I just missed Bill Gates

[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. 😀

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

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.