Microsoft Co-Founder Paul Allen Hits Out at Gates

#1

Post by nhebb » Wed, Mar 30, 2011, 12:38 PM UTC

Microsoft Co-Founder Paul Allen Hits Out at Gates
online.wsj.com

Re: Microsoft Co-Founder Paul Allen Hits Out at Gates

#2

Post by winestock » Wed, Mar 30, 2011, 1:39 PM UTC

Cringley's account of Paul Allen's fight against Hodgkin's disease while at Microsoft may be relevant.

http://www.pbs.org/cringely/pulpit/2006/pulpit_20060330_0008...

Re: Microsoft Co-Founder Paul Allen Hits Out at Gates

#3

Post by codingthewheel » Wed, Mar 30, 2011, 1:47 PM UTC

Difficult to see how publicizing this stuff could be beneficial for Mr. Allen. At that level, and sitting on top of a multi-billion dollar fortune, it almost never behooves you to say anything negative about anybody -- least of all one of your former partners. I also think complaining about not getting a bigger share of MS stock, when you've got 14 billion in the bank...not exactly the stuff of which Jedi are made.

Re: Microsoft Co-Founder Paul Allen Hits Out at Gates

#4

Post by michael_dorfman » Wed, Mar 30, 2011, 1:50 PM UTC

See http://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=2386411 for the Vanity Fair article by Allen.

Re: Microsoft Co-Founder Paul Allen Hits Out at Gates

#5

Post by c2 » Wed, Mar 30, 2011, 1:59 PM UTC

I feel like I've worked with people like Paul Allen (programmers). They tend to over value their own contributions and have "revisionist histories" when considering their relationship with their manager, but really it comes down to how much recognition they received.

The quote about Paul wanting significantly more shares for his contributions to SoftCard specifically ring true. SoftCard might have been a sales success, but comparing it's impact on Microsoft to Basic itself is a little off.

Re: Microsoft Co-Founder Paul Allen Hits Out at Gates

#6

Post by [deleted] » Wed, Mar 30, 2011, 2:10 PM UTC

[deleted]

Re: Microsoft Co-Founder Paul Allen Hits Out at Gates

#7

Post by silvestrov » Wed, Mar 30, 2011, 2:11 PM UTC

codingthewheel wrote: post #3

Difficult to see how publicizing this stuff could be beneficial for Mr. Allen. At that level, and sitting on top of a multi-billion dollar fortune, it almost never behooves you to say anything negative about anybody -- least of all one of your former partners. I also think complaining about not getting a bigger share of MS stock, when you've got 14 billion in the bank...not exactly the stuff of which Jedi are made.

He wants to be acknowledged. Everybody knows Bill Gates and sees him as the smart and great computer guy, while Mr. Allan is an unknown. It's like 2 brothers where the lesser talented uses all his life to proof he's just as good and therefore never gets to create something.

Re: Microsoft Co-Founder Paul Allen Hits Out at Gates

#8

Post by [deleted] » Wed, Mar 30, 2011, 2:12 PM UTC

codingthewheel wrote: post #3

Difficult to see how publicizing this stuff could be beneficial for Mr. Allen. At that level, and sitting on top of a multi-billion dollar fortune, it almost never behooves you to say anything negative about anybody -- least of all one of your former partners. I also think complaining about not getting a bigger share of MS stock, when you've got 14 billion in the bank...not exactly the stuff of which Jedi are made.

[deleted]

Re: Microsoft Co-Founder Paul Allen Hits Out at Gates

#9

Post by nikcub » Wed, Mar 30, 2011, 2:12 PM UTC

codingthewheel wrote: post #3

Difficult to see how publicizing this stuff could be beneficial for Mr. Allen. At that level, and sitting on top of a multi-billion dollar fortune, it almost never behooves you to say anything negative about anybody -- least of all one of your former partners. I also think complaining about not getting a bigger share of MS stock, when you've got 14 billion in the bank...not exactly the stuff of which Jedi are made.

The story is part of a very good publicity campaign for his book, which has been written as a memoir. He wants his legacy to be remembered as 'Paul Allen' rather than 'that other guy'.

(The excerpt in VF is very good: http://www.vanityfair.com/business/features/2011/05/paul-all...)

Re: Microsoft Co-Founder Paul Allen Hits Out at Gates

#10

Post by jbigelow » Wed, Mar 30, 2011, 2:47 PM UTC

codingthewheel wrote: post #3

Difficult to see how publicizing this stuff could be beneficial for Mr. Allen. At that level, and sitting on top of a multi-billion dollar fortune, it almost never behooves you to say anything negative about anybody -- least of all one of your former partners. I also think complaining about not getting a bigger share of MS stock, when you've got 14 billion in the bank...not exactly the stuff of which Jedi are made.

What is the risk for somebody with 14 billion in the bank to call out other when he/she feels they've been wrong (regardless of whether it's perception or reality). Allen could have called Gates they antichrist and he'd still have people lined up around the block to take his VC money or sit in the owner's box of Trailblazers game with him. 14 billion is definitely "FU" money.