Did you also like that he got cancer and you tried to rip him off?
https://www.cnet.com/news/paul-allen-gates-ballmer-tried-to-...
https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-1371608/Bill-Gates-...
What I loved about Paul Allen
101–110 of 122 posts
Re: What I loved about Paul Allen
#102"... Popular Electronics. It featured a new computer called the Altair 8800, which ran on a powerful new chip. Paul looked at me and said: “This is happening without us!” That moment marked the end of my college career and the beginning of our new company, Microsoft. It happened because of Paul." What a magical moment, those youthful fancies. I know that very spot they stood and it still is the same I guess -- all th…
>“This is happening without us!” That's quite a statement, wow. I wonder if it's moments like this that distinguish really, really successful people from the rest.
So Microsoft was founded on a lucky case of FOMO? Hey, it works sometimes.
Re: What I loved about Paul Allen
#103Growing up a poor kid in Seattle, Microsoft was always that shining beacon on the hill. The idea that anyone, if they study hard, can get a job at one of the most powerful technology companies on earth, was an amazing motivator and source of inspiration. That beacon has grown a little bit dimmer. And yet still, the impact Paul Allen has had on Seattle shall remain for generations to come.
Dimmer why?
Re: What I loved about Paul Allen
#104Earlier quoted context omitted.
One of my favorite movies growing up was Pirates of Silicon Valley (excellent movie, even today) and they portrayed that scene exactly the same as Gates recalled it.
except if my memory serves, it was Paul who was sleeping in a pile of dirty socks and Bill barged into the room saying that. Then the scene cuts to New Mexico
no
Re: What I loved about Paul Allen
#105Earlier quoted context omitted.
Does it matter? The point is that they didn't do it. Yes, it could've happened, nobody is disputing that, and nobody is disputing that it would've been a shitty thing to do. But at the end of the day, it didn't happen. You're arguing a hypothetical and adding even more hypotheticals on top. Nobody will know why it didn't happen, what the motivating factors might have been, but we all know that the conversation took p…
Yes it matters. It says a lot about someone that they would even entertain the idea of cheating their cancer ridden friend.
Perhaps, once they’d reflected on it, they decided it wasn’t fair, just like you have. It seems as though a few here want to demonise Ballmer and Gates for something they ultimately didn’t do. So they had a conversation about it.
Re: What I loved about Paul Allen
#106Earlier quoted context omitted.
One of my favorite movies growing up was Pirates of Silicon Valley (excellent movie, even today) and they portrayed that scene exactly the same as Gates recalled it.
except if my memory serves, it was Paul who was sleeping in a pile of dirty socks and Bill barged into the room saying that. Then the scene cuts to New Mexico
Bill was waking up from a hangover due to the previous night. He awakes to Paul waving the magazine saying, Bill! Bill!
Re: What I loved about Paul Allen
#107Earlier quoted context omitted.
I hope your friends read this! Sounds like you value money - just business - incomparably more than friendship. Why?!
I think you may be misreading the intent. I've also seen several friendships destroyed because of business disagreements. I take the message as "Don't get into business with friends if you value their friendship."
Replying also to the other comments: Ah thanks, yeah. I've painfully learnt not to lend/give friends money! It cost me a great friendship. But it wasn't deliberate on their part; I guess I read the GP as saying "Expect your friends to fuck you over, and that's ok/your own fault." I am familiar with the risk of business to friendship, but the GP seemed to be going somewhat further, although it seems ambiguous exactly what they're saying.
Re: What I loved about Paul Allen
#108"... Popular Electronics. It featured a new computer called the Altair 8800, which ran on a powerful new chip. Paul looked at me and said: “This is happening without us!” That moment marked the end of my college career and the beginning of our new company, Microsoft. It happened because of Paul." What a magical moment, those youthful fancies. I know that very spot they stood and it still is the same I guess -- all th…
>“This is happening without us!” That's quite a statement, wow. I wonder if it's moments like this that distinguish really, really successful people from the rest.
No, I don't think so. Inspiration is perishable, I don't recall who said that but it's true. It doesn't matter if you have a good idea, they are ever so common. Execution is everything.
Re: What I loved about Paul Allen
#109Earlier quoted context omitted.
Well, judging by the account name, this is probably Peter Wang, the CTO of Anaconda, Inc. So maybe that answers your question.
Hahaha this is great. But did you win the Putnam?
For the uninitiated:
Re: What I loved about Paul Allen
#110Earlier quoted context omitted.
Yes it matters. It says a lot about someone that they would even entertain the idea of cheating their cancer ridden friend.
Perhaps, once they’d reflected on it, they decided it wasn’t fair, just like you have. It seems as though a few here want to demonise Ballmer and Gates for something they ultimately didn’t do. So they had a conversation about it.
You don't think that to have a conversation about maybe doing something blatantly evil, instead of dismissing it out of hand, reflects poorly on someone's character even if the conclusion of that conversation is not to do the evil thing?