Bill Gates not bothered by Steve Jobs's comments in biography

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Comments

  • Reply 61 of 87
    Quote:
    Originally Posted by Obi-Wan Kubrick View Post


    I've grown to like Bill Gates over the years. Giving away half of his wealth and his foundation are really amazing feats. Steve won in the end (or currently) as Apple is king. I liked the quote Jobs said about Gates 'not wanting to be the richest guy in the cemetery."



    Quote:
    Originally Posted by LonerATO View Post


    Not like Steve didn't leave a ton of jack in his grave.



    Gates asked Jobs to dedicate a % of his estate to charity but was rebuffed.
  • Reply 62 of 87
    Quote:
    Originally Posted by SSquirrel View Post


    Yes, especially pie http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iK6SS8CXYZo



    Dan Rather even said he just walked in, wiped his face off and had his meeting w/o an outburst.



    The fact that he was so logical explains a great bit about the big differences between Apple and Microsoft.
  • Reply 63 of 87
    ikolikol Posts: 369member
    At least Bill Gates is not a prick and instead an incredible philanthropist.
  • Reply 64 of 87
    jmc54jmc54 Posts: 207member
    [QUOTE=iKol;1979221]At least Bill Gates is not a prick and instead an incredible philanthropist.[QUOTE]

    I'm sorry, but gates and ballmer were the hungriest sharks in the water during microsofts big years. These guys were anything but warm and fuzzy!!
  • Reply 65 of 87
    asdasdasdasd Posts: 5,686member
    I have no time for MS, and had little Time for Gates when CEO. He has however proven himself to be a great man, and a forgiving one too, since.
  • Reply 66 of 87
    First of all, the whole notion of a comparo between Gates and Jobs as to who is the "better man" is silly and futile.



    The warts-and-all bio of Steve has made is seem as though Gates has no faults as a person. But consider that Gates' personal spending has been much more consistent with the stereotypical rich guy: huge gated house on the water with all the gadgets and high-end everything. While Jobs put his creativity into making better products rather than in home furnishings--living pretty much like a normal guy. Gates was also the one who forbade his family from bringing any Apple products into his mansion. Does that sound like such a warm, fuzzy and forgiving guy? Sounds a little dickish to me. Kinda like something Steve would be accused of being.



    I'm just saying, neither one is perfect. Both have left the world a better place in their own ways. That should be enough.
  • Reply 67 of 87
    galbigalbi Posts: 968member
    Of course he is not bothered.



    He is still living.
  • Reply 68 of 87
    ash471ash471 Posts: 705member
    Quote:
    Originally Posted by Stourque View Post


    Deep down, Bill Gates knew there was a lot of truth to what steve jobs said. He knew that with all each other's faults there was a mutual respect for one another. And steve probably already told him to his face, what was in the book.



    It is obvious to me that most of you have not read the book. First of all, Steve never read the book so he couldn't possibly have commented on it. Secondly, if you read the book, you will realize that Steve Jobs and Bill Gates in the end had a pretty good relationship. I think the relationship really started to heal when Jobs came back to Apple in 1997 and agreed to settle the lawsuit between Apple and Microsoft and Gates agreed to keep supporting Word for the Mac and made a cash infusion that helped save the company. They were both self interested in making the deal but they got over their past emotions and did a deal that was good for both companies. If you read the book, you'll find out that after Jobs' second round of cancer he invited Gates to dinner at his house and had a three hour conversation about the good ol days. The book is critical and complimentary of both Steve Jobs and Bill Gates. Don't forget that Steve didn't write it. Walter Isaacson wrote it. The way I see it, Gates' response about the book is exactly what I would expect based on the relationship that he and Steve had at the time of his death.
  • Reply 69 of 87
    ash471ash471 Posts: 705member
    Quote:
    Originally Posted by stelligent View Post


    Gates asked Jobs to dedicate a % of his estate to charity but was rebuffed.



    If what you are suggesting about Steve Jobs is that he wasn't charitable, you are completely wrong. He was very charitable, but in a different way. You almost have to read the book to understand, but I'll make an attempt.



    Steve felt his lot in life was to make good products. It wasn't about the money. He didn't seek great fortunes. He had no interest in managing great fortunes. He didn't seek to be on a list of rich guys. And he certainly didn't think his talent was fixing the world through philanthropic efforts. Steve wanted to make good products and build a company with a culture that would continue to make good products after he was gone. Steve wanted total control in the process of creating those products and that company and he wanted the whole world to know that he did it. I think Steve accomplished that. And more importantly I think his decision to focus on Apple and its products rather than philanthropy was the right decision. What most people don't realize is that the billions of dollars Steve had when he died were derived from PIXAR and NeXT, not from being CEO of Apple. He took a salary of $1 from Apple. Admittedly he did get Apple stock options, but that had more to do with respect as CEO than it did with a desire for money. Steve's wealth from Apple pales in comparison to what other CEOs get from their companies and was only a fraction compared to the money from PIXAR. You will not meet another CEO that was more dedicated to his company and his products and less concerned about money than Steve Jobs. Is that not Charity?
  • Reply 70 of 87
    ash471ash471 Posts: 705member
    Quote:
    Originally Posted by nicolbolas View Post


    check here

    now, even though 10 million dollars is a lot of money, and i guess he is counting his cash, he is giving away what, 60+ billion dollars away (imagine if Apple gave the majority of its cash on hand to charities, etc)



    I feel like Gate's is trying to help people in the world. He may keep more cash than most people get.



    i know i will be (possibly) singled out now, but:



    as wanting to help other people get out of starvation, poverty, etc, BILL GATES is far more caring and willing that STEVE JOBS ever was. i saw this after reading the book



    as a final summary of what Gates does:

    Gates- chooses to help those who need it a lot (Now, when he was at MS they copied lots of concepts that Apple created)

    Jobs- choose to help people who were better off by giving them better ways to access the web, communicate, etc.



    You are delusional about the generosity of Bill Gates spending his money on charity. Do you realize how hard it is to spend 60 billion dollars? Bill Gates decided to do what he wanted to do. He gets to hire people to fix the world's problems and fly all over the world checking out what his charity is doing and thinking of new stuff to do. It sounds like a lot of fun to me. Bill Gates didn't have the creativity to change the computer industry and had no reason to stay involved with it. Bill Gates had the business sense to profit from the industry. Bill's talents are better used in putting that money to good use (and from what I understand Bill is very shrewd in his charity). I think that is great because Bill Gates will be better at running a charitable organization than the buffoons running most the charities in the world. Steve Jobs skill was not in being a shrewd businessman (although he was pretty good at it). His real talent was making products. Bill Gates isn't better or worse than Steve Jobs, he was just different. Bill made lots of money and Steve made great products and an innovative company. They both contributed a lot to this world.
  • Reply 71 of 87
    ash471ash471 Posts: 705member
    The one person that should clearly be offended by the book is Steve Ballmer. Steve Jobs didn't mince words when he said Ballmer ran Microsoft into the grand. With Ballmer it wasn't take the good with the bad. For Ballmer it is all bad.
  • Reply 72 of 87
    dasanman69dasanman69 Posts: 13,002member
    Quote:
    Originally Posted by BuzzMega View Post


    Gates is forever condemned to existing in a world filled with creativity, song, dance, photography, cinematography, acting, graphics, grace, emotion, love and the exquisite rhythms of art, while counting his money, attending to technicalities, and keeping his namesakes.



    How satisfying that must feel, to him.



    Dude Bill Gates is the world's biggest philanthropist. He donates much of his money and gets others to donate large sums to help those in need. He is literally changing the lives of people, and he doesnt sit his ass in his home doing it. he visits impoverished countries and its citizens.
  • Reply 73 of 87
    ipenipen Posts: 410member
    Quote:
    Originally Posted by Robin Huber View Post


    Do great conductors matter? All the players in a symphony orchestra actually make the music, don't they. I could stand in front of them and be the human metronome, right? And the Berlin Philharmonic would sound just as good under my baton as any other fool, right?



    This analogy breaks down in Steve's case because in a sense although he didn't make the music, he often wrote it. Call him: conductor/composer.



    Get over it, detractors. Steve mattered. He mattered a lot.



    Totally agree. Without Steve, Apple is not the same... Better or worse, time will tell. But I would not bet on the better side. My 4s is giving me the low bat. warning. It's only about 12 hrs. since last charge, sighhhh. They don't make it like the 3G anymore.
  • Reply 74 of 87
    ssquirrelssquirrel Posts: 1,196member
    Quote:
    Originally Posted by ash471 View Post


    The one person that should clearly be offended by the book is Steve Ballmer. Steve Jobs didn't mince words when he said Ballmer ran Microsoft into the grand. With Ballmer it wasn't take the good with the bad. For Ballmer it is all bad.



