Slashdot Mirror
Bill Gates to Step Down from Microsoft
Geoffreyerffoeg writes "According to Microsoft PressPass, Bill Gates will be leaving his role at Microsoft in July 2008. He'll be staying with the company, but is also moving to a more fulltime position with the Gates Foundation. 'Microsoft Corp. today announced that effective July 2008 Bill Gates, chairman, will transition out of a day-to-day role in the company to spend more time on his global health and education work at the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation. The company announced a two-year transition process to ensure that there is a smooth and orderly transfer of Gates' daily responsibilities, and said that after July 2008 Gates would continue to serve as the company's chairman and an adviser on key development projects.' CTO Ray Ozzie will assume Gates' role of Chief Software Architect, and CTO Craig Mundie will also take on more leadership responsibility."
Time to sell off my M$ stock...
-Shippy
Gotta follow your heart, wherever it takes you.
one of the best trades of all time.
after all, we all need care. we can buy into dot-net or not.
if this is supposed to be a new economy, how come they still want my old fashioned money?
What are we supposed to do with our "assimilation jokes"?!
I guess we'll just have to make do with "flying chairs". Oh and Windows Vista.
Crap - I just sprayed Mountain Dew all over the screen again...
Didn't see this coming. Anyone up for a round of "MS is dead, netcraft confirms it?"
That borg icon finally got to him ... should be ashamed of yourselves!
Same as the old Boss.
Thank you Bill, for everything you've done for the industry and the world.
Two questions.
1) Does that mean we won?
2) Will he take Windows with him? Please?
Oh wait--yeah we did.
I for one, welcome my new Ray Ozzie overlord
Or will soon...
Hes going to run for president.
Give the boy credit, for planning to devote his time to charity work.
I bet he just wants to make sure he makes it into heaven after all...
I'm Rocco. I'm the +5 Funny man.
July 2008 - is that before or after Vista ships?
Jesus said to his disciples: "If you don't have a sword, sell your cloak and buy one" - Luke 22:36
What part(s) of my resume should I brush up when applying for the job of "master villian and arch-nemisis of WonderTorvalds?"
On a more serious note, there are a lot of people with large emotional investments pent up in disliking Mr. Gates. The transition is going to be tough. It's almost like Inigo Montoya at the end of The Princess Bride. Maybe they should turn to piracy?
Trying to use sarcasm in text-based forums does not work.
No, Bill gates is not leaving Microsoft. He is simply shifting his emphasis from full-time at MS and part-time at his foundation, to part-time at MS and full-time at the foundation. He is still going to be working at MS and actually stated on the webcast that he has no plans to ever leave the company.
Whatever will we do with the Borg-Gates icon?
I [may] disapprove of what you say, but I will defend to the death your right to say it.
It's been a long time since he actually architected anything software-related, right?
oh yeah
"I believe with great wealth comes great responsibility"
Who would have guessed that Bill Gates was also Spider-man?
The theory of relativity doesn't work right in Arkansas.
Although other varieties might do the job just as well.
"It is a greater offense to steal men's labor, than their clothes"
Gates is hooked on the X-crack. Cant blame him for wanting to work on his skills.
Long Live The King!
Visualize the world of wine
at Vista Beta 2...
= : ^ 0 >
Is this not the clearest evidence yet that Microsoft is "dying" and on its way out? Already, it's become somewhat irrelevant as a tech industry player, leaning on its entrenched install base to survive. Now its most well-known figurehead is leaving.
"Sufferin' succotash."
But his morality is the only morality that company has. At all. This move will make Microsoft into more of a money grubbing, profit-centered, fuck anybody who gets in our way, sociopathic corporation. And they didn't have very far to fall to begin with.
SJW: a person who perceives an injustice, and while correcting it, commits a greater injustice.
....to create a new Microsoft icon for /.
I felt a slight chill as I read the article, realizing that if Bill Gates is stepping down, he must be getting kinda older....which means I'm getting kinda older.
It's been an interesting ride through the years with Microsoft.
Thanks for everything, Bill, and best of luck with your philanthropy. My city in particular (Windsor, ON, Canada) has benefitted from the B&MG foundation with new computers in our library for public use.
Anyone can walk on water....think WINTERTIME.
Does anyone know where I can email my resume? I'll send it from my MacMini. Should I get the job, I hereby ..ahem.. promise to ..ahem.. open the source to everything, just for you guys.
If you lend someone $20 and never see that person again, it was probably worth it.
Well, he stepped down once before so he could spend more time writing code AFAIK, so, he gets geek cred. points with me. Huminitarian points for stepping down from his geeky priorities. However, that will cost him geek cred. points.
If I mod you up, it doesn't necessarily mean I agree with what you've said, sorry.
So by Vista's standards of deployment deadlines he will actually be released in 2010... He will always be missing several features.
Gates DID make computers affordable.
Fair weather and calm seas on your new journey...
MBC1977
(US Marine, College Student, Future Business Owner, and Good Guy!)
Regards,
MBC1977,
This way, when Windows Vista flops, he can say he was already leaving the sinking ship before it hit the iceberg.
the door hit you in the ass on the way out, Bill!
(Yeah, I know he's staying Chairman - so when was he EVER "CTO" for real, anyway? He runs the company and Ballmer is his pit bull. The board needs to fire both their stupid asses.)
Richard Steven Hack - This sig is TOO GODDAMN SHORT TO DO ANYTHING USEFUL WITH! MORONS!
my first thoughts on this...
1. Vista is so terribly bad, that he doesn't want to be involved/connected with it.
2. He is getting religion, and knows he is so burdened with evil that he needs to spend the rest of his life trying to make up for it.
3. His wife is winning. "You do this, or no sex for you."
Who would win this election: Andrew Weiner vs Andrew Weiner's weiner.
There's an Ozymandias pun in here somewhere, I just know it.
there is no need to sign your posts. this isn't usenet. your username is right there above your post. stop it.
ding dong the witch is dead........
"Personal ownership is a hallmark of conservative capitalism. And I don't believe I am entitled to anything that I did n
Well, I hope this gives him more free time to post some "insider tidbits" here on slashdot!
I would just like to say thanks to Bill for his continuing work with the Gates foundation. I don't see the other multibillionares (Google guys, Redhat guys, Ellison, Jobs, etc) stepping up to the plate and making any commitment EVEN CLOSE to the level he has. All I see those guys doing is buying fighter planes, boats, sports teams and big houses. Good luck Bill!
He's going to stay chairman.
He's replacing Ballmer!?!? O.o
Hardly, the new Boss says the old Boss's 5 cent pay cut goes to far, while the old Boss says the new Boss's 5 cent pay cut doesn't go far enough!
-Rick
"Most people in the U.S. wouldn't know they live in a tyrannical state if it walked up and grabbed their junk." - MyFirs
So how long can he stay out of the game? Not long I suspect.
just wait until he notices his company following antitrust law, behaving ethically, paying to license code they use.
he'll swoop right in and put a stop to that real fast
That said, I think it is time to sell off the rest of my shares, since the man who gave the world Lotus Notes is now the Chief Software Architect at Microsoft. Sorry Ray, you are a good guy, but I cant forgive you for Notes, my man.
He couldn't handle all the low quality products being shipped out anymore.
He's got a loooooong list to clear out before he can get positive on karma.
Read radical news here
I hope Bill Gates does something really cool with his money, something that would change the world forever. There are only 2 or 3 people in the world that can do this. I am talking about some huge technology or project, like the Romans or Egyptians (creating the pyramids). He could create a space colony, some kind of huge wonder of the world, maybe an underwater city.
Does anyone have any cool ideas that are feasible with 50 BILLION?
