Microsoft co-founder Paul Allen dies at 65

Posted:
in General Discussion edited October 2018
Paul Allen, co-founder of Microsoft, entrepreneur and philanthropist, died on Monday after a long bout with non-Hodgkins lymphoma. He was 65.




Allen's investment firm Vulcan Capital confirmed his passing in a statement.
All of us who had the honor of working with Paul feel inexpressible loss today. He possessed a remarkable intellect and a passion to solve some of the world's most difficult problems, with the conviction that creative thinking and new approaches could make profound and lasting impact.

Millions of people were touched by his generosity, his persistence in pursuit of a better world, and his drive to accomplish as much as he could with the time and resources at his disposal.
Allen died in Seattle two weeks after revealing a return to treatment for the cancer he had fought into remission nine years ago. He was diagnosed with Hodgkin's lymphoma in 1982, a disease that prompted his departure from Microsoft in 1983.

One of the richest people on earth, Allen is best known for co-founding Microsoft with Bill Gates in 1975. It was Allen who inked Microsoft's deal for Tim Paterson's Quick and Dirty Operating System, which was ultimately delivered to IBM for use in the company's PC products. Microsoft grew from there to become a tech industry titan.

Though he officially left Microsoft's board of directors in 2000, Allen stayed on as an advisor to Gates and held millions of shares of company stock. At the time of his death, Allen's estimated net worth was pegged at above $20 billion.

"As co-founder of Microsoft, in his own quiet and persistent way, he created magical products, experiences and institutions, and in doing so, he changed the world," Microsoft CEO Satya Nadella said in a statement. "I have learned so much from him - his inquisitiveness, curiosity and push for high standards is something that will continue to inspire me and all of us at Microsoft."

While his contributions to modern computing are substantial, Allen's philanthropic and extracurricular endeavors far outweigh his business accomplishments. He made significant investments to fight Ebola and founded medical research institutes the Allen Institute for Brain Science, Allen Institute for Cell Science and The Paul G. Allen Frontiers Group.

His investments realized Burt Rutan's SpaceShipOne commercial aircraft, while personal initiatives Stratolaunch Systems and Vulcan Aerospace seek to reduce the cost of space travel.

Allen also sank millions into sea exploration, discovering the wrecks of the USS Indianapolis, USS Lexington, USS Juneau and other historic ships. With the Royal Navy he led two attempts to recover the bell of the HMS Hood.

Allen also bought controlling interests in Charter Communications and Ticketmaster, and owned both the NFL's Seattle Seahawks and the NBA's Portland Trail Blazers.

"Paul's family and friends were blessed to experience his wit, warmth, his generosity and deep concern," his sister Jody Allen said in a statement. "For all the demands on his schedule, there was always time for family and friends. At this time of loss and grief for us - and so many others - we are profoundly grateful for the care and concern he demonstrated every day."

Not everything Allen touched turned to gold, however. His Interval Research Corp., an early tech incubator and patent farm, went belly-up in 2000. Patents from Interval were later used to sue Apple and a number of other tech companies in 2008, then again in 2010 after the initial legal volley was dismissed.

"Our industry has lost a pioneer and our world has lost a force for good. We send our deepest condolences to Paul's friends, the Allen family and everyone at Microsoft," Apple CEO Tim Cook said in a tweet.

Allen is survived by his sister Jody.
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Comments

  • Reply 1 of 50
    He didn’t have kids. Strange. 
    supremedesignerappleheadwilliamlondon
  • Reply 2 of 50
    I'm getting to an age where 65 seems like a very early death.  

