Hacker News Board Hacker News, browsed like a classic message board
Live data from Hacker News

Bill Gates, Hero

blog.redfin.com

Post reply on HN
Print view View original

231–239 of 239 posts

Re: Bill Gates, Hero

#231

Post by rbanffy »

gaius wrote: post #229
rbanffy wrote: post #213

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I was able to save a wordstar document on any CP/M (including CP/M 86) machine and transfer it to any other, including my Apple II running CP/M through a coprocessor. Most other word processors of the time could exchange files in one format or another. I never had any problems with it. And you shouldn't be using a SPARC 5 on 1994 anyway.

That is true, but it is also true that CP/M was never dominant in the same way that Windows became. At the same time as CP/M there were all the micros (BBC, Commodore, Sinclair, Amstrad), Japan had the MSX "standard" etc etc. Whereas in the Windows era you were likely to fnd machines running the same applications everywhere, even at home.

CP/M was very important in the small-business microcomputer space, offering a measure of compatibility other platforms couldn't. Minis lived above that space and didn't compete directly with micros in the small-business.

The home computer space was much more fragmented and was where Apple, Commodore, Atari, BBC, Amstrad and Sinclair competed. BBC, Amstrad and Sinclair were important only in Europe, further fragmenting that market. It later became dominated by the same IBM-PC clones that took over small businesses.

Re: Bill Gates, Hero

#232

Post by rbanffy »

ced wrote: post #146
edw519 wrote: post #66

Earlier quoted context omitted.

...but this part above strikes me as petty... Sorry if it came across that way; that was not my intent. Everyone's starting point is relative. No one ever gave me the gifts that Bill Gates got. But then again, I've had gifts that 99% of everyone who ever lived couldn't imagine. With those gifts comes responsibility. Whenever I have an opportunity to use my gifts to do good things, I think of how proud those who made…

Bill Gates never used his tremendous gifts for the greater good, only for the good of Microsoft. Wait, what? Are you arguing that his foundation is some kind of elaborate scam?

> Are you arguing that his foundation is some kind of elaborate scam?

I wouldn't rule that out. It has donated Microsoft products (in markets where alternatives could gain a foothold) and money for vaccines (we shouldn't forget Gates has a lot invested in the biotech sector). In the end, some of those donations return to him.

I am not saying his philanthropism is inherently evil. I am just acknowledging the possibility it's may not be completely devoid of self-interest.

Re: Bill Gates, Hero

#233

Post by rbanffy »

sutro wrote: post #228
rbanffy wrote: post #222

Earlier quoted context omitted.

> How does your track record measure up to Gates'? I was never involved in anti-competitive practices. I probably had more girlfriends and went to better parties. Girls considered me hot. > Which companies have you bootstrapped? None. I am not a billionaire. > Which charities have you founded? I regularly donate to several local charities. > Or are you just a bitter salaryman complaining from the cheap seats on the s…

Ah yes, ad hominem, the great refuge of the HN peanut gallery. Many want to be judged on their comments alone. But commenting on a website is easy, far easier than any of the things in Gates' career that you claim were easy. So I was wondering if you had done anything in your career that I would consider hard. If you had, I might be inclined to give your comments more respect than they deserve on their face. But it s…

> Many want to be judged on their comments alone.

Ideas should not be judged by anything other than what they are.

> So I was wondering if you had done anything in your career that I would consider hard. If you had, I might be inclined to give your comments more respect than they deserve on their face.

The respect you give to my comments is not important to me. You may give the respect you think they deserve, for I will not give your thoughts any more respect than I think they deserve.

> so you have no standing to criticize Gates in my book.

You must know your book is not a very important one for anyone but you.

Re: Bill Gates, Hero

#234

Post by rbanffy »

mfukar wrote: post #227
rbanffy wrote: post #223

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Windows, but why is it relevant to this discussion? Windows appeared well after personal computers became popular. In fact, it only became relevant when business computers invaded the space previously dominated by home computers. Its dominance started in the 90's after 3.0 was launched. On Tramiel thing, Commodore built some very popular personal computers that were incredibly capable for their prices. Many of us (I…

I don't really see how one could speak about wide adoption of the personal computer and not count Microsoft in the equation. The "diverse", as other fellow HNers have kindly put it, computing environment of Atari, Apple, IBM et al was a complete nightmare for developer and user alike. Even if it weren't needed, since Z80, 6502, Motorola's 68000 as well as the variants of CP/M were entering oblivion, Microsoft slowly…

> The "diverse" (...) computing environment of Atari, Apple, IBM et al was a complete nightmare for developer and user alike

I don't think so. You had a handful of self-sufficient ecosystems to work in. Apart from having only one software ecosystem, I can't see why you may think we are better off now.

> how one may deny that Gates brought the PC to the masses with knowledge of the above are beyond me

Since it's your own assessment of your own shortcomings, I assume you must be right.

Re: Bill Gates, Hero

#235

Post by sutro »

rbanffy wrote: post #233
sutro wrote: post #228

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Ah yes, ad hominem, the great refuge of the HN peanut gallery. Many want to be judged on their comments alone. But commenting on a website is easy, far easier than any of the things in Gates' career that you claim were easy. So I was wondering if you had done anything in your career that I would consider hard. If you had, I might be inclined to give your comments more respect than they deserve on their face. But it s…

> Many want to be judged on their comments alone. Ideas should not be judged by anything other than what they are. > So I was wondering if you had done anything in your career that I would consider hard. If you had, I might be inclined to give your comments more respect than they deserve on their face. The respect you give to my comments is not important to me. You may give the respect you think they deserve, for I w…

Ideas, thoughts, comments, criticisms don't deserve much respect whether they come from me or you or anyone else. Because it's all just talk, and talk is cheap. Actions and results are what matter. Bill Gates is a man of action and results.

Re: Bill Gates, Hero

#236

Post by theprodigy »

theprodigy wrote: post #100
edw519 wrote: post #13

Why do you think Silicon Valley has never quite come around on this guy? Because of the trail of dead bodies and lost opportunities left in his wake. Let's not forget, Bill Gates was handed a 0th birthday gift of $1 million from his grandfather, the keys to his private middle school computer (the same one Stanford had), and a free ticket to do business with IBM because his mother already knew its chairman. Sure he wa…

larry ellison is a true silicon valley hero and success story.

damn i didn't know people hated larry ellison so much. He did have a rough upbringing and didn't have the advatages Bill Gates had and founded one of the most successful technology companies in the world.

How can anyone deny that he is a Silicon Valley hero and success story. He is going to save Sun.

Re: Bill Gates, Hero

#237

Post by rbanffy »

sutro wrote: post #235
rbanffy wrote: post #233

Earlier quoted context omitted.

> Many want to be judged on their comments alone. Ideas should not be judged by anything other than what they are. > So I was wondering if you had done anything in your career that I would consider hard. If you had, I might be inclined to give your comments more respect than they deserve on their face. The respect you give to my comments is not important to me. You may give the respect you think they deserve, for I w…

Ideas, thoughts, comments, criticisms don't deserve much respect whether they come from me or you or anyone else. Because it's all just talk, and talk is cheap. Actions and results are what matter. Bill Gates is a man of action and results.

> Bill Gates is a man of action and results.

Don't forget the lawsuits.

Re: Bill Gates, Hero

#238

Post by mfukar »

rbanffy wrote: post #234
mfukar wrote: post #227

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I don't really see how one could speak about wide adoption of the personal computer and not count Microsoft in the equation. The "diverse", as other fellow HNers have kindly put it, computing environment of Atari, Apple, IBM et al was a complete nightmare for developer and user alike. Even if it weren't needed, since Z80, 6502, Motorola's 68000 as well as the variants of CP/M were entering oblivion, Microsoft slowly…

> The "diverse" (...) computing environment of Atari, Apple, IBM et al was a complete nightmare for developer and user alike I don't think so. You had a handful of self-sufficient ecosystems to work in. Apart from having only one software ecosystem, I can't see why you may think we are better off now. > how one may deny that Gates brought the PC to the masses with knowledge of the above are beyond me Since it's your…

It's not my assessment, I just happen to agree with it. You disagreed with it yet came to the same conclusion (Microsoft's dominance over desktop). I simply miss the logical step in that process.

PS. Also, there are plenty of "digital ecosystems" for us to play with, even today. Billions over billions of ad hoc, embedded, portable, desktop, mainframe and all the other platforms in between. Thankfully some unification now exists (where it matters).

Re: Bill Gates, Hero

#239

Post by nailer »

_b8r0 wrote: post #204
nailer wrote: post #88

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Yeah, they were as bad compared to Windows as Windows was compared to GEM on Atari and Amiga, or MacOS 10 years earlier.

Gem was Atari and C64, not Amiga. The Amiga used Workbench, so there was no need for Gem.

Oops. I was an Atari kid and I didn't know much about Amiga. Except, obviously, that we had midi and you didn't.
Post reply on HN