Darth Gates is going to hand over command to Admiral Ozzie just long enough to force choke him to death as punishment for bringing the fleet out of hyperspace too close to Hoth.
Bill Gates is doing the same thing that Carnegie, Rockefeller, Vanderbilt, Morgan, and the other 19th century robber barons did - he is transitioning from the persona of a despised, cut-throat, take-no-prisoners monopolist to that of a benign philanthropist, and spending the billions he acquired in order to ensure his legacy. And just like the robber barons the 1800s, I have no doubt that Gates will be viewed as a wonderful benefactor of humanity a hundred years from now. Only the historians will remember how many people and companies he mercilessly crushed to create his fortune.
Evil men when they sense they are close to dying all of sudden want to make amends.
If anything all this charity proves that he knows he has something to make up. Oh and if he hadn't been "evil" he wouldn't have had all those billions to spend on charity but just had MS pay taxes so people wouldn't have to hold out their hand to him but just gotten what was needed from the state.
No sorry mate, I have a hard time with a lot of charities. To often they seem to be nothing more then a tool for the rich to feel good and to make sure the needy have to be properly grateful.
You just have to look at Gates charity in giving computers to schools. Windows. Oh yeah, the first one is free kids.
MMO Quests are like orgasms:
You may solo them, I prefer them in a group.
Gates is still ambitious.
Bill Gates has achieved what most people only dream of in terms of their life's ambitions. What do most people want? Money? Sure, but that is not the end of everything. Most (normal) people actually want to make a contribution to society/the world; to leave a legacy, if you will. (Granted, Bill has already done that.)
So when you have succeeded beyond your wildest ambitions, then what? Gates cannot actually spend his money on himself fast enough. There comes a point when you start to want to spend it on your legacy instead. Hence, the charity funding. But this is still ambition.
(Of course, I wish more people would reach that stage.)
yay
http://chrono.posterous.com/
I feel a great disturbance in the Force.
As if millions of geeks suddenly cried out in joy and were silenced.
I don't think it will really affect the day-to-day operations at Microsoft much. His "software architect" role wasn't hugely significant from what I've heard. Anyway, the company will still have the same strengths, and will still have to face the same threats.
Even if you're the biggest MS-hater around, you've got to admit that Bill is doing something Good with his fortune. The edumacation system is failing a lot of kids - and someone with Bill's money, influence, and problem-solving skill really has the power to make a difference there. Providing a good education to all kids is such a smart investment, so why isn't it happening??
He couldn't live without Scoble?
I thought when you get that card you have to pay everyone else $50. And yes, I do think that is appropriate use of money.
Guy asked me for a quarter for a cup of coffee. So I bit him.
If we like it, or we don't, Bill Gates is still among the great businessmen ever - if not the greatest. He's gathered more money than anyone anywhere. Personal worth is $50billion and rising. Check out http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bill_Gates_house for crying out loud.
If he wants to slow down on selling us Windows, and do work for charity then more power to him I say. I'd rather have care charities than marketing execs.
(I know, I know, I will get ``offtopic'' for this as well)
Nothing more pathetic than a FirstPost, that isn't anywhere near first.
New Clowns... Same Old Circus.
I guess some could be excited about Gates leaving, but do we really want Dick Cheney, er, I mean Ballmer to be in charge of things?
his latest Apple branded product - the iWin corporate management app. (co-branded with Bil-b-gone).
Typical of Job's Keynote addresses, the iWin app is ready for the market and has shipped-out.
Fashion designers everywhere are tooling up to meet the anticipated black turtleneck demand and are cutting the production of pocket protectors and short-sleeve dress shirts.
Steve Ballmer was last seen applying for a job with Disney.
Gates on his way out: "Ozzie and Mundie, I hope when I look back on your works, I won't despair".
Jesus said to his disciples: "If you don't have a sword, sell your cloak and buy one" - Luke 22:36
I think it is great that he will be focusing on his philanthropic efforts. The Foundation has done a great deal for global health in the short time it has been in existence. A person who has devoted the second half of his life to make the world better for all us is not an evil borg, but someone who should be honored and respected. Maybe a lot of you can not separate the man from the company, but I can and I believe that history will be kind to Mr. Gates and remember him for his real accomplishments of fighting global poverty, malaria and the AIDS epidemic.
Burlesque of morbidity.
Good for you Bill. Keep pursuing your passions. Don't let these "Bill Gates = The Borg" idiots deter you one nanosecond.
Some might say that he is doing this in penance for unleashing Windows on the world A noble endeavor none the less, considering that he could alleviate a lot of pain and suffering in the world. Although some might argue that he has caused enough pain and suffering himself through Windows, that pain is nothing compared to children DYING every day due to diarrhea or malnutrition. -What's the speed of dark?
The Borge-like image will need a new face (or likeness)!
I nominate Steve Balmer!
Anyone here handy with The Gimp?
When asked about his thoughts on this position change, Ballmer was quoted:
"I'll fucking KILL him!"
Or, based on the actual inscription, Gates says: "You know how great I am, Ozzie and Mundie. Now, you surpass one of my works."
Jesus said to his disciples: "If you don't have a sword, sell your cloak and buy one" - Luke 22:36
...how many Slashdotians have noticed that the blog mentioned in an earlier story from a Microsoft engineer on the delays of Vista has been removed? It says it was without pressure, but I'd probably type that too if Steve Balmer were in the room, armed with heavy-duty chairs.
It's a small world and it smells funny; I'd buy another if it wasn't for the money; Take back what I paid (SoM)
Bill Gates stepping down? ... you mean Willaim Henry Gates Jr., KBE stepping down?
:'( :'( :'( :'(
WhWHAHHAAHWAaaaaaaaaaaaaaaA!!!!! WHWHWWAAaaaa!!!!!!!!!!!!!! WhHHAWHhAaaa!!!!!!!!!
Look at me cry like a little baby!
Where is my mommy when I need her?
I see you posted as an anonymous coward. Good for you, because had you posted this under your normal ID, along with the intensely flaming replies made in this forum, a flaming 50lb bag of dogshit would be on your front porch by the end of the day.
:)
Way to protect yourself from the wrath of the Slashdot masses
"All great wisdom is contained in .signature files"
Microsoft is distressed to announce a delay in the previously announced (2 years ago) upcoming delivery of "Bill Gates 2.0". The original announcement was meant in good faith, but many issues have intervened to delay the roll-out of Bill Gates 2.0:
one of the best ideas of all time.
After all, corporations want to be associated with warm fuzzies. They can start a charity or not.
And just like the robber barons the 1800s, I have no doubt that Gates will be viewed as a wonderful benefactor of humanity a hundred years from now. Only the historians will remember how many people and companies he mercilessly crushed to create his fortune.
Are you a historian?
Read the EFF's Fair Use FAQ
The way things used to be done was that the shareholders elected the board, not necessarily choosing other shareholders. The board then appointesd the President/CEO. Nowadays, most investment is done through institutions who simply take their money elsewhere if the don't like the board, rather than electing a different board. Thus there is little oversight, and in fact, there are many times where the board is appointed by the President/CEO rather than the other way around. This new style of corporate governance is partially to blame for all the recent accounting scandals.
- None can love freedom heartily, but good men; the rest love not freedom, but license. -- John Milton
The battle against Microsoft will only end when Microsoft has been bankrupted (we're working on that one). Also, keep in mind that most of Gates' wealth is tied up in Microsoft shares.
Gates is also said to be taking a more active role in the Forest Preservation Association. Some within the organisation criticize him for putting chairs in danger by leaving ballmer without his constant supervision.
Hasta la VISTA, Bill!
Now we need a new icon for "Microsoft". I propose a chair moving at velocity.
