Steve Jobs Named Fortune's 'CEO of the Decade'

[MorphingDragon]

However, Bill Gates is the most important man in computing/internet history though.

Without him, not only would apple not exist (he helped apple by giving it 150 million in exchange for quicktime on the PC), the personal computer revolution would not begin and the inernet revolution would not begin, hell the digital age would not begin I could go on and on... but I think you get the idea.

Just like Apple existed when Microsoft only made Office? The personal computing revolution CAME with the Apple II. The internet Revolution CAME with NeXT and world wide web. The Digital Revolution CAME with the first calculator.

There have been far better systems all the way along Microsoft's development. Atari, Macintosh... If Microsoft didn't absolutely crush IBM Microsoft wouldn't even be a OS developer. It's indirectly Microsoft's fault we still use the incredibly outdated BIOS. IE isnt standard compliant. I can go on...

 

[DMann]

All of that is 100% wrong, and a lie. Apple would exist just fine without a few $ from Gates, the personal computer revolution began before Gates had anything to do with it, the internet revolution began without anything to do with Microsoft (they thought it was just a fad), the digital age did just fine without Gates. I could go on, but I think you get the idea. In fact, the personal computing industry would probably have developed farther and faster if Microsoft hadn't become a monopoly and held things back.

--Eric

Just like Apple existed when Microsoft only made Office? The personal computing revolution CAME with the Apple II. The internet Revolution CAME with NeXT and world wide web. The Digital Revolution CAME with the first calculator.

There have been far better systems all the way along Microsoft's development. Atari, Macintosh... If Microsoft didn't absolutely crush IBM Microsoft wouldn't even be a OS developer. It's indirectly Microsoft's fault we still use the incredibly outdated BIOS. IE isnt standard compliant. I can go on...

True, the $150M in restricted stock was a pretty tiny chunk, in comparison to the outstanding common stock. Apple had 1.2 billion dollars cash,

at the time of the investment, and MS eventually sold off the shares at the end of their five year agreement.

Without a doubt, personal computing would likely have advanced at a much faster rate, had it not been for MS's monopolistic and predatory practices.

 

[cumanzor]

Didn't Gates win similar accolades in many other magazines for his work the decade before? I don't think any single person dominated the business press in the 1990s more than Bill Gates.

It's time for somebody else to get the attention. This isn't slamming Bill Gates though, and his story is far from being finished. I think, and hope, he will continue to do good in the world.

Honestly, what he said. Bill Gates had a wonderful run in the 90s, and Jobs has made a lot this decade too.

Both great CEOs and persons overall.

Without a doubt, personal computing would likely have advanced at a much faster rate, had it not been for MS's monopolistic and predatory practices.

BBAAAAAAAWWW MICROSOFT IS EVIL

 

[63dot]

True, the $150M in restricted stock was a pretty tiny chunk, in comparison to the outstanding common stock. Apple had 1.2 billion dollars cash,

at the time of the investment, and MS eventually sold off the shares at the end of their five year agreement.

Without a doubt, personal computing would likely have advanced at a much faster rate, had it not been for MS's monopolistic and predatory practices.

Many of my classmates (I was an MBA student right before this all came down) ended up working both sides of this mess. Yes, Apple had cash but also had much of it non-liquid. Apple was on the verge of collapse. What Microsoft brought in was leverage which helped save the company and help Apple's awful business reputation in Silicon Valley. You had to work and live here to know the context. Nobody wanted to invest in Apple and Bill Gates was the golden boy. The heroes here were Steve Jobs' olive branch and Bill Gates' money. This business is not just about Candy colored, cool computers, it's about business and much about business is confidence and Bill Gates, with Steve Jobs, or vice versa, brought that back to Apple.

But about what you said about Bill and predatory practices. Yes, he rewrote the book on that. While "Pirates of Silicon Valley" paints Gates in a worse light than was likely the case, Woz seems to think the basic concepts were correct with changed small details. Gates, even by MBA standards, was too assertive and his troubles with the US government and the monopoly some said he had is well documented.

It's really not such a black and white issue where Steve was all good and Bill was the evil empire.