good.

[Fukui]

Jobs may have DESIGNED Breakout, but he had nothing to do with coding it... and neither did Woz (http://www.atariage.com/software_page.html?SoftwareID=889).
Well, anyways, the story I heard was he couldn't program it correctly, and had to have woz bail him out...

Like anything, there's different versions...

[IJ Reilly]

Let's not forget the part where Gates, realizing he could not create an OS quickly enough for IBM, sent them to Gary Kildall of Digital Research. DR had CP/M already... but Kildall blew off IBM*. By the time IBM went BACK to Gates, he'd bought DOS from Tim Paterson.

* Or whatever. The end result was that DR did not do business with IBM.

From the start, IBM envisioned their PC running CP/M, but they needed a 16-bit version, which Digital Research did not have yet and didn't feel they could produce in the short time IBM wanted it. After talks between IBM and DR broke down, IBM went back to Microsoft. Gates wasn't even sure they should commit to the project until they'd secured QDOS (a 16-bit CP/M clone) from Seattle Computer. QDOS was not PC-DOS with a different name, as some think, but buying it saved them a lot of time in developing PC-DOS.

[risc]

Jobs may have DESIGNED Breakout, but he had nothing to do with coding it... and neither did Woz (http://www.atariage.com/software_page.html?SoftwareID=889).

quoting: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Breakout

Breakout, a discrete logic (non-microprocessor) game, was developed by Apple Computer co-founder Steve Wozniak, while he was employed by Hewlett-Packard.

Wozniak's friend Steve Jobs worked at Atari, and he enlisted Wozniak to design the game, which he did in four days. Jobs took credit for the work and reportedly earned US$5000, but paid Wozniak only $350, which he said was half.

I've seen docos where Nolan Bushnell talks about Steve Jobs and Steve Wozniak and Breakout. Your link is to the Atari 2600 while Woz made the coin op version.

[Palad1]

Maybe, but I'm quite certain that he hasn't written a line of actual code since the 1970s, and he wrote precious little then either. In any case I wouldn't use the ability to write computer code to be the mark of a real technologist. I think we all know it's really all about ideas. By that measure, Bill can't hold a candle to Steve as a technologist.

He wrote some of the best basic interpreters of the 80's...

Plus his last contribution to the programming world seems to be bannana.bas, a personnal favorite of mine ;p

[IJ Reilly]

He wrote some of the best basic interpreters of the 80's...

Plus his last contribution to the programming world seems to be bannana.bas, a personnal favorite of mine ;p

Not familiar with this. What is it?

Microsoft did produce a number of interpreters during the '70s and '80s, but the last one Bill Gates actually had a had in coding (AFAIK) was the BASIC interpreter for the Altair (the first one they did), along with Paul Allen, who some think did most of the heavy lifting.

[Koodauw]

IJ,

You seemed to be pretty well read on the Bill Gates Topic.

I heard once that Bill Gates Mother worked for IBM (Was on the board or something) and that was one of the reasons IBM even looked to him for a software solution.

Any truth to this?

[clayj]

Not familiar with this. What is it?I believe he's referring to the QuickBasic game in which two King Kong-esque gorillas hurl bananas at each other across a cityscape... each player enters an angle and a velocity to hurl the banana, and it flies through the air (affected by wind and the buildings). Hit the other gorilla, and you win the game. Actually pretty fun at the time...

[crap freakboy]

If it was obviously a joke then I would take it in that context. Sorry that I have such a sick twisted mind, I did not mean to offend.

Didn't offend me, but then again I prefer 'dark' comedy.
I'm also aware the world isnt a soft and fluffy wonderland where we all love and cuddle.

[solvs]

To semi-quote Jeff Ross: I ran into Bill Gates the other day. Then I backed up, and ran over him again. I miss him sometimes.

I'd never really run over Billy Boy (sad that I have to make that distinction), but he has pissed me off on a regular occasion. And my dislike of him has little to do with my liking of Apple. But I would rather meet Steve. Would be funny to ask Bill why his products suck so much, though I doubt I'd have the nerve. His goons would probably "take me outside for a good talking too".

Buy him out boys!

[IJ Reilly]

IJ,

You seemed to be pretty well read on the Bill Gates Topic.

I heard once that Bill Gates Mother worked for IBM (Was on the board or something) and that was one of the reasons IBM even looked to him for a software solution.

Any truth to this?

Close. Mary Gates served on the national board of directors of United Way with IBM CEO John Opel. Nobody involved with this episode (including Opel) has ever said whether the connection favored Microsoft, but I think it suffices to say that "who you know" has always been a valuable commodity in business if not in life.

[reberto]

Actually, yes it was. :D

You know, that's really not funny or cute.

[Jay42]

Oh come on, It was a little funny. And yes, it was meant as a joke, just like the "reload" comment from earlier in the thread.

I laughed.

And BTW, I really think that Gates could tell you more about the current state of technology that someone better at writing code. Even if Gates' lecture doesn't help you with your assignment that night, it would still be a unique experience; there are plenty of regular programmers to talk to.

[w_parietti22]

Bill Gates was a surprise guest lecturer at a Comp Science class at the UW yesterday. While I am not a comp sci guy, it would of been cool to sit in on a lecture like that. I feel bad for anyone who skipped class that day.

Link (http://badgerherald.com/news/2005/10/13/gates_serves_as_surp.php)

Do you go to the UW?

My house is like 10-20minutes away from there.

[IJ Reilly]

I laughed.

And BTW, I really think that Gates could tell you more about the current state of technology that someone better at writing code. Even if Gates' lecture doesn't help you with your assignment that night, it would still be a unique experience; there are plenty of regular programmers to talk to.

FWIW, my point wasn't that Bill Gates isn't an important technologist because he doesn't write code. I'm saying he isn't an important technologist because he lacks any original vision.

[Koodauw]

Do you go to the UW?

My house is like 10-20minutes away from there.

Well if by UW you mean university of Wisconsin, then yes I do.