I know that the trouble will not be finished at least until Balmer is out of the picture. I also know that Gates will be staying with the company in smaller roles but I still must sing...
Ding Dong! The Witch is dead. Which old Witch? The Wicked Witch!
Ding Dong! The Wicked Witch is dead.
Wake up - sleepy head, rub your eyes, get out of bed.
Wake up, the Wicked Witch is dead. She's gone where the goblins go,
Below - below - below. Yo-ho, let's open up and sing and ring the bells out.
Ding Dong' the merry-oh, sing it high, sing it low.
Let them know
The Wicked Witch is dead!
His own Linux distro! :)
I hope this means he can keep his health insurance.
That's like worrying that Rush Limbaugh is going to blow his brains out. Methinks one of the key requirements in that statement might be missing. And before it's said that Gates is a benevolent man, buying your image back by helping the poor does not a conscience make.
Since I have no special information beyond that which I read in the trades, I'll speculate that Vista development has been ... challenging at best. More than likely it's been an evil slog and Bill can neither be proud nor happy about it all. I think he's going to be there to front the release of Vista, claim Total Victory and Mission Accomplished and then get the hell away from the mess and let someone else figure out how to turn Microsoft around. Reminds me of another national leader ... hmmm ... who ... hmmm ...
I tend to think that he's a wicked little SOB sooo unworthy of his great wealth, but if Rockerfeller and Carnegie can go down as Great Americans, Gates certainly can. Build some libraries, concert halls, monuments, universities, give it all away and fund a cure for AIDS ... as I'm sure he will before he shuffles off to that great Blue Screen of Death in the sky.
I for the life of me cannot understand how dead set against some people are against Bill Gates. It's like he burned your village, salted your fields, and raped your women and children.
His business practices may not have been fair, but it's capitalism. If you can't compete then go suck on it.
I personally would rather leave Bill Gates with his billions. Who would you suggest have it? The US Government? So congress can give a taxcut to the other millionaires that won't donate it to the rest of the world? Would you rather his fortunes go to some rich bitch like Paris Hilton?
The worst he has done is crush a few companies and their competition. Now compare that to the funding he's giving to AIDS research and vaccinations for 3rd world countries. I'd say the ends justifies the means.
At least he didn't announce that he was leaving for Google, otherwise Steve Ballmer would nail him in the head with a chair.
In soviet Russia, Linux compiles YOU!
The "offsite link" to CNN's coverage of this news is bad and it linked to this story about someone shooting a feature length film with a camera phone about sex.
BONUS: there is a photo of a wrinkly old guy sitting in a chair.
I only came here to do two things; kick some ass, and drink some beer...looks like we're almost out of beer.
Dad: "You can play your XBox 10 for another hour, then it's bedtime. Don't get assimilated by Microsoft Borg, boys. Ha Ha."
Son #1: Looks at his younger brother rolls his eyes. "Er, we won't Dad"
Dad leaves the room.
Son #2: What's dad talking about?
Son #1: I think he went to school with a guy named Gates who was always throwing chairs or something. Don't ask him about it - we'll get a long boring story.
This reminds me of U Po Kyin from Georg Orwell's "Burmese Days".
Of course, the gates foundation is about covering up mass deaths, not redeeming bad deeds.
Please help publicise swpat.org - the software patents wiki
Like him or not, Bill Gates did a lot for personal computers, and honestly, those of us who use them and even the world. MicroSoft wrote a lot of good compilers and a lot of good programs, and while many may gripe, windows, windows98, windowsNT and windowsXP were pretty damn good products.
Bill was rare in that he had vision and the ability to do technical things, and was a very driven person. He was the guy we all loved, then when he got rich he was the guy we all loved to 'hate'. But I remember what it was like before him, and he really did help change the world.
At this point the only person left from the original shakers and movers is Steve Jobs. Steve isn't much of a technical person, but he has been a visionary in the past equal to Bill. I have to wonder how much longer till he bows out?
And to be completely honest, it makes me wonder what the next bunch of 'snotty nosed kids' (as my compsci prof used to call Gates, Jobs, and Woz) will come up with. Every time an Era ends, a new one starts after all...
At which point Dick Cheney said "Go fuck yourself!",
and shot Ballmer in the face.
Ha! Didn't see that plot twist coming did you?
Man, this stuff writes itself.
What security program should I start writing for the foundation first if I want to make the most money? A firewall maybe?
... but you will get a big fat homo
...is that it will take a little longer to properly fit Ozzie with his Borg implants.
In several decades, he'll be dead. And you can't take it with you :)
"All great wisdom is contained in .signature files"
Maybe now Microsoft can get back to producing quality software products.
\
For some reason the proverb "the rats are leaving the sinking ship" comes to my mind.
Assorted stuff I do sometimes: Lemuria.org
I'm pretty sure Gates is either against or has no official position on keeping (or bringing back? I'm not sure what the current status is in the US) the estate tax. The prominent billionaire who's all for the estate tax that you're thinking of is probably Warren Buffet.
Yes the B&M Gates foundation is doing good work, but I'm pretty sure it's more about Melinda and less about Bill, thank god he had the sense to marry someone with a sense of doing good.
l4h
True... but (not to nitpick :) it is unusual for the _chairman_ of the board not to have an ownership position in the organization. Ocassionally this does happen, an example would be if a large institutional investor had an ownership position and a representative of that institution became the chairman of the board... but the point is that the chairman, as well as the rest of the board, represent the owners (or at least they're supposed to).
As far as management electing the board, IANAL but I am pretty sure that the only way this can happen is if the shareholders elect to allow the management to do so. I'll agree that this practice is partially to blame for the 'creative accounting' we've seen in the past few years.
My point was simply that being the chairman of the board is not the same thing as being an employee for a corporation. This is not a management position, per se, but is a step higher -- the guys who get to help pick the top management (CEO, CIO, CTO, etc), and make sure those guys are doing they're job. Basically, Bill Gates is saying "I'm no longer going to manage my company, but I will retain my right to pick who does!"
Visualize the world of wine
I do not get it. Why is this man working himself towards a heartattack, when he do not need to work, ever. If I was Billy I would buy myself a country and bring a Nintendo, and some hookers, and beer.. what the hell, forget about the Nintendo.
Maybe you can get your freaking college degree now, you bum!
Ghengis Kahn comes to mind...
he sounds like a freaking Robin hood to me XD
now just a weird question,when you donate money,you re actually buying a better life to someone else,right?
so,if they dont use your money to improve the life of someone as you expect,and you can prove that,you can sue em?
Maybe Balmer (or whoever replaces Gates) will be even more agressive. Or maybe they'll do worse. I'm genuinely curious how this is going to turn out.
Rawr
The first one is always free.
MMO Quests are like orgasms:
You may solo them, I prefer them in a group.
"The company announced a two-year transition process to ensure that there is a smooth and orderly transfer of Gates' daily responsibilities"
I know I wouldn't want someone else swimming in my money 'Uncle Scrouge'-style from Duck Tales. I'd relish that responsibility!!!
Though I do respect him for his charity work, and wish him the best!
Well that means, if he's lucky, he might be out before the 2010 Olympics.
Free Software: Like love, it grows best when given away.
The OS after Vista will feature a game called "Chair Thrower 3000"?
Blame the user, not the software.
This is probably a good development. On the one hand, Gates as Chief Software Architect has reportedly been a negative influence, unfamiliar as he is with modern software development and devoted as he is to thelegacy of Basic and DOS. On the other hand, he seems to be doing quite a creditable job of philanthropy.
