Bill Gates AMA on Reddit

[Zsaleem]

http://www.reddit.com/r/IAmA/comments/18bