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Bill Gates's Last Speech
Ian Lamont writes "Bill Gates, in an address to the TechEd Developers conference, talked about Microsoft's plans for hosted services, and revealed that the company is planning data centers on 'a scale that we haven't thought of before' that will apparently enable the company to offer all of its server-based products over the Internet. The talk did not include details in terms of capacity or scale. This was Gates's final publicly scheduled speech as a full-time Microsoft employee, and he acknowledged that Microsoft's success is 'due to our relationship with developers.' On July 1, he will start spending most of his time at The Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation." After that date he will be devoting his "20% time" to Microsoft.
That's the point, pedant.
Leave the small-time to Apple, and go straight for the big-time. Let Apple handle the smaller, more personal flashy gadgets. MSFT has a lot more money so they can invest in bigger stuff like tabletop kiosks. Everybody wins, and Apple and MS don't stick their fingers in each other's pie. Also note that -- surprise, surprise! -- at this point the iPhone and Surface both have their debut in AT&T stores! IF MSFT were smart then they'd move on to other ventures and not be stuck in an exclusive contract with big brother -- err, AT&T.
If Microsoft blows this whole Surface thing, though, then it's safe to say that there's no hope left. Oh, and this is Slashdot, so *nix still has nothing to do with big brother! Let's hope that it stays user unfriendly(that's sarcasm, trigger-happy mods).
It would be a fun thread on Slashdot for all of us who made a million on MS products (Exchange Server for me, and about to make another on SharePoint) to list how and where we made our money.
Then we can contrast that with all of the Open Source solutions that are JUST ABOUT to overtake Microsoft (they are dying, ya know?) and how they cant innovate.
One of my great joys here on Slashdot is the yearly thread about the latest thing that is alllllllllmooooosttt ready to wipe out Exchange Server. Its always good for 300-400 posts. Look for it, it will happen, its almost time for it...here it comes!
Run, Bitches!
billg was good for me, and my time at Microsoft and after, doing my own thang, have been possible because, GASP, people use their products! While others innovate their asses off, basking in the glory of all their buddies who also gave up sex for software, others make money, have families, lives, and consume drinks from glasses rather than cans and cups.
Flame away, bitches! I've got karma to burn!
has anything he's said in the last 10+ years mattered? And it is not likely he's going to shut up and somehow become skilled at really figuring out what the next big thing is.
And if anything, the news that he's going to be spending more time making sure anyone who accepts the Bill And Melinda Gates money is locked into Microsoft Windows is the only thing he does which has my attention since it is blocking customer choice. Oh, and his "humanitarian" efforts in places like Egypt will probably lock them into becoming addicted to Windows for a very very long time.
Mark my word, Bill "the snake" Gates will still be doing Microsoft's bidding for a long time to come. He's not going to be quiet about it and it does not matter if he's wearing a Microsoft badge or not. IMO.
LoB
"Anyone who stands out in the middle of a road looks like roadkill to me." --Linus