I should have made it more clear that I agree with your basic premise, and that I was just trying to point out that board members are not always owners. It should also be noted that the duties of a board member, even the chairman, are quite a bit fewer than the duties of a CEO. Boards are like back seat drivers, telling the CEO where to go, when he's screwed up, and perhaps pointing out that semi he somehow didn't see and almost ran into. Not nearly as hard as actually driving, and a lot more fun.
- None can love freedom heartily, but good men; the rest love not freedom, but license. -- John Milton
Well, it's GNU/Linux for me then.
Look at it this way. He is stepping down as CSA, meaning he's relinquishing his authority (not completely) on design aspects of MS software. Whereas he will still in an overall sense be in control of the company. Yes he has the mark of shame associated with him for his past trangressions which many will not let him live down. However 2/3's of the country and possibly the world's day to day lives are only possible because of his software and developments (indirectly). Even you Linux/Unix and Mac people. Your system is still contributed from Bill's innovation. Like it or not he does make your day to day lives possible in some fashion. Look at this website. I'm willing to bet within the chain of servers that this site is on is an MS box or between you and them is an MS box or some other software package that is. Love him hate him, you still have to give him respect for making the PC industry the monster it is today in that regard. Without some of his pioneering software developments we wouldn't have the Xbox, yea Windows has always had issues, but still run on more pc's then any other OS combined. Have a good pseudo retirement Bill and wether we love or hate you you have to get credit for the monster the computer industry has become. HM
i would say that any steps away from M$ are steps up... har har har!
We can expect him to be released around October 2012. Fantastic.
Slashdot: "Bill Gates to Step Down from Microsoft"
Wired: "Gates Easing out at Microsoft"
Gotta love slashdot's speciality: inaccurate, sensationalist headlines.
They should have walked him out the minute he announced he was leaving.
Commodores had M$ basic but that was it. It was the C64 that drove the prices down and the amount of memory up.
Gates was the greatest villain for 20 years if we look into individuals and not political parties or organizations.
He was responsible for more lost work and lost data than anyone ever. The burning of the library of Alexandria was a feeble effort to pre-emptively top mr Gates' effort.
Not to mention wasted time, or cause for alcoholism and broken keyboards.
'Once scientists, even the dim-witted social scientists, get muzzled, the Western Civilization is finished.' - oldhack
Steals from the Rich and Gives to the Poor... ...yet he's still the bad guy!
.. and not stayed on slashdot all the time.
http://saveie6.com/
What part(s) of my resume should I brush up when applying for the job of "master villian and arch-nemisis of WonderTorvalds?"
:P
Spelling, probably
Send email from the afterlife! Write your e-will at Dead Man's Switch.
They really need to add those to Slashdot, they'd make great new MS icons!
;-)
Anyone who agrees, mod this up or I'll "#$%$ing kill you"!
... the point of no return was Liesure Suit Larry 1.
Hrm, I better hurry up and patent naked chicks on video iPods.
paintball
I resent that. Why is it that every time a woman convinces a man to do something (against which he might not even have had strong feelings) she's controlling him? You know, it's entirely possible that Bill wasn't too averse to the idea of donating some of his money to charity, and his wife might have just given him that nudge.
Send email from the afterlife! Write your e-will at Dead Man's Switch.
"My name is Gates, king of kings: Look on my works, ye mighty, and despair!"
Speaking of Bill Gates giving his money away, I was wondering about the results of Microsoft's email beta test. I'm still expecting a check, having forwarded a few notices to a few hundred of my closest friends. Maybe he'll be able to devote more time to that project now.
Vidi, Vici, Veni
Those of you calling Gates "evil", "villainous", etc, in order to belittle his philanthropic activities, consider this: ;-)
The companies that Gates "crushed" were rich companies whose execs had become rich themselves.
So Gates took from those rich fat cats (through unethical means, according to the Gates haters), and is now giving to the poor. That makes him a high-tech Robin Hood. And just like the government tried to bring down Robin Hood, they tried to bring down Gates. What say you to that?
-- "I never gave these stories much credence." - HAL 9000
everytime i hear about microsoft and bill gates i have this negative perception. then i read from a microsoft employee's blog about what's it really like there http://www.qbrundage.com/michaelb/pubs/essays/work ing_at_microsoft.html
honestly, between gates and jobs, it's hard to think of them as real people. very hard. i'd like to just go up to them on the street and not be overwhelmed with fandom or anger. it's very very hard to shake the politics i've been exposed to for a decade. it was hard enough to stop viewing jobs as the bad guy when i switched to a mac!
gates contributes billions to charity, competes with many companies, pushing technology forward. he's got a great house. he works with apple too. it's not so black and white. but emotionally, it's very hard to not hate or love jobs and gates :(
all the MS astroturfers come out and kiss Gates ass.
The Kruger Dunning explains most post on
take Ballmer with you.
Mike
I heart the RIAA & MPAA, im sure its mutual...
To charity ought to cover his ticket on the karma train...no matter who you are, that is a shit ton of cash given for human betterment.
Prediction:
He splits off to form his own Unix-like operating system and after a few more years will be rehired by a failing Microsoft, when they'll adopt the better OS and change the world!
Oh wait, wrong multibillionare.
of millions of geeks all over the world wanking in unison.
I thought Ballmer is now the chair-man...
___
If you think big enough, you'll never have to do it.
Oh my, let me put my shocked face on \0/
This is the beauty of capitalism. No matter how rich and powerful you are, you still get fired when you screw up.
Correct or not... that was my first thought :D
I run: Windows, OS X, Linux, FreeBSD. Just because you have a hammer, doesn't mean everything is a nail.
If he's leaving in July 2008, does this mean he won't be seeing Vista all the way through?
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From wanting to do 'the right thing' to wanting to serve the Windows monopoly. I guess he's tougher than I thought. ;-)
So Bill, you finally lost interest in marketing snake oil have ya? Or is keeping your kids away from iPods going to be a fulltime job?
LoB
"Anyone who stands out in the middle of a road looks like roadkill to me." --Linus
If I had the kind of money these guys carry around, that's EXACTLY where I'd be plugging it.
Even for my smaller money, that is the one and only place I'd think of donating putting it.
There's nothing even remotely on the scale of the amount of good to humanity in general, to EACH AND EVERY ONE OF US, that comes close dealing aging a blow. The amount of subsequent evils this would postpone, reduce or even, at some point, completely obliterate, from cancer to heart disease to any other form of our bodies growing frail, falling apart, and eventually killing 100,000 of us *each day*, is by many orders of magnitude bigger than feeding any number of kids in Africa. In the long term, even to the kids in Africa themselves.
Every dollar in places such as the multi-million M-Prize competition encourages 10-20$ in research, if past competitions such as the X-Prize are to serve as an indicator.
Every dollar spent on targeted research (as opposed to research for the sake of research, only stumbling on useful anti-aging applications by chance) towards fixing things we *know* deteriorate in our bodies and that ideas (that require research) on how to fixing them are on the table, is nothing short of helping humanity as a whole. In the most literal sense of the word. Every dollar there increases our (read: your and my) chances of benefiting from them and living *significantly* longer (read: more than the 5-8 years on average that the linear graph anticipates for us at this stage. 15 Would be great. 25 Would be wonderful. And if those 25 get us to the point when better treatments are available that can keep us vigorous another 15 years, you won't see me objecting to that either).
Your sarcasm as put forth by the quotes is misplaced.
Real Anti-Aging research (as opposed to the cosmetic/snake-oil industry that shares the same name) that targets aging on the cellular level, is the by-far single most important charity one can donate to.
-
A smart captain knows when it's time to abandon ship.
This is a sad day for me. My salute to a great mind: *salute*.
Man when I read this I had images of Bruce Wayne and Wayne corp.
He just needs more time for his superhero alter ego.