    Didn't he also found the Experience Music Project (now called the Museum of Pop Culture) in Seattle?  (Why, yes he did.)
    christophbbaconstangGeorgeBMaclarryjwSpamSandwich
  • Reply 3 of 50
    steven n.steven n. Posts: 1,229member
    I grew up with him in the forefront of tech. Him, Balmer, Gates and Jobs. 2 are gone... Darn... I am old.
    appleheadanton zuykovolsGeorgeBMacwatto_cobra
  • Reply 4 of 50
    iqatedoiqatedo Posts: 1,822member
    I'm very sorry at his passing. RIP Paul Allen.
    olsSpamSandwichwatto_cobra
  • Reply 5 of 50
    retrogustoretrogusto Posts: 1,106member
    The reports saying how much he contributed to modern computing surprise me a little. I think of Microsoft’s relationship to technology like McDonalds’ relationship to cuisine—sure, they have been innovative over the years, but not in terms of coming up with outstanding breakthrough products, just very good at getting a huge number of customers to buy a few standard products over and over again. It would be interesting to see an in-depth DED piece (is that redundant?) covering significant MS innovations over the years, if such an article is possible.  
    supremedesignerappleheadrandominternetpersonbaconstangolsGeorgeBMacwilliamlondonlordjohnwhorfinwatto_cobra
  • Reply 6 of 50
    matrix077 said:
    He didn’t have kids. Strange. 
    I’ve wondered about that too. 
    appleheadmatrix077
  • Reply 7 of 50
    matrix077 said:
    He didn’t have kids. Strange. 
    When people ask if I have kids, I say, “No, I paid attention in health class.”
    appleheadLordeHawkmatrix077anton zuykovbaconstangdavgregaknabiwilliamlondonMacProDAalseth
  • Reply 8 of 50
    maestro64maestro64 Posts: 5,043member
    I read he claimed to creating a two button mouse, I think Steve stole the idea Xerox and they had a two button mouse, but Steve knew it could be done with one button. What an accomplishment.
    randominternetpersonols
  • Reply 9 of 50
    djsherlydjsherly Posts: 1,031member
    maestro64 said:
    I read he claimed to creating a two button mouse, I think Steve stole the idea Xerox and they had a two button mouse, but Steve knew it could be done with one button. What an accomplishment.
    It *could* be done with one button. And a modifier key. That modifier key was *already on the mouse*. So instead, you have to locate the modifier key on the keyboard. Two devices required to perform a single action.

    Why get rid of it?

    dont get me wrong. He got a lot of things right. In my view the single button mouse was not one of them. 
    techprod1gy
  • Reply 10 of 50
    djsherly said:
    maestro64 said:
    I read he claimed to creating a two button mouse, I think Steve stole the idea Xerox and they had a two button mouse, but Steve knew it could be done with one button. What an accomplishment.
    It *could* be done with one button. And a modifier key. That modifier key was *already on the mouse*. So instead, you have to locate the modifier key on the keyboard. Two devices required to perform a single action.

    Why get rid of it?

    dont get me wrong. He got a lot of things right. In my view the single button mouse was not one of them. 
    It’s simpler to learn, and aesthetically better. That said, I found it easy to adjust to right clicking mouse even thought it’s a bit confusing at first which one I should click. 
    edited October 2018
  • Reply 11 of 50
    tzeshantzeshan Posts: 2,351member
    The reports saying how much he contributed to modern computing surprise me a little. I think of Microsoft’s relationship to technology like McDonalds’ relationship to cuisine—sure, they have been innovative over the years, but not in terms of coming up with outstanding breakthrough products, just very good at getting a huge number of customers to buy a few standard products over and over again. It would be interesting to see an in-depth DED piece (is that redundant?) covering significant MS innovations over the years, if such an article is possible.  
    Microsoft is mostly a software company. Because of the huge success and domination of Windows PC, many people are delusional to think Microsoft is also a hardware company. The success of Windows PC is due to two factors, first the initial strong promotion from technology behemoth IBM. Then after IBM PC is cloned, Taiwanese manufacturers overwhelmed the market with cheap PC selling for just $1000. Microsoft revenue benefited from the ever growing PC sales since. 
    randominternetperson
  • Reply 12 of 50
    djsherly said:
    maestro64 said:
    I read he claimed to creating a two button mouse, I think Steve stole the idea Xerox and they had a two button mouse, but Steve knew it could be done with one button. What an accomplishment.
    It *could* be done with one button. And a modifier key. That modifier key was *already on the mouse*. So instead, you have to locate the modifier key on the keyboard. Two devices required to perform a single action.

    Why get rid of it?

    dont get me wrong. He got a lot of things right. In my view the single button mouse was not one of them. 
    Didn't the original STAR mouse have three buttons?  Less is more.  As things got more advanced and complicated, the second button became useful.  Once people were familiar with the mouse as a tool, the second button wasn't confusing.  One was the right number in 1984.
    tryd
  • Reply 13 of 50
    JWSCJWSC Posts: 1,203member
    matrix077 said:
    He didn’t have kids. Strange. 
    With non-Hodgkin lymphoma he may have had medical treatments over the years that could have led to infertility.
    SpamSandwich
  • Reply 14 of 50
    sflocalsflocal Posts: 6,090member
    matrix077 said:
    He didn’t have kids. Strange. 
    When people ask if I have kids, I say, “No, I paid attention in health class.”
    Or perhaps when he was first diagnosed in the early 80's, perhaps the treatment back then left him unable to have kids?
  • Reply 15 of 50
    baconstangbaconstang Posts: 1,099member
    No kids?  How very green of him!
  • Reply 16 of 50
    hentaiboyhentaiboy Posts: 1,252member
    matrix077 said:
    He didn’t have kids. Strange. 
    He never married. I'm sure you can figure it out.
    GeorgeBMac
  • Reply 17 of 50
    baconstangbaconstang Posts: 1,099member
    hentaiboy said:
    matrix077 said:
    He didn’t have kids. Strange. 
    He never married. I'm sure you can figure it out.
    Some people marry and don't have kids.
    Some people have kids and don't marry.
    I never married, and don't have kids (that I know of).
    What's your point?
    edited October 2018 netroxdewmedavgregolsrandominternetpersonwatto_cobra
  • Reply 18 of 50
    sflocal said:
    matrix077 said:
    He didn’t have kids. Strange. 
    When people ask if I have kids, I say, “No, I paid attention in health class.”
    Or perhaps when he was first diagnosed in the early 80's, perhaps the treatment back then left him unable to have kids?
    Mayhap. I can only type for myself. 
  • Reply 19 of 50
    matrix077 said:
    djsherly said:
    maestro64 said:
    I read he claimed to creating a two button mouse, I think Steve stole the idea Xerox and they had a two button mouse, but Steve knew it could be done with one button. What an accomplishment.
    It *could* be done with one button. And a modifier key. That modifier key was *already on the mouse*. So instead, you have to locate the modifier key on the keyboard. Two devices required to perform a single action.

    Why get rid of it?

    dont get me wrong. He got a lot of things right. In my view the single button mouse was not one of them. 
    It’s simpler to learn, and aesthetically better. That said, I found it easy to adjust to right clicking mouse even thought it’s a bit confusing at first which one I should click. 
    I was so used to clicking the right side of the one-buttoners that when Mighty/Magic Mice debuted, I swapped the left and right. Drives any propellerheads batty. 
    watto_cobra
  • Reply 20 of 50
    eightzeroeightzero Posts: 3,052member
    I'm sort of vaguely aware that Microsoft was something of an innovator in early operating systems. DOS, Winders, that sort of thing. But honestly, I have no idea what Paul Allen's contribution was in all that. Was he a programmer (Like Woz?) Or more like a business guy (like Steve?) I use products every hour of the day that I know came from Steve and Woz, but no idea what Paul's connection was to the government provided winders computer I am forced to use every day. What is his claim to fame? Other than getting uber-rich?
    GeorgeBMacrandominternetpersonwatto_cobra
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