Gates Donates $15M to Preserve Computing History

Dan-DAFC writes "The Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation is donating the sum of $15 million to the Computer History Museum in California, according to the BBC. The money is the biggest single gift in the museum's $125 million fund-raising campaign, which is still $50 million short of its target. The funds raised will be used to add more exhibits and educational programs."

Comments

WIth just a few minor alterations, mind you.

[Anonymous Coward]

I took a tour of the museum shortly after this announcement. Bill Gates only asked for a few changes to made following his generous donation.

Middle Age Clockwork Computer: Invented by Bill Gates
Punch Card Programmable Computer: Invented by Bill Gates
Analog Computer: Invented by Bill Gates
Digital Electronics: Invented by Bill Gates
Atanasoff Berry Computer: Invented by Bill Gates
Z3 Universal Computer: Invented by Bill Gates
ENIAC: Invented by Bill Gates
EDSAC: Invented by Bill Gates
Integrated Circuit: Invented by Bill Gates
Personal Computer: Invented by Bill Gates
Internet: Invented via a joint effort from Bill Gates and Al Gore

Re:WIth just a few minor alterations, mind you.

[dangitman]

Gates was later found kneeling in the rain, screaming GOOOOOORRRE!

Another donor?

[DeafByBeheading]

Maybe Jack Thompson will pitch in ten grand...

But...

[the_skywise]

Will it include a copy of CP/M?

Batter up: Mr. Steven P. Jobs

[tyrione]

Okay Steve, time to shell out the rest to really stick it in Bill's craw.

Bill gates on computing history

[sqeaky]

I wonder if they are going to preserve key points and dialogues in computing history like "No one needs 640 kilobytes of ram..."

Give me a break!

[crottsma]

It houses an impressive collection of more than 4,000 computing artifacts, 10,000 images, 4,000 linear feet of catalogued documentation and gigabytes of software.

$125 million just to boost a collection of old artifacts? Hell, give me half that money and I'll double the size of that collection, with enough money left over to fill the toilets with beer!

Re:Give me a break!

[The Clockwork Troll]

Bill Gates felt the same way, which is why he only donated $15 million.

Specifically, he was quoted as saying, "$15 million should be enough for anybody."

Re:Too late for PR stunts BG

[NoGuffCheck]

it's nice to have a computer I'd give my grandmother.

mod parent up.. its about time someone on /. expressed their dissdane for their own lineage...

Re:Scobleized?

[spongman]

influsnced

No, officer, I'm not under the influsnce.

Real Agenda

[Anonymous Coward]

So the museum can buy an archival copy of Windows Vista.

Re:Only 15 Million?!?!

[mriya3]

"64...ehm... 15'000'000 ought to be enough for anybody." Bill Gates, 2005.

kid, I already have a computer history museum

[mbius]

in the hall closet.

Maintaining classic pieces in the museum's collection has grown difficult lately, not for lack of funding, but due to a dark and sinister force known as my wife.

Thats called foresight

[geo_2677]

He probably realised that MS Windows may pretty soon be relegated to history.
Reserving space before its too late :)

Re:good start, now open-source DOS...?

[jurgenaut]

You mean, release the foundation of all modern Microsoft OSes as Open Source? I don't deem that very likely.

Re:In other words...

[citog]

I refuse to get on the "but he does some good" bandwagon here.

I hear that. Getting down off your high horse just to climb up on the bandwagon does seem like a lot of trouble.

Give me $15 million and I'll go on eBay...

[digitaldc]

...and I will build you the LARGEST collection of computer junk you could ever imagine!

I wonder if they have the W.O.P.R. (War Operation Planned Response) computer system?

Do they also have the M-5 from Star Trek? It sounds like something right up Microsoft's alley:
from: http://www.startrek.com/startrek/view/series/TOS/e pisode/68766.html

The U.S.S. Enterprise is chosen to be the test ship for the new M-5 multitronic computer system, a computer meant to be able to run a starship without human intervention. Also aboard for the test is Dr. Richard Daystrom, the inventor of the M-5 and an obsessive and unstable individual. Initially the M-5 performs well, but when it decides to destroy a robot freighter, Kirk orders the test canceled. The M-5, however, protects itself and makes it impossible for it to be disconnected. The computer becomes increasingly erratic, a result of Dr. Daystrom's decision to impress his engram onto the computer as part of its programming. Starting a scheduled war games drill, M-5 uses the full arsenal of the U.S.S. Enterprise to attack four other Federation starships.

In a last-ditch appeal to the M-5, Kirk makes the computer realize that it has committed the sin of murder. Since Dr. Daystrom would be ethically abhorred at such an act, the M-5 is equally penitent and tries to commit suicide by leaving the U.S.S. Enterprise defenseless against a counter-attack by the remaining other starships. At the last moment, Spock and Scott are able to finish disconnecting the M-5 unit. Kirk keeps the shields down, gambling successfully that the attacking ships would not fire on an undefended vessel. Restoring communications next, the fleet is called off.

Gates Donates $15M to Preserve Computing History

[webrunner]

... in Frozen Carbonite