- He has a terrible record with security
- He's just performing a hostile takeover of the biggest threat to Microsoft's monopoly position
- He is conviction-less and, like his PR-based charitable efforts, is less motivated by the public sector than by the power of the office.
- While Bush may be stupid, at least he's not a college drop-out
Then again, his supporters will say that:-- @rjamestaylor on Ello
tahts what will replace the Borg-Gates icon either that or Baller doing the sweaty monkey dance, developers developers developers...
Goodbye and thanks for all the phish .... ing attempts from Windows zombie computers.
I thought chairman was ballmer? no? :)
I didnt think his clone would be ready this fast.
And Ross was one of the best candidates we have had in this country in years, perhaps decades.
Libertas in infinitum
In a pragmatic sense, this doesn't change anything. He hasn't worked on production software for 15 years.
If it is a moral destroyer for vista, then so be it. XGL and Linux is great and nobody needs windows anymore anyway.
Maybe he finally realized it and decided to fold. He is a good poker player right?
Gate's goal is 95% market share.
I will create a sig when innovation restarts in the U.S.
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Guys like Gates, Jobs and such are realizing that they've out lived the challenges of their field. Think about it, the challenges are not new nowadays [to them], and it's only about market positioning, ego, and politics. Really, I don't see any new wiz-bang discovery in tech for another 4 years at the current situation. Now only if Ellison would get the picture, we can move the industry forward, faster.
As for Microsoft itself, they do know that companies live and die, and they see it--they're fighting for survival and playing fair isn't always the right strategy.
Is it possible that Bill Gates feels that Microsoft has seen it's best days, and it's best to jump off the boat, rather than going down with it? Or better yet, he is leaving now, while Microsoft can still support its gluttony, so that it will seem that the company was strong while Gates was there, but then died in his absence?
He was a kind and generous man - provided of course, that he is really retired.
Oh well, what the hell...
You could always use Slashdot AND digg.
Somewhat surprisingly, the two aren't mutually exclusive.
C-x C-s C-x k
That judgement should be made when his life is over. So far he's established his robber baron credentials pretty well. But we should all hope that he is as successful in his philanthropic efforts as he has been in business. If he is, he will be remembered with Carnegie and Vanderbilt. Then "great" will apply.
"The universe is vast, and we are so small. In the end there is only one thing we can truly control...whether we are good, or evil."
I just posted this entry to my blog:
Thursday, June 15, 2006
BillG letting go of the reins
Today we (Msft employees) received an email from CEO Steve Ballmer informing us that there would be an important press conference this afternoon.
Tuning in to the webcast, I found out that it was to announce that Bill Gates will be reprioritizing his life, and leaving his position as Microsoft's Chief Software Architect in 2 years time (2008), in order to engage full-time with the Bill and Melinda Gates foundation (the largest charitable foundation in the world).
Bill will remain as Chairman of the board of directors at that time, but in a significantly reduced, advisory role, and in any case, serving as Chairman is very different from serving as a company employee, since he would be looking at the company from the perspective of a majority shareholder.
I'm not at all surprised at this announcement, only that it took so long. After his late mother (Mary Gates) persuaded him to get into philanthropy sooner rather than later, and after he married Melinda French and became a father(which softened him as a human being considerably), I could see that he was devoting an increasing amount of energy and attention to building up his foundation, and that the foundation's work was where his heart was increasingly moving towards.
The Bill and Melinda Gates foundation focuses on two big areas (to the best of my limited knowledge - there may be much more, and likely is, considering their endowment amounts to the tens of billions of dollars). They focus on 3rd world immunization and communicable disease prevention (through distributing and encouraging the use of contraceptives, etc.), and increasing literacy throughout the world (for example by providing local libraries with Internet-connected computers).
I applaud him for this move. He has done great things with Microsoft, one of the most important being establishing a corporate leadership that is ready to take over the reins of the company and run it well. The first generation of Singapore's leaders (LKY's generation) took great pains to ensure a competent set of successors were in place, and that there was a smooth transfer of power. It would appear that Gates is doing the same with Microsoft.
While some company employees may be a bit disappointed that their great leader is moving on, perhaps they may take some comfort in the fact that he is moving on to a much greater and noble cause. Microsoft has undoubtedly transformed the world with its software (for better or for worse is an argument best left to another time), but as Gates said (reminiscent of Spiderman), "With great wealth comes great power." Gates is now in the unique position of being able to dramatically improve the welfare and lives of the millions of suffering peoples in the third world nations of the world.
I'm sure that it must hurt him to slowly let go of his baby. To slowly release the reins of a company that he has run for so long, that he has become almost inextricably intertwined with. Yet, his willingness to do this at this point in time shows his foresight and his realization that the time to act to better the world is not in the future, but right now.
Bill Gates, villianized as you may have been by the rest of the world (in some instances at least), you're my personal hero, not for acquiring all the wealth that you did, but for what you are doing with it.
... And since Bill Gates and Steve Ballmer are the two largest holders of Microsoft stock, I would say that those two will decide who is on the Board of Directors, and what positions will be held.
Now that he'd be semi-retired around 2008, he should invest in a nice dark robe and put his pastey whiteness to good use. Isn't that right Senator Bill'patine?
~~ Behold the flying cow with a rail gun! ~~
I think Gates is doing something no-one else can do. He's redistributing wealth from the first world to the third world and doing what he can to make the world better.
To get his massive wealth he's done things that were dishonest and even illegal (Microsoft never could overturn the illegal monopoly decision).
But - and this is the crux - if he didn't have that wealth he couldn't do the things he can now. The wealth would be distributed throughout many people in North America, where it'd be likely to stay.
Sometimes the ends *do* justify the means.
I find it bizarre to praise Gates - as a computer enthusiast for 25 years now (I'm 35) I've come to see him as a net negative in the industry. We've got a monolithic company, a software monoculture, a history of massive security holes and illegal product tying. I believe the industry has suffered greatly because of Microsoft.
But I still see his charity outweighs any negatives.
I see another possibility of him stepping down...
Perhaps he's not doing an effective job? I mean, look at Microsoft these days. They have one of the worst reputations, offer little innovation, and is delaying Vista again and again.
Then there's the little prick called Google, who's practically eating their asses for lunch.
So, rather than continue losing, perhaps he's yielding power to someone else to give them a shot?
eTrade SUCKS
of fucking idiots that get modded Insightful. If anyone is allowed to do anything to get to the top and then be considered a good guy for giving away money that he hasn't honestly earned, the biggest of the assassins could be a good guy if he'd be affiliated to Red Cross or he'd create his "help the poor" organization. Hypocrisy everywhere.
- the wicked witch is dead - Hurrah! /oz
Maybe because the bitching posts have at least 1 +1 funny and you are neutralizing 2 Insightful mods with your weird settings? Here's the Breakdown:
+2 Base (Good Karma)
-1 Funny (1 +1 Funny Mod, -2 for your weird settings)
+2 Insightful (Common Moderation)
+1 Interesting (One more +1 from mods that turn off karma bonus so good karma users can still get +5s)
----
+4 (Total under your system) == You don't see it.
~Rebecca
I bet his employees are already celebrating. Don't forget to order Bill a cake from Wal-Mart guys!
Good point, but there isn't a part of the Robin Hood legend where Sir Robin ended up in control of the Kingdom and started arresting up-and-coming RObin Hoods.
Gates stopped being Robin Hood sometime in the mid to late 80's. At that point, he had stopped competing with the big boys and started to actively crush any smaller company that dared to compete.
By the mid 90s, Microsoft had pretty much no competition in any area they succeeded in. They've kept that up for 10 years by actively ensuring that no one can rise from below. There haven't been any "rich fat cats" to compete with Microsoft in over a decade.