    The truth hurts. Ballmer's reign at MS has been pretty awful.
  • Reply 75 of 87
    Quote:
    Originally Posted by ash471 View Post


    The one person that should clearly be offended by the book is Steve Ballmer. Steve Jobs didn't mince words when he said Ballmer ran Microsoft into the grand. With Ballmer it wasn't take the good with the bad. For Ballmer it is all bad.



    I was thinking the same thing, but Ballmer is too stupid. You would think that after all his time at the top of Microsoft, he would have learned something - like how to do his job. Every time he opens his mouth he's wrong. Imagine if Ballmer worked at apple. Steve would have ripped him a new asshole so fast. Why Microsoft keeps this Baffin around is beyond comprehension.
  • Reply 76 of 87
    ssquirrelssquirrel Posts: 1,196member
    Quote:
    Originally Posted by Stourque View Post


    Why Microsoft keeps this Baffin around is beyond comprehension.



    "buffoon" is the word you were looking for. Old college roommate nepotism basically. He was the only one of their circle of friends w/any business training either and he somehow ended up staying near the top the whole time Bill was there and is now in charge. Altho, MS's stock is what, half what it was when Bill was there?
  • Reply 77 of 87
    dasanman69dasanman69 Posts: 13,002member
    Quote:
    Originally Posted by ash471 View Post


    If what you are suggesting about Steve Jobs is that he wasn't charitable, you are completely wrong. He was very charitable, but in a different way. You almost have to read the book to understand, but I'll make an attempt.



    Steve felt his lot in life was to make good products. It wasn't about the money. He didn't seek great fortunes. He had no interest in managing great fortunes. He didn't seek to be on a list of rich guys. And he certainly didn't think his talent was fixing the world through philanthropic efforts. Steve wanted to make good products and build a company with a culture that would continue to make good products after he was gone. Steve wanted total control in the process of creating those products and that company and he wanted the whole world to know that he did it. I think Steve accomplished that. And more importantly I think his decision to focus on Apple and its products rather than philanthropy was the right decision. What most people don't realize is that the billions of dollars Steve had when he died were derived from PIXAR and NeXT, not from being CEO of Apple. He took a salary of $1 from Apple. Admittedly he did get Apple stock options, but that had more to do with respect as CEO than it did with a desire for money. Steve's wealth from Apple pales in comparison to what other CEOs get from their companies and was only a fraction compared to the money from PIXAR. You will not meet another CEO that was more dedicated to his company and his products and less concerned about money than Steve Jobs. Is that not Charity?





    Only to Apple
  • Reply 78 of 87
    Quote:
    Originally Posted by makeintosh View Post


    Quite simple really...Gates left and we now have Ballmer. I wish Gates had remained CEO.



    You don't get it do you? Which is more important, solving the problems of poverty and access to modern technology and education or pushing out Office 2015? Enjoy Windows 8.
  • Reply 79 of 87
    Steve and Bill both are great men who create a new history. Apple and microsoft are opposites, the same Steve and Bill. They also had a kind of love/hate relationship, but with doubt they have an interesting respect for each other.



    I admire both of them, Bill probably the most controlled person, Steve the most innovative against establishment. Apple and Microsoft different but necessary



    George
  • Reply 80 of 87
    Quote:
    Originally Posted by makeintosh View Post


    Quite simple really...Gates left and we now have Ballmer. I wish Gates had remained CEO.



    Quote:
    Originally Posted by ash471 View Post


    You are delusional about the generosity of Bill Gates spending his money on charity. Do you realize how hard it is to spend 60 billion dollars? Bill Gates decided to do what he wanted to do. He gets to hire people to fix the world's problems and fly all over the world checking out what his charity is doing and thinking of new stuff to do. It sounds like a lot of fun to me. Bill Gates didn't have the creativity to change the computer industry and had no reason to stay involved with it. Bill Gates had the business sense to profit from the industry. Bill's talents are better used in putting that money to good use (and from what I understand Bill is very shrewd in his charity). I think that is great because Bill Gates will be better at running a charitable organization than the buffoons running most the charities in the world. Steve Jobs skill was not in being a shrewd businessman (although he was pretty good at it). His real talent was making products. Bill Gates isn't better or worse than Steve Jobs, he was just different. Bill made lots of money and Steve made great products and an innovative company. They both contributed a lot to this world.



    You do realize that Bill Gates ran the company that crushed Apple when it had a bigger computer marketshare than it does today? Bill Gates is well qualified to run a multibillion dollar technology firm.
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