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Gates: Hardware, Not Software, Will Be Free
orthogonal writes "That's small-'f', not capital-'F' free:
according to Bill Gates, "Ten years out, in terms of actual hardware costs you can almost think of hardware as being free -- I'm not saying it will be absolutely free --...." Gates expects this almost free hardware to support two of the longest awaited breakthroughs in computing: real speech and handwriting recognition. He further predicts -- ugh! -- that software will not be written but visually designed."
Q.
Insert Signature Here
I have suspicion that some of the Microsoft software not written but visually designed already now. Considering its quality.
but who will visually debug the visual designer?
First person shooter. Kill the bugs, capture the features...
Hmmm... This sounds vaguely familiar:
"Remember, quality is our top priority."
.sig wanted. Inquire within.
How much stock can you put in his predictions?
About 640,000 shares - should be a big enough investment for anyone!
SpamNet - a spam blocker that really works
"Many of the holy grails of computing that have been worked on over the last 30 years will be solved within this 10-year period, with speech being in every device and having a device that's like a tablet that you just carry around,"
For the last time, Bill...I still don't want a tablet pc!!!!!
Dave
> He further predicts -- ugh! -- that software will not be written but visually designed.
"Let's start with a blue background that fills the whole screen..."
Sheesh, evil *and* a jerk. -- Jade
Of course, if you'r stock is worth a few billion dollars, the cost of hardware is 'almost free' :)
--
If code was hard to write, it should be hard to read
Hrmph..
Screw the 1950's promise of free electricity. Where the hell is my dishwashing, breakfast making, stainless steel life sized Robot?!?!
I want Robots!
OREILLY, The werewolf book: "Managing systems with the DOOM shell" subtitle: "How to kill -9 a zombie with your BFG."
"/Dread"
"Some things have to be believed to be seen." - Ralph Hodgson
So what Billy boy is saying is that the price of his software will be so high, that hardware will appear to be free. Damn you DRM....
-Grump
Is it true that more people vote for the winner of American Idol, than vote for the president? -Ali G.
It's turtles all the way down, my dear.
"Never attribute to malice that which can be adequately explained by stupidity." -- Hanlon's Razor
>
It's hanging out with your happily house-chained June Cleaver 1950's wife in your fully mechanically automated home of the future!
Step 1: Predict everything that can possibly happen. Nothing is too wild. Some examples:
* In the future, every home will have a robot that carries a machine gun.
* Cars will not only drive themselves, they'll demand equal rights.
* Computers will be made only of light and sound.
* Computers will learn to upgrade theselves - not because of initial programming, but as a survival mechanism to prevent obsoletion.
* IT outsourcing will be controlled in some sectors by organized crime and gangs. This will start in Las Vegas and move outward.
* Email will be beamed directly into your brain. You will be able to type an answer in your head.
Step 2: Wait for at least one prediction to come true ( even slightly true ) and be declared a prophet.
Hate me!
Yeah, if he's so smart, why isn't he rich?
Yes,
And he intends for this speech recognition s/w to
take up no more than 64k of memory - just like
WinXp.
they will be giving away the hardware, in order to keep people using their products;>
Bill Gate$ is seriously overrated as a futurist (remember 'The Road Ahead?')--every year, he's got the same message, but with a different twist--suuuuure, they're spending 6.8B or whatever on research (how much did Bob cost?)--unfortunately, it's being spent on their new 'PRbot' which will be the next generation of AI, and will take FUD and PRspew to new heights (or depths)...
finally, no one's talking about his voice recognition prognostications...what's the Blue Screen of Death going to sound like?
Robots exist. They eat old people's medicine. If you are elderly perhaps you should consider insurance...
(come on, anyone else here watch SNL in the day?)
If my answers frighten you, stop asking scary questions.