Oh, and as for "Gates took from those rich fat cats (through unethical means, according to the Gates haters)"....
Few people hated Microsoft back when Bill was beating the shit out of IBM and the like. Bill was the hero back then, and MS wasn't using unethical tactics (at least, not as often). It's very recently that Microsoft even HAS "haters", although if you're under 25 you may be too young to remember that. The vast majority of anti-Microsoft sentiment has formed since 1995 or so, or pretty much around the time that Microsoft had established itself as a desktop OS and office suite monopoly.
Endless arguments over trivial contradictions in books written by ignorant savages to explain thunder in the dark.
Looks like Bill granted himself yet another stat boost. +Cha and Wis?
http://www.theonion.com/content/node/29743
Geeked out.
Agree 100% with Adole. Some of you just hate Microsoft and Bill Gates for no other reason that it being the hip thing to do among the uber geek. Im not saying this as some MS fan. I use both Linux and Windows at work.
Bill Gates will go down in history as one of the most brilliant and influental persons of our decade. But whats even greater, is that the guy will probaly do more for poverty and famine in the world than whats been done in recordeed history. Sure he could sit back on some yacht like the goof at Oracle, but the mans going to focus everything he has toward doing all those things we all say we'd do if we had the money. More power to him, and what better person to do it.
Here's how management elects the board... The President/CEO tells the shareholders "You should vote for the following slate for the board of directors." They do as they're told, because it's easier to do that than actually get someone else nominated and listed in the proxy materials, since election matters are easy to exclude from the company's proxy materials and therefore any contender has to front the cost of getting his name out to the shareholders.
The parent is not really well informed.
The worldwide number of pirates is not decreasing. In fact, if anything, it seems to be raising. And I mean real pirates, the boarding-ships-with-guns kind, not the music-from-napster variety. Pirates seem to abound in the Sea of China, in the straight of Molucca, or in the East coast of Africa, where they attack cargo ships. There also are numerous acts of piracy reported in the Caribbeans, where pirates try to commandeer yachts and use them for trafficking drugs.
I'd send Gates up the river for his leadership in Microsoft's destruction of multiple software development firms and the monopolization of the software industry.
Glad to see Gates put in the standard 2 years notice. But seriously, people that complain that he's evil are misplacing blame for his role at MS. He does his job well, which pleases his shareholders. If you don't like the way Microsoft does business, then you need to elect Congressmen and Presidents that believe in consumer rights and disapprove of monopolistic abuse. Bill Gates is not to blame for a twisted legal system that puts a strong team of lawyers ahead of a strong product.
July 2008? So...
Two vast and trunkless legs of stone
Stand in the desert. Near them, on the sand,
Half suxored, a shattered Vista lies,...
And on the pedestal these words appear:
"My name is OzzieMundieMS, King and King:
Look upon my works, ye Mighty, and despair!"
Ballmer says: "We will continue to hire the world's best technical talent".
That's good. Just do that.
(PS: And you'll notice there's no 's' at talent.)
who knew Scoble http://scobleizer.wordpress.com/ had so much influence?
Why cut IT when your office space costs $3/sf? gibso
Ozzie and Mundie will continue to report to Gates.
Ozzie-Mundie-Ass.
Look upon my works, ye Mighty, and despair!"
Nothing beside remains. Round the decay
Of this colossal wreck, boundless and bare
The lone and level sands stretch far away.
good luck..
SEO Test: TIGI und SEBASTIAN - Online Shop - V
I'm sure Bill will wait to step down until a tech installs Duke Nukem Forever on a Vista box. Oh, wait....
--altadel
I believe several factors are motivating this life transition for Gates. First, the lengthy delay of Vista and its high price to consumers will make it a hard sell. Much resentment will be engendered by the populace, as well. But people will feel good about opening their wallets to Microsoft if they see Bill Gates doing nice things for people in third world countries. Second, Gates actually is getting a bit old for innovating much. Third, we are on the verge of producing $100 computers for citizens of third world countries. What better way to gain an upper hand on the decision of which OS to install on these computers than to get involved in charity work in said countries? Naturally, the needy will request -- nee demand! -- Windows if they believe this decision will ultimately improve their lives in ways that matter much more to them than owning a computer, such as getting clean water, vaccines, anti-HIV drugs, birth control, etc.
Google is certainly not without its philanthropist activities!! Ever heard of Summer of Code? I have two friends that went there, and it was far from inexpensive for Google to pay for that. Those students learned quite a lot and had the "time of their lives." If preparing aspiring and hard-working young men for the rigors of an industry is not considered philanthropy, then I don't know what is!!
As for Red Hat, they're not exactly rich. I won't say their poor -- they're definitely well off. However, they do not have the resources to spend huge amounts of money on charities.
Steve Jobs -- I have to disagree here too. Apple donates a LOT of money to education in the form of discounts, free computers and software, grants, scholarships, invitations to events (such as WWDC), and educational competitions. My last school received a grant of more than $150,000 for computers and other hardware, not all of which was made by Apple (there was a mixture of macs and x86 linux computers). Also, my local library received 5-10 computers for free. I think Apple has proven to be a good community player as well.
Other companies, such as IBM, Cisco, Oracle, and GE all donate large amounts of money to charity.
It is important to note that these companies have done these things for years, without any need to improve their image or impress the public in any way, unlike Microsoft, which is often disliked.
~Matt
News Alert! Giant rat sees water, jumps ship! Ok for all the Billy Gates luvin weenies out there, Bill stole billions of dollars by selling the same drone customers the same software for 20 years. He created a monopoly, and has milked the hell out of it. His EULAS are ILLEGAL! His business practices are HIGHLY UNETHICAL! Some say 'other companies do it' BULLSHIT! Some others might cheat in small ways, against other companies or perhaps in small ways against customers. Microsoft screwed everyone, both big and small for more than 20 years. Their crookery is worse than ENRON, TYCO, and WorldCom ALL COMBINED! So now the crimminal with the billions is giving to charity and some are yelping 'fer God sake, he's giving to charity', and I reply "WITH STOLEN MONEY DAMMIT! A NAZI WHO IS BENEVOLENT AFTER THE WAR WITH ALL THE JEWISH GOLD FILLINGS IS STILL A NAZI!!!" Microsoft is floundering, Gates sees it. He wants to keep his image 'as the clown who built the company, and now that it's failing --understandable since Gates is gone...'. What bull!
This is just a preamble.
My guess is he's planning to run for some kind of office in the next election, or more likely, the one after that.
Move sig!
I see this as nothing but good. Here's why:
1) Every company needs some fresh blood, even if they are the most successful company in the world (which MS argueably is). The reason is that without a changing of the guard they can become fat and happy. This leads to a decrease in quality and other issues. See also: MSIE. See also: Windows security. See also: X-box/X-box 360 launch issues.
2) Bill Gate is trying to do something good for the world. Yes, there are many people who donate a larger percentage of their money/income/potential income to charity, but this is one instance where size does matter. True, someone who barely makes anything who donates $100/year to charity is doing his share of good deeds, but even 1000 people doing that won't touch what Billy boy could do without breaking a sweat.
3) He is NOT going to be entirely leaving the company. I know I am going out on a limb here as to why this could be a good thing, but hear me out. First off, he is going to be getting more involved with a charity. Something like that can have a tendency to change a person. While I don't see it happening anytime in the near future, this could lead to a greater acceptance of open source from M$. Many people would argue that open source projects can bring technology out of the reach of the masses, due to cost, into a reasonable possition. If it wasn't for Apache, how many hobbyists would be setting up home webservers? Projects such as The GIMP allow people who can't afford PhotoShop to learn graphic design. OpenOffice.org provides an office tool to those who can't afford MS Office. If Gates realizes that these things are helping people, and he also GENUINELY wants to help people, he could open up to open source. I think his problem is that he views open source purely as competition, not as a symbiotic relationship where both can benefit from the advances of the other.
