Bill Gates Transition/Retirement

[Gasu E.]

As anyone who's read biographical information about him would know, he's all about winning. Always has been, and presumably, always will be.

Good. Then I hope he beats the crap out of malaria, typhoid, and AIDS.

 

[gwangung]

There's a misconception that "Bill Gates is worth $100 Billion" means that he actually has 100 billion dollars. They are not the same thing at all. What "Bill Gates is worth $100 Billion" really means is that he owns a zillion MS shares, and a single MS share is worth 1 zillionth os $100 Billion. This distinction is important for two reasons: first, because if Bill dumped his stock on the market all at once it wouldn't be worth close to $100 Billion; and second, because all that stock gives him control of MS, something which is extremely important to him-- it makes him Chairman and provides his identity.

That said, there's a tremendous amount of Gates' wealth that's under the radar; a few years back, he diversified and split off some of his wealth into a private investment business. That's now a substantial portion of his wealth.

Gates became a billionaire in 1987, the youngest person to achieve this in history. I can provide a precise source for this information, if you think you need it. Multiple billions came very soon afterwards.

By the way, my records indicate his net worth was in the $1.5 to $1.9 billion range in 1990 and 1991 (and rocketed up after that, of course).

 

[IJ Reilly]

And PCs today would cost $10K. Through commodization of system products, Gates drove almost all of the profit out of the hands of PC makers. He took a sliver for himself (and another slice went to Intel), but most ended up in the pockets of the customer.

Sorry, but this is nonsense. Only in the PC market do people seem to cling to the idea that competition increases prices. It would have been far better for consumers overall if this "commodization" of the PC hardware market had not occurred, as this would have allowed for more innovation and therefore more competition from alternatives, and more competition and innovation is always better than less competition and innovation -- in any market, PCs are no exception. The problem Apple had and has selling the Mac into this world of artificial hardware "standards" is a perfect case-in-point that we should all understand.

 

[slackersonly]

hating bill gates for windows is like hating

ford for the model T
einstein for the nuclear bomb
dean smith for the 4 corners offense

they all took someones basic product, improved it a little, and then others made their products better and worse.

thank you bill for revolutionizing the computer industry
thank you for the good and bad that comes with industry standards
thank you for making me love my mac every day

 

[IJ Reilly]

Those many were not fundraisers. Fundraisers, who deal with the rich and megarich, generally know when people are in the careers and building their businesses, they don't give that much, because they are focussed on their businesses. This was what Gates was doing.

His gifts at that time were about 0.5 to 1% of his net worth at that time. Generally, when fundraisers ask for major gifts, it's anywhere from 1 to 5% of a person's net worth (and of course, what they get is often not they asked for). What he was giving was not a major gift/stretch gift, but was not particularly noteworthy for being below his level.

Your expectations for Gates is all out of line with the behavior of every other major donor in the world. Feel free to criticize him for that, but I don't think it's particularly fair, nor were your description of his behavior particularly accurate.

Perhaps, but the point I've raised is that he made a very large fortune at a very early age, and so the questions about his generosity with that fortune became a question to him at an early age. Unfair? If you insist. But it didn't help that his company at the same time adopted a practice of making donations which would aid their own bottom line, and also pursued illegal business practices. A lot of this stuck to Gates. And why should it not?

 

[gwangung]

Perhaps, but the point I've raised is that he made a very large fortune at a very early age, and so the questions about his generosity with that fortune became a question to him at an early age. Unfair? If you insist. But it didn't help that his company at the same time adopted a practice of making donations which would aid their own bottom line, and also pursued illegal business practices. A lot of this stuck to Gates. And why should it not?

No reason why it shouldn't. I respect his wife, Melinda, more than I do him.

However, I want to criticize him from a fair position. I happen to think a lot of Microsoft practices were unfair and unethical. But I can't criticize their software donations, because that's what ALL the other software companies were doing at the time (Adobe, Aldus, Apple, etc.). And I want to criticize Gates for what he specifically does, and not just because of all the zeroes he has in his bank account--that's acting like lawyers, going after someone only because he/she has deep pockets.

