Linked by Eugenia Loli on Sat 22nd Feb 2003 21:46 UTC
Microsoft Microsoft Chairman Bill Gates recently sat down with The Seattle Times to talk about the company and its future.
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You know..
by Rich on Sun 23rd Feb 2003 20:58 UTC

Does Bill always say 'you know' every 2 seconds? ;)

re You know..
by Bas on Sun 23rd Feb 2003 21:08 UTC


He learned it at a course for public relations.
If you say "you know" the asker looks more dumb..you know

I enjoyed reading the article but i missed some questions like:

- When will Windows become open-source/free software?
- What do you think about GNU/Linux?
- What is you favorite application
- What do you think about the current american foreign politics?
- Who do you admire the most?

etc..

Good job Seattle Times
by GetOutofHere on Sun 23rd Feb 2003 21:09 UTC

Those were pretty tough questions you asked.

How about asking what he had for breakfast?

"you know"
by ~CdBee~ on Sun 23rd Feb 2003 21:21 UTC

He talks like Tony Blair...

v TOTALLY OFF-TOPIC
by ~CdBee~ on Sun 23rd Feb 2003 21:39 UTC
v bla, bla
by leander on Sun 23rd Feb 2003 21:54 UTC
Re: You know..
by Remco on Sun 23rd Feb 2003 22:01 UTC

Only the first question is easy to answer:

Hoping that MS Windows will become open-source is unrealistic. They make money in a different way, and I respect them for that (and do even run windows on my desktop, what a coincidence)

hmm
by Mike Hearn on Sun 23rd Feb 2003 22:58 UTC

I've noticed that interviews with Bill basically never talk about Linux. I think interviews want to avoid pissing off the great man, or maybe MS PR talks to the interviewers beforehand.

I mean he has it really easy. He never has to answer questions about how they're going to respond to Linux or anything like that. He seems more wrapped up in his pet projects than anything else.

I am left with...
by Bayerwerke on Sun 23rd Feb 2003 23:22 UTC

After reading the article I am left with the impression that Microsoft is;

1) Considering attaching microphones to computers.

2) Trying to figure out how to clutter the desktop more, probably forcing you to buy a bigger monitor.

3) Expecting WebTV to really take off someday.

4) Invent voice recognition and make it part of the OS

5) Invert tablet input devices and the corresponding software.

6) Somehow ignorant of the fact that the PC revolution was started by Apple.

7) A company whose software development is directed by someone who thinks it's funny that he couldn't code himself out of a paper bag.

8) Ignorant of the the harsh reality is that "The Next Bill Gates" has never worked for Microsoft. He works for a company called Transmeta.

9) A company that can't write software that Bill Gates uses in his house.

10) A company with a prominent employee who can't form complete sentences when he speaks.

RE: I am left with...
by Eugenia on Sun 23rd Feb 2003 23:27 UTC

>Ignorant of the the harsh reality is that "The Next Bill Gates" has never worked for Microsoft. He works for a company called Transmeta.

This is just *your* assumption. No one knows the future. In my opinion, the next Bill Gates will be the person who will truly revolutionize PCs, like bringing "true" AI and full speech recognition.

> A company with a prominent employee who can't form complete sentences when he speaks.

So what? The biggest figures in history had similar problems.

I mean...
by Anonymous on Sun 23rd Feb 2003 23:32 UTC

He says 'I mean' more times than 'you know'.

comments
by sam on Sun 23rd Feb 2003 23:53 UTC

>>>>In my opinion, the next Bill Gates will be the person who will truly revolutionize PCs, like bringing "true" AI and full speech recognition.

Then this "next Bill Gates" is IBM. There is NO MONEY to be made in true AI and full speech recognition. However there are BILLIONS of dollars to be made in smarter self-management softwares (IBM's eLiza project) and dumped down versions of voice recognition (ie. when you phone the airport's automatic voice recognition system to find out if the flight is delayed or not).

RE: I am left with...
by Asapin on Sun 23rd Feb 2003 23:55 UTC

>2) Trying to figure out how to clutter the desktop more, probably forcing you to buy a bigger monitor.

Just because they want people to have larger monitors doesn't mean they want to clutter the desktop. I don't even have icons on my desktop because there is an option to "Hide Desktop Icons". Apple started the trend with their Cinema display. People want this technology, and a company supporting the technology, making it more than just a "big monitor" and possibly making prices for it cheaper is a good thing.

>9) A company that can't write software that Bill Gates uses in his house.

The software in his house is very old. Who really has a million dollar home that could actually use that stuff?

Re: re You know..
by Rich on Mon 24th Feb 2003 00:11 UTC

>> If you say "you know" the asker looks more dumb..you know

Thanks for calling me dumb ;)

ADIB
by Rafa on Mon 24th Feb 2003 00:21 UTC

> 1) Considering attaching microphones to computers.

Macs have had microphones attached since... almost since the beginning.

> 3) Expecting WebTV to really take off someday.

Not even they can think that.

> 4) Invent voice recognition and make it part of the OS

Oops, it's the ADIB (Apple Did It Before) syndrome again!

> 9) A company that can't write software that Bill Gates uses in his house.

Who writes it then? Just wondering...

Bill Gates needs a hug.
by Jay Miner on Mon 24th Feb 2003 00:39 UTC

>Q: So at your house, you're planning to use Windows XP >Media Center Edition?

>A: Media Center doesn't have everything I have in my house >because my house has many, many screens and you can >coordinate things across the screens in a richer way than >the first version of Media Center.

Haha, finally.. proof that this guy doesn't even use his own products. I bet he secretly uses an Amiga! lol!

RE: RE: I am left with...
by Anonymous on Mon 24th Feb 2003 00:45 UTC

What exactly did Bill invent ? I'd say that the next Bill Gates will be more of a marketing genius who takes something already invented and adds some eye candy and markets the hell out of it and gains a large market share. After that he/she then locks people into prorietary standards that no one else can use or decifer but also can't live without for the sake of compatibilty. That's your next Bill Gates folks.

the next bill gates
by Anonymous on Mon 24th Feb 2003 01:01 UTC

>>>>Ignorant of the the harsh reality is that "The Next Bill Gates" has never worked for Microsoft. He works for a company called Transmeta.

>>This is just *your* assumption. No one knows the future. In my opinion, the next Bill Gates will be the person who will truly revolutionize PCs, like bringing "true" AI and full speech recognition.

the next bill gates isnt linus, he doesnt try to fuck over his users. and the next bill gates wont do anything revolutionary, he'll just piss off everyone his software encounters

Pissed off
by OenBSD-YAY on Mon 24th Feb 2003 01:13 UTC

I didn't learn ANYTHING from this interview. Bill Gates is just still a filthy scum lier who should be broke and go to beg for food.

Programmer or marketroid
by Mr. BASIC on Mon 24th Feb 2003 01:17 UTC

So Bill is the chief software architect at Microsoft
nowadays. ;) Does he actually do any real coding or does he
just look at stuff actual Microsoft programmers are working
on and say "this looks nice" or "no, no, no!!! Balllllmer!!
Get in here!!! This is garbage!!! Get it outta here,
NOW!!!!! Damn it, Ballmer! How am I going to continue to be
#1 on the Forbes 400 list when we're selling this CRAP!?!?
Look at what Apple is doing! Why can't we do that?!? Why
AREN'T we doing that!?!?!" I always wondered if Bill knew
anything beyond GW-BASIC or a little Visual BASIC. They
also didn't ask what Bill thinks of the Amiga One (or the
Commodore One for that matter). I've always wanted to kick
Bill right in the shins for not letting Apple make the
BASIC on those Tandy Color Computers. Using the ol' CoCo
would've been much funner with an Applesoft type BASIC
instead of that crappy Microsoft BASIC. I bet Bill didn't
even help write that version. Oh, damn, I'm rambling and
my beer mug looks kind of empty so I better go now. Let's
hope Bill doesn't ever make his kids feel guilty if they
use Linux or buy a Mac when they're older. You never
know... Peace out, y'all!