I think that should cover it for the most part. I don't think Bill Gates is a saint by any stretch of the word, but I think that he still can redeem himself and his company from Microsoft's past actions.
-Led
What is mankind really? Well, it's just two words put together Mank, and ind.
i would like to at least give credit to him for his humanitarian contributions. i read earlier from a website (i cannot find it, but i think it is something from cnn or forbes) that he gives a lot compared to other billionaires. they made a ranking that if these contributions were included to his net worth, it will increase the different from the richest guy to the 2nd richest.
i haven't heard (maybe i'm not listening that much?) of other persons contributing especially in the tech industry. though they may contribute, but i guess not at a level with bill. since when did you hear rich guys of oracle, google, yahoo, sun, cisco, etc did contribute a lot? though i am just guessing, probably bill is donating to the others combined.
here in slashdot, with probably higher salaries of readers, how much money has been contributed to the betterment of humanity?
* well i am talking about the person here and not the company. bill != microsoft. this is where i give him credit.
Live your life each day as if it was your last.
If everyone who's bought windows or office instead had downloaded linux and given the money to the poor, would they have got 10,000 times the money? Or 100,000 times?
In fact, I can't think of anything popular that ever came from Microsoft. They were just lucky IBM chose them to provide an (horrible) OS for their Hardware, so they could profit from the IBM-PC's popularity. Seriously, no one in the late 80s and early 90s bought an IBM-based PC because he liked DOS, it was rather for the available office software (which didn't come from MS back then) and the low hardware prices.
The truly great thing Bill Gates and Microsoft did for the world was to enable the open hardware industry model. There were two elements to this. One was the IBM - Compaq lawsuit, when the bios got opened up. Gates seems to have had no role, or at least no public role, in this. But the other was entirely down to Gates, it was keeping the rights to sell the OS to anyone who made computers that would run it, and actually selling it and making it universal.
It was this combination of things that led to the marginalisation of the model in which hardware and software are tied and proprietary - the model that Apple carried on working to and struggling with and losing market share with all through the late eighties and nineties. If this model had prevailed, computers would be far less usable, we would all be far less free to do what we want with them, and the world would be a worse place. We would have incompatible connectors, buses, processors. We would have applications that would only run on my OS which would only run on my hardware. It would be absolutely dire and horrible. So we should be enormously grateful to Gates for having wrecked Apple's (and more important its business model's) potential domination of the industry.
Now it is true that what replaced this was in the short term only halfway better for us. But, in the Hegelian dialectic of the movement of computing history, the resultant domination of the industry by MS, with closed OS but on open hardware, contained its own contradiction and thus the seeds of its destruction, and after performing its historic mission, this phase will end up on the dustbin of history, and we will enter the millenarial new world of open OS on open hardware.
We should all be enormously grateful to Bill Gates for taking us halfway there, and not be too critical. It was in the nature of the case that the kind of person and company who would take us halfway there, would be the one to be dragged kicking and screaming the rest of the way. They were not to know they were the instrument of history - still don't!
Please contact your program vendor weekly to prevent this from happening to you.
I think you don't quite understand how it all worked. Compaq created the clone hardware industry, but what did all those clones run? That's right, they ran MS-DOS. Microsoft got burned when they sold BASIC to Apple for a flat fee, and ended up with something like 2 cents per copy. When IBM came around asking for an OS, MS insisted on selling licenses to IBM so they could also sell licenses to others. As it turned out that was a good bet, because dozens of other OEMs made clones of the original PC.
Without MS-DOS, the clone manufacturers would have to have cloned not just the hardware and the BIOS, but the OS also. We would have ended up with an array of barely compatible systems. Instead of software running on systems from any OEM (like it is with Windows), software would come with a list of systems it runs on (like it is with Unix, where software might work on HP, IBM, or Sun hardware, but not SGI or DEC). You might buy software that is supported only on Dell, Compaq, and IBM systems, but not Gateway, and forget about your whitebox.
Any company that went through the trouble of cloning PC-DOS wouldn't give it away to their competitor, so only companies that could afford to expend the effort reverse engineer a compatible version of DOS would be able to compete in the clone market. Nobody would be able to assemble a computer just by ordering parts because he would have to write his own OS.
If not for MS, there would be more versions of DOS and fewer PC OEMs.
The great thing about Windows is that it will run on almost any hardware you can buy, meaning that you are not locked in to any particular hardware vendor, and it will run almost any software you can buy, meaning that you are not locked in to any particular software vendor. It is a common middle ground that allows you to easily mix and match hardware with software. Hardware vendors only have to write a single driver, and software vendors only have to ship a single binary, and their products will all work on 90% of the computers on the market. Contrast this with Linux, where commercial software comes with a list of versions that it is supported on (probably RHEL and SuSE, maybe Debian or Ubuntu, forget about MyDistro).
dom
He is quite the humaitarian.
That fortune he is giving away was stolen from the public through the most unethical of business practices. He never deserved it in the first place. And you are assuming that he isn't just doing the Rockefeller thing (creating legions of trusts and non-profit ventures that outwardly look humanitarian but are truly just a front for the mass accumulation of more wealth and power). I am skeptical.
It is your personal duty to fight for what is right on a daily basis. Ignoring injustice is identical to approving
I thought giving my two weeks notice in at work would be long and agonizing, but two years notice? That'll drive you crazy right there.
It is now safe to switch on your computer
It was only a matter of time. Neal Saferstein
If I'm not mistaken, Apple bought the GUI rights from Xerox and Microsoft stole that from Apple. Apple's problem is that they always had the most expensive hardware, that and less software. So, the IBM compatible sold more because it was cheaper and MS was your only real option at the time.
I wonder why nobody tried to reverse engineer the Apple.
I have never bought a computer with pre-installed software. I did actually buy Windows 95. That was a lot of floppys and I eventually figured out how to reinstall the OS from disk 2 and on off of the hard drive. This was before my introduction to the internet or Unix, so I didn't know any better. Windows 98 rolled around and I went to college. I got introduced to the Internet and Unix machines. I discovered Linux and haven't bought MS software since.
It's ironic that Microsoft is busy trying to protect their OS from piracy, but the GUI is pirated from Apple(Xerox). It's also ironic that Apple moved to a unix(BSD) and MS is still trying to hang on to DOS.
Piracy made computers affordable. That's all there is to it. Asta la Vista, Bill.
Ops, I shuld have usd the prevuwe but in.
I guarentee you that history will look at him as one of the greatest men of the late 20th century, and the impact of the Gate's philanthropy will be felt by billions of people on Earth for years to come.
Doubtful. Look at the historical examples. John Rockefeller pulled the same stunt of devoting himself to charitable causes in his later years, but despite the Rockefeller Foundation, Rockefeller University, etc., etc., he is mostly rememembered as a "robber baron" who abused his oil monopoly.
MS stock has languished since 1998
Gates has been asleed at the wheel
There have been no new products
Everything is slipping even by MS's squishy standards
No one believes what they say anymore when they talk about their priorities
It's all well and good for Gates to give away his money but I am damned sick of him giving away MINE.
Comment removed based on user account deletion
Global health and education endeavors?
That fucking bastard!!
BDR Gear
Outdoor gear, MREs, and more!
Nah, he's going to be the next commisioner of the NFL.
Ops, I shuld have usd the prevuwe but in.
My suggestion for the *new* MS icon.
barack to the future?
