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Bill Gates Opens Up About Steve Jobs

Nerval's Lobster writes "Former Microsoft CEO Bill Gates displayed a bit of emotion when talking to CBS's 60 Minutes about Steve Jobs. The interview didn't focus entirely on the relationship between the two men, with most of its running time devoted instead to Gates's charitable efforts. But when the conversation shifted to their last meeting before Jobs's death from cancer in 2011, Gates—normally so cerebral—seemed a bit sad. 'When he was sick I got to go down and spend time with him,' Gates said, describing their meeting as 'forward looking.' Jobs spent a portion of their time together showing off designs for his yacht, which he would never see completed—something that Gates defended when the interviewer seemed a little bit incredulous. 'Thinking about your potential mortality isn't very constructive,' he said. Gates also praised Steve Jobs's marketing and design skills: 'He understood, he had an intuitive sense for marketing that was amazing.' In contrast to his subtle—and not so subtle—digs at the iPad over the years, Gates conceded that Apple had 'put the pieces together in a way that succeeded' with regard to tablets. Gates's magnanimity toward his former rival and Apple is a reflection, perhaps, of his current position in life: it's been nearly five years since his last full-time day at Microsoft, and all of his efforts seem focused on his philanthropic endeavors. He simply has no reason to rip a rival limb from limb in the same way he did as Microsoft CEO."

13 of 294 comments (clear)

  1. must... protect.... god... by alphatel · · Score: 4, Funny

    insert Bill Gates slam here
    insert Steve Jobs supreme being statement here
    *phew* day saved.

    Sent from my AT&T iPad

    --
    When the foot seeks the place of the head, the line is crossed. Know your place. Keep your place. Be a shoe.
    1. Re:must... protect.... god... by FatdogHaiku · · Score: 4, Funny

      SMITE HIM WITH LUMIAS!

      I've got to change my default font, I first read that as "SMITE HIM WITH LLAMAS!" which was of course incorrect... a slightly amusing visual but incorrect none the less.

      --
      You have the right to remain sentient. If you give up the right to remain sentient, you will be elected to public office
    2. Re:must... protect.... god... by Dins · · Score: 4, Funny

      I've got to change my default font, I first read that as "SMITE HIM WITH LLAMAS!" which was of course incorrect...

      I would pay good money to see someone smited (smitten?) with llamas.

    3. Re:must... protect.... god... by dsvick · · Score: 3, Funny

      According to http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/smitten?s=t, you're ok with smitten. However you should probably be a bit more specific about which definition you mean. One would be rather amusing to see, the other sort of disgusting in a beastial sort of way

      And, I'm not sure the llamas would appreciate either

    4. Re:must... protect.... god... by quarterbuck · · Score: 3, Funny

      In Soviet Russia, Llamas kick Winamps Ass?

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  2. Coming soon! by Kenja · · Score: 4, Funny

    Microsoft Yacht(tm).

    --

    "Have you ever thought about just turning off the TV, sitting down with your kids, and hitting them?"
    1. Re:Coming soon! by avandesande · · Score: 4, Funny

      Not square enough. Barge?

      --
      love is just extroverted narcissism
    2. Re:Coming soon! by OhSoLaMeow · · Score: 5, Funny

      Not square enough. Barge?

      As long as it doesn't have rounded corners.

      --
      They can take my LifeAlert pendant when they pry it from my cold dead fingers.
  3. Not very surprising. by 140Mandak262Jamuna · · Score: 4, Funny

    Whatever said and done in public, these college drop outs, they are a thick bunch. They stand up for one another.

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    sed -e 's/Chuck Norris/Rajnikant/g' joke > fact
  4. Gates's current position in life... by wonkey_monkey · · Score: 5, Funny

    Gates's magnanimity toward his former rival and Apple is a reflection, perhaps, of his current position in life:

    Yeah, Gates being alive and Jobs being dead, mainly.

    --
    systemd is Roko's Basilisk.
  5. Re:So...no more evil BORG icon by Sponge+Bath · · Score: 3, Funny

    I always thought the Billy borg icon looked rather upbeat.

  6. Picture of Bill tearing up by Tator+Tot · · Score: 4, Funny

    I found a picture of Bill as he's discussing his friendship with Steve Jobs.

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    To all you virgins: Thanks for nothing.
  7. What did you expect them to discuss? by TWiTfan · · Score: 4, Funny

    Jobs' charity efforts?

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