RE: RE: RE: I am left with...
by Grant on Mon 24th Feb 2003 01:53 UTC

What exactly did Bill invent ? I'd say that the next Bill Gates will be more of a marketing genius who takes something already invented and adds some eye candy and markets the hell out of it and gains a large market share. After that he/she then locks people into prorietary standards that no one else can use or decifer but also can't live without for the sake of compatibilty. That's your next Bill Gates folks.

Sad but true.

Re: re You know..
by rajan r on Mon 24th Feb 2003 02:43 UTC

Well, it is understandable why Seattle Times nver asked stupid questions - because they are freaking stupid! And for the first two questions, the answer is freaking obvious!

comments
by sam on Mon 24th Feb 2003 03:41 UTC

>>>How am I going to continue to be #1 on the Forbes 400 list when we're selling this CRAP!?!?

Only the Oracle chief has an obsession about being world's richest man. If Gates didn't donate over 24 billion dollars to charity, then Larry couldn't have come within a couple of billion dollars from taking the #1 spot away from Gates.

>>>Let's hope Bill doesn't ever make his kids feel guilty if they use Linux or buy a Mac when they're older.

Well, he is teaching his kids to have a social responsibility to the poor by his charitable works and his stance (with warren buffet) on keeping the inheritance tax. He is teaching his kids what a nice closed knitted family is. (Name another tech billionaire not a multiple divorcee and not dating models.) He is teaching his kids the importance of civic duty by voting in elections (Gates and Warren Buffet --- both democrats ---- are the only billionaires that actually vote from local school district elections to national elections).

My new reactions
by OenBSD-YAY on Mon 24th Feb 2003 03:53 UTC

After reading the interview the second time I decided that Bill Gates=Saddam Hussin/Kim Jong-Il
Bill Gates is like a "doll". What I mean is that people think Bill Gates programmed Windows, etc. but actually he didn't and he just use his filthy @$$ and sit in the office and treat the employees as slaves. Actually Bill Gates did none and he takes money and use the dirty money for his own good. It is just sad. If Bill Gates is great and he contributed so much to the computer community I would actually like him.
-->"Well, he is teaching his kids to have a social responsibility to the poor by his charitable works and his stance (with warren buffet) on keeping the inheritance tax. He is teaching his kids what a nice closed knitted family is. (....."
He will also teach his kids that he wants them to earn dirty cash as he do.

comments
by sam on Mon 24th Feb 2003 04:06 UTC

>>>What I mean is that people think Bill Gates programmed Windows, etc. but actually he didn't and he just use his filthy @$$ and sit in the office and treat the employees as slaves.

Except that Forbes/Fortune magazines have consistently named Microsoft as one of the best place to work in the US.

>>>He will also teach his kids that he wants them to earn dirty cash as he do.

No, he is teaching them that they have to earn a living like everyone else, not just sitting on a large trust fund. Besides, EVERYBODY is dirty anyways. All those Wall Street people is getting away by negotiating with the feds and the SEC --- paid a large cash penalty and NOT admitting any wrongdoing.

Microsoft didn't get away with murder, EVERYBODY else did.

I didn't read the article...
by Jim on Mon 24th Feb 2003 05:04 UTC

but my reaction to the you know is that it is common for people who are uncomfortable with public speaking to say that. A verbal pause is what that is! I would be that more than half of you would do the same in a interview or you might do it now in you everyday speech and never notice it, You know!

lol
by Piete on Mon 24th Feb 2003 07:30 UTC

I honestly think he should fire his hair dresser..

http://tspweb02.tsp.utexas.edu/webarchive/10-24-00/Images/northkore...
http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/ABPub/403073369.jpg

The resemblence is frightening ;)

i am bill gates
by gil bates* on Mon 24th Feb 2003 10:07 UTC

I am Clone #0001, the master image of the master. It is only through replication that the great master will live forever.