Wow. Just after announcing yet another Vista delay, he gets the hell out. That gives me confidence in Microsoft and where they are going. Yeah - he's going to work on his charities. Just like Bush's staff 1.0 is spending more time with their families. Gates is and has always been a rat. Could this mean the ship is officially sinking?
Don't let the door hit you in the ass on the way out.
Sticking feathers up your butt does not make you a chicken - Tyler Durden
Please mod the parent post up.
Sticking feathers up your butt does not make you a chicken - Tyler Durden
Dude, Jon Peterson! If you read the Financial Times today (Friday June 16) page 10, under "Life without Bill: Nerds react" (the observer column) YOUR comment is quoted. Kudos. I think we have found finally found a comment moderated higher than +5, Insightful :-p
It really is an injustice when someone so evil business-wise can now just leave it all behind and become admired for being a great humanitarian. I applaud him for giving away his money, but I won't really respect him until he makes MS stop fighting and trying to destroy open-source. He can keep pushing his lovely OS, but PLEASE PLEASE stop the bashing and FUD against Linux and anything that might be seen as possibly creating a dent in their money flow. Until MS changes it's ways, Bill Gates is an asshole to me.
Meh.
2 years to make the transition smooth eh? No matter how big your company is, it doesn't take 2 years to replace anyone in any position. I don't buy this one bit. In fact this makes me feel dirty, I think I'll go take a shower. It sounds like a publicity stunt to me. Maybe they think the geek community will have more respect for Microsoft if Gates is gone, so they pull this stunt to make their stock go up a little which has dropped ~15-16% this year and continues to fall - which for Gates is a whole lot of cash. Don't give me any Robin Hood crap either like someone else posted. He's not doing charities because he wants to help people, he's doing it to create an image of a nice, caring guy who wants to give back to the community. If he wanted to give back so much, MS would open up a little and conform to standards. He'd try to cooperate more with the open source community rather than look at OSS as a threat.
Two years is an awful long time and anything can happen. Any smart techie would know not to trust Gates/Microsoft, so why should anyone trust this? If by some small chance he will actually step down from his current position, it's because he's trying to get out with what he can and save his own butt from a falling giant.
geek n performer who performs morbid or disgusting acts, as biting off the head of a live chicken
PS: this does not mean I don't applaud him for giving so much to charity
Meh.
You mean his BSOD - Blue (Tomb)Stone of Death
You ought to start a pool on how long it'll take some nerd to spraypaint his tombstone blue after he dies.
Really though, unless he dies soon, he's going to live forever given his wealth and the march of technology. Maybe he realizes this and is going to be spending a good bit of his time exercising and getting some sunshine instead of sitting in a cave in front of an LCD panel.
My God, it's Full of Source!
OUTSIDE_IP=$(dig +short my.ip @outsideip.net)
He's supporting efforts to eradicate disease. You punch out some code.
Yes, open source is generous, but let's not get some aggrandized notion of self-importance here... it's just software.
Billy Boy gives away money which he has stolen from others.
As this is my first post I'm not sure if this will be perceived as trolling, but anyway I am posting because I am astounded by the level of modded up posts either defending or pro Bill Gates and Microsoft especially as this is slashdot. Why the hell anyone would believe that Bill Gates is really just charitable and this is not him aggressively as ever, furthering the interests of himself and Microsoft with this foundation amazes me. Bill Gates is not leaving Microsoft, he has merely been delegated a greater role of furthering Microsoft in developing countries. In this BBC article he is quoted as saying there is a "common thread" between his work at Microsoft and the foundation. In undeveloped countries this common thread could refer to the influence his "charity" has on their governments to conform to TRIPS. For those of you who do not know what TRIPS is it basically ensures countries wanting to trade goods with the USA and other TRIPS countries respect the protection of intellectual property rights. Countries which do not conform can be disciplined with trade sanctions. And of course Microsoft's software is protected under TRIPS. An article written explicitly on the self serving nature of this 'charity' is located here. In developed countries this common thread also could refer the positive PR halo effect his "charity" has on Microsoft.
Another aspect of this is that from the gatesfoundation website roughly a third of money grants have been for education (over 2 billion). Ok cool, but we all know what operating system they are training teachers with, deploying in schools and setting up wider training facilities for. Basically Bill Gates and his foundation are planting the seeds of Microsoft in the people and their governments for future profit. You only have to look at the history of Microsoft and the types of people he surrounds himself with to know that this is just business as usual. Bill Gates has not gone soft, he's only 50, why would a such a ambitious guy stop doing what his does best now?
Bill Gates has made a twist to the saying "You have to spend money to make money" to "You have to give to 'charity' to make money".
That is not the mainstream opinion of Bill Gates. Far from it. Most people view Gates as a glorious role model. According to a 2005 Gallup poll, Gates ties for second in the "Most Admired List In U.S." An Esquire poll of men that was published a few days ago rates Gates tying for second in "Most Popular Celebrity Dinner Companions." Gates ranks #1 in World's Most Admired CEOs of 2005.
for Bill Gates at Microsoft : Richard Stallman! ...
Wouldn't there be some fur flying
Don't blame me, it's usually 2 in the morning when I post
Givning away Windows Licenses isn't charity! It's not real money. It's the contrary, he lures development countries and poor people to get familiar with windows, and when get any money the only OS they know of is windoze, and they have to pay. It's no charity, it's a strategic deceptive behaviour.
If Bill uses the same business practices he's perfected at Microsoft in the Philanthropic realm then his dominance of public works and charities will be assured within 5 years. The United Way, March of Dimes, and World Health Organization will all be bought out and combined. Any charitable initiative will be instantly bought up and integrated into the one true charity...
I fear for the poor and destitute. You have no idea what is about to be unleashed upon you. Bill no wants to control those who can't afford computers.
you're all a bunch of stupid shits who argue about issues in a 'website' that isn't known to the masses
all of you should bask in glory, for your private humor forums/humor ring known as slashdot
just smile, knowing that people at the beach enjoying reality don't know about the geek e-thug argue'ing on here you stupid shits
Part of life is accepting your own mortality.
Part of death is accepting your own mortality! To me, living is telling death to go take a leap, refusing to give up no matter how grave the odds, and reserving that last bit of energy in my body for flipping death a bird with my decrepit, withered, fingers. "Accepting" death is a little bit of death unto itself. Fighting for life- no matter how futily- that is living.
Boundless Expansion, Self-Transformation, Dynamic Optimism, Intelligent Technology, Spontaneous Order- BEST DO IT SO!
I strongly agree with you. This is a community of mentally alert people, who will poke fun at anything, the way mentally alert people do, but when it comes to serious comment they are fair minded, and genuinely curious. There is more informed, and balanced, debate here than anywhere I've encountered. Sometimes the mods seem to get it wrong, just like referees sometimes get it wrong, but I haven't seen any anti-MS trend in the mod system.
Yes, I've been modded down (once) for defending MS, but I've also been modded up for poking fun at Linux
I'm a software visionary. I don't code.
The announcement of Gates' departure came soon after the annoucement of Al-Zarqawi's death.
I'm sick of hearing this crap.
You think you know everything about Gates? Read a biography on him. I have.
You think he earned his money by being "very successfully competitive in a very competitive industry"? The bio I read ("Gates: How Microsoft's Mogul Reinvented an Industry - and Made Himself the Richest Man in America" by Stephen Manes and Paul Andrews) has multiple instances where he is pretty anti-competitive. For example when he ditched IBM and the OS/2 project, only to use the same code and interface for Windows. How about when he promised IBM that he had an OS all ready for them to ship on the PC, and then having to bribe a small computer shop for the rights to their custom, homemade OS.
I could go on, but I won't. Just realize that you don't know everything about Gates, and he certainly didn't earn his fortune 100% honestly.
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