 

[SimoneDice]

That's

Let us not forget that Gates is perhaps the greatest philanthropist the world has ever known. Whether or not you like MS, you have to admit his money is saving thousands of lives. I wish him luck.

That's our money that he is giving away. So 'we' are the greatest philanthropist that the world has ever seen. We just give him an avenue to help.

 

[generationxwing]

Good for him. The world needs more people like him, giving away their fortunes to charities.

I hate Windows as much as the next person around here, but it's Windows that makes Apple so great. Having a sub par program running on the vast majority of computers gives something for Apple to be better than.

If OSX was on 90% of computers, you can bet it wouldn't be nearly as good as it is now.

That's our money that he is giving away. So 'we' are the greatest philanthropist that the world has ever seen. We just give him an avenue to help.

No one's forcing him to do any of this. Our money, his money, someone else's money, it doesn't matter. The point is, he's choosing to give it away.

 

[IJ Reilly]

No reason why it shouldn't. I respect his wife, Melinda, more than I do him.

However, I want to criticize him from a fair position. I happen to think a lot of Microsoft practices were unfair and unethical. But I can't criticize their software donations, because that's what ALL the other software companies were doing at the time (Adobe, Aldus, Apple, etc.). And I want to criticize Gates for what he specifically does, and not just because of all the zeroes he has in his bank account--that's acting like lawyers, going after someone only because he/she has deep pockets.

I understand. I am probably reacting as much as anything to what I know of his personality, which is that he has always been a notorious control freak and can't stand not being the top dog. This means to me that he'll do a lot more talking than listening, which isn't necessarily the best way to be a philanthropist. He's already brought some of this personality to his giving. I remember about a year ago he was stumping for educational reform, and thinking "what does Bill Gates know about education?" Probably not any more than you or I, but with his financial resources, he can still push education where he thinks it ought to go.

 

[seashellz]

Well, he's not THAT philanthropic.

Seattle recently opened a huge state-of-the-art, 'World-Class' Public Library-and its design reminds one of the Museum of art in Paris. It IS truly an amazing building.
Bill and Melinda Gates did donate generously-in fact, there is an auditorium in the building named in honor of them.

A world-class library...yes?

No.

They have 500+ (maybe 700-dont quite recall) computers there in the building on a network, (as well as wifi,) all for public use.

Not a ONE of them is a Mac.

I wrote to the Head Librarian-noting it seemed strange to label itself as a "world class" library, and yet exclude Macs, which if nothing else, are a favorite of artists, desktop publishing, video work, and just plain everyday users- an important section of the community.

Which would be sort of like saying "We have an excellent Science section here, but we dont carry books on Quantum Physics-its such a small, hard to understand and theoretical field-we cant justify buying books on the subject."

Her first response was "We cant run Macs here-its a Windows system"

Huh?

I wrote back saying "So what? That is a very poor excuse-scrounge up the money (ask Bill-or even Apple) for a server and say, even 10-20 Macs.
And hire a part time Mac Tech, or better still, a guy who knows BOTH Mac and Windows-to keep costs down.

Her next response was that it would be too much trouble and costly to try to integrate systems."

Again, Huh?

I wrote back saying this is another idiotic excuse and that I was going to write to our 2 local daily papers on the scandal-"Gates dontations influence content policy regarding computers available in the SPL."

She wrote back, terrified, -you know-the kind of terrified that the local "eco-friendly" bus system, METRO might feel, if it were to be found to be using Killer Whale oil to run its busses-saying she would 'look into the matter, and the next time they got a grant, they would likely buy some Macs'

I wrote into Macintouch, to their 'Mac Marginalization' column about it urging others to write to the Head Librarian.

Its been while and I havent been there-I usually use the nearby small local branch which has only 10 computers-Dells-so I havent really checked back to the 'state-of-the-art" Central Library yet.

http://images.google.com/imgres?img...eattle+Public+Library&svnum=10&hl=en&lr=&sa=G

the poll numbers are....interesting- 99% are in the positive range when added together, and 60% are in the negative range-(are we certain that Gates isnt investing in MacRumors? ;-) -I always thought % polls had to even out to 100%... this ones 159%.

 

[Marx55]

Beware the dirty tricks used by Bill Gates to make money from the very begining:

http://www.mackido.com/History/index.html

 

[supermacdesign]

Best of luck Bill

I wish him the best of luck. Whether you like him or not he earned every penny he has by being a clever and shrewed business man. He changed the world with his product and I now hope he can change it again by making Philanthropy the new hip thing to do for billionaires.

I hate Microsoft but seriously, Congrats Bill.

 

[roach]

Well, he's not THAT philanthropic.

Seattle recently opened a huge state-of-the-art, 'World-Class' Public Library-and its design reminds one of the Museum of art in Paris. It IS truly an amazing building.
Bill and Melinda Gates did donate generously-in fact, there is an auditorium in the building named in honor of them.

A world-class library...yes?

No.

They have 500+ (maybe 700-dont quite recall) computers there in the building on a network, (as well as wifi,) all for public use.

Not a ONE of them is a Mac.

I wrote to the Head Librarian-noting it seemed strange to label itself as a "world class" library, and yet exclude Macs, which if nothing else, are a favorite of artists, desktop publishing, video work, and just plain everyday users- an important section of the community.

Its a freakin' library, just because the building design looks funky, doesn't mean they have to honor to the "Artist of the World". For all I can remember, Library had been using PC ever since the dos days. I wouldn't be surprise if Bill did denote the system, but I wouldn't think the library would not object if Apple also wanted to donate some Apple system. The last thing a Library want to get in to is get into Apple PC battle or put a few Apple system to satisfy fanboys like you. Try book search on PC, I'm sure whatever virus it has wont pass on to you...don't be scared!

And where did you get info as far as Macs being the favorite of artists, desktop publishing and video work. Do you have any link backing this statement? I worked on VFX for TV/Film for the last 7 years and now I work for a gaming company for the last 2 years and I say 95 percent of the system we use is NOT mac. One thing to remember, good art is create by the Artist, not by the computer it was created.

 

[Yebot]

Bill Gates semi-retire in 2007?

Right.

I call delayed until 2011.

 

[mgauss]

Bill Gates has us all fooled

I read a lot of his charity is giving things that save him more on taxes than what he is giving away.

I'd like to see when he dies how much is given to the IRS in taxes. Millions of dollars spent on accountants to shelter money in trusts and other BS that will protect his money as much as possible. And in this country, the richest get the most protection.

I don't believe his BS for a second.

Also, feed an African village today and they have the energy to procreate, 9 months later you have babies born dying of hunger cause the CNN/FOX crew is with Bill Gates in another country.

Charity should be for countries, not for fickle rich individuals that are here today, kissing ass with celebrities tomorrow.

I predict that after a few months of hanging around with his laptop in hotels with his bodyguard possy he will scurry right back to that big desk at
Micro$oft and play his Bridge card games.

My 74 year old mother beat him in Montreal in Bridge (she ended 24th place, he 270th place). He has his personal Bridge tutor, and is getting beaten by the octogenarians. Pathetic. At least stay in Redmond where we admire him. What is he gonna do now, hang out with Paris Hilton? He is a mousy shy guy and his wife Melinda won't take the pressure of being with him.

From the richest man in the world to complaining that the hotel has no A/C and no security. With the bitchy wife running out of estrogen in the bathroom, late for some charity event.

Prediction: he'll hate it, come right back to M$, and unmotivate Ozzie, who will leave M$ in less than 2 years. VisiCalc loser.

 

[gwangung]

I read a lot of his charity is giving things that save him more on taxes than what he is giving away.

Good thing you're not my accountant.

 

[janstett]

Actually, now that I think about it, this is just another sign that the great Computer Wars are over. The industry has matured and is no longer the wild west and rapid growing area that it used to be.

Remember the recent departures at Apple, including the lead architect of OSX. Think about where we are.

Computers are pretty much mature now. Windows XP has been the dominant operating system for five years, and despite what Mac users venemously say is pretty darned robust and stable. Same with OSX for that matter. What do we really need Vista (or Leopard) for? Could we not just live with XP and Tiger, well, forever? There really isn't anything new or radical to be done to an operating system. Not much challenge in being an OS guru these days. I think the loss of Bill Gates is a sad moment, really. The days of the Homebrew Computer Club, Apple, Atari, Commodore, Amiga, Lotus, Claris, et al have long been over, but now the doors are shutting on them. It's officially over, IMO.

 

[supermacdesign]

Charity write offs

Whether he does it for tax purposes or not is irrelevant, let him give what he can sheesh.

 

[janstett]

Beware the dirty tricks used by Bill Gates to make money from the very begining:

http://www.mackido.com/History/index.html

Waaaah, Microsoft didn't fight fair. Waaaaah.

Let me just remind you Apple stole its great inventions too. The Apple I/II was inspired by the Altair. The Macintosh crew stole the idea for the GUI from Xerox. The iPod was not the first MP3 player. Apple played hardball, in fact worse than Microsoft... See how the killed the Apple II clones (Apricot, etc.) and then killed the Mac clones.

You're just mad that the "cheater" you backed didn't win.

 

[gwangung]

I understand. I am probably reacting as much as anything to what I know of his personality, which is that he has always been a notorious control freak and can't stand not being the top dog. This means to me that he'll do a lot more talking than listening, which isn't necessarily the best way to be a philanthropist.

Maaaaaannnnnn.....I wish that were more often the case in the world......

He's already brought some of this personality to his giving. I remember about a year ago he was stumping for educational reform, and thinking "what does Bill Gates know about education?" Probably not any more than you or I, but with his financial resources, he can still push education where he thinks it ought to go.

Hah. He's gotten his nose bloodied in education. He's going to get it bloodied again (and this is generally in spite of the fact he's gotten decent people in as program officers in his organization). What he thinks works in education and what WILL work are not the same...

 

[IJ Reilly]

Waaaah, Microsoft didn't fight fair. Waaaaah.

Let me just remind you Apple stole its great inventions too. The Apple I/II was inspired by the Altair. The Macintosh crew stole the idea for the GUI from Xerox. The iPod was not the first MP3 player. Apple played hardball, in fact worse than Microsoft... See how the killed the Apple II clones (Apricot, etc.) and then killed the Mac clones.

You're just mad that the "cheater" you backed didn't win.

Actually, no, especially the Apple stealing from Xerox business. This is one of the most persistent myths of the computer business. There's no real truth to it.

Microsoft, OTOH, has been called to account for antitrust violations many many times, both in the United States and in Europe. To my knowledge, they have never prevailed in a single case.

 

[kalisphoenix]

Waaaah, Microsoft didn't fight fair. Waaaaah.

Let me just remind you Apple stole its great inventions too. The Apple I/II was inspired by the Altair. The Macintosh crew stole the idea for the GUI from Xerox. The iPod was not the first MP3 player. Apple played hardball, in fact worse than Microsoft... See how the killed the Apple II clones (Apricot, etc.) and then killed the Mac clones.

You're just mad that the "cheater" you backed didn't win.

Gah! READ SOMETHING, MAN! READ! PLEASE!

 

[IJ Reilly]

Hah. He's gotten his nose bloodied in education. He's going to get it bloodied again (and this is generally in spite of the fact he's gotten decent people in as program officers in his organization). What he thinks works in education and what WILL work are not the same...

Yes, and he's never been inclined towards taking the views of others into account. In his life he's never really had to, which is another way of saying, he tends to believe he's always the smartest guy in the room. And who will tell him otherwise, especially if he's spreading the big bucks around? I think he really needs to turn his foundation towards supporting existing national and international organizations running proven programs, instead of creating his own. But again, who's going to tell Bill?

 

[janstett]

They have 500+ (maybe 700-dont quite recall) computers there in the building on a network, (as well as wifi,) all for public use.

Not a ONE of them is a Mac.

Waaah, I want a Linux box in the Seattle Public Library, waaaaaah. Is there a quota system? Is there a discrimination law against what computers are in a library?

 

[IJ Reilly]

Waaah, I want a Linux box in the Seattle Public Library, waaaaaah. Is there a quota system? Is there a discrimination law against what computers are in a library?

This is borderline trolling. Fair warning.