Gil Bates | Bill Gates
34543543584384953849549305945848348544589045

...
by rajan r on Mon 24th Feb 2003 14:47 UTC

Bayerwerke: Somehow ignorant of the fact that the PC revolution was started by Apple.

The PC revolution didn't start because of the GUI. The PC revolution started with DOS-based PCs from IBM.

Bayerwerke: A company whose software development is directed by someone who thinks it's funny that he couldn't code himself out of a paper bag.

A person who should direct software development must be a businessman, and especially a marketer. Not a engineer. If you have a engineer as that post, you would have the same fate as many companies, including Be.

Bayerwerke: Ignorant of the the harsh reality is that "The Next Bill Gates" has never worked for Microsoft. He works for a company called Transmeta.

The next Bill Gates for sure WOULD BE a businessman. I doubt he (Torvalds) would be the next one. What I predict is that the next Bill gates wouldn't be in software. Rather in the next generation fuel - hydrogen. And I have a feeling somebody at BP would be the next Bill Gates.

Now when you say the next Bill Gates, I assume you mean someone with the same wealth and power.

Besides, Linus hardly have much influence.

Macs have had microphones attached since... almost since the beginning.

Well, "almost since the beginning", Macs hardly have sound support. It has only been the last decade or so that sound support had been implemented.

Rafa: Oops, it's the ADIB (Apple Did It Before) syndrome again!

From what I understand in the interview, it is hardly the same way Apple implemented it (as a security feature). Can you say "Finder, fetch me movie file xxx"?

Jay Miner: Haha, finally.. proof that this guy doesn't even use his own products. I bet he secretly uses an Amiga! lol!

Well, someone would loose. OS/2 guys says he secretly uses OS/2. Mac guys say Mac. Amiga guys say Amigas. BeOS guys say BeOS. Linux guys say 666 OS.

Anonymous: After that he/she then locks people into prorietary standards that no one else can use or decifer but also can't live without for the sake of compatibilty.

LOL. You have no idea. Lets' use Office as an example. Most of the file format have been decripted, and the reason why nobody has anything close to a 100% support is because nobody have all the formating featurs Microsoft has.

Anonymous: the next bill gates isnt linus, he doesnt try to fuck over his users. and the next bill gates wont do anything revolutionary, he'll just piss off everyone his software encounters

Apparently, the market likes getting pissed off, after all, they gave it to Microsoft...

Mr. BASIC: Look at what Apple is doing! Why can't we do that?!?

If they are going to copy Apple, I don't see anything wrong with it. Except that a lot of supposedly Apple's ideas weren't theirs originally.

OenBSD-YAY: treat the employees as slaves.

Don't every majority share holder in any company? What do you expect? He single handedly code every product? The last product he actually coded for was a laptop-like thing - 3 decades ago.

OenBSD-YAY: He will also teach his kids that he wants them to earn dirty cash as he do.

Let me tell you what's dirty cash. The stuff in Fidel's coffers. The dough where Saddam maintains the dozens of mansions he has. Hu Jintao majority shareholder status in many chinese companies.

Bill gates earned his money fair and square. He won. Antitrust laws are a sore losers law.

Jim: A verbal pause is what that is!

Another famous verbal pause is "what you call it". Bill Gates is rich, he should go for speech terapy. But then again, he may be too old.

Oh dear Lord
by GMFTatsujin on Mon 24th Feb 2003 15:34 UTC

the next Bill Gates

AAAAAARGH! You mean there's ANOTHER ONE coming down the pike?

Super Well
by Bill Gates on Mon 24th Feb 2003 16:28 UTC

I've been trying to talk like a normal person, and we have a great internal team here trying to help me talk in normal mode, but thats been super tough, you know? But with tablets and large screens, things have been going super well.

Re: Super Well
by rajan r on Mon 24th Feb 2003 17:19 UTC

Funny, I didn't know Bill Gates likes coming sites like OSNews from UK... well, at least it is closer to home than the last time you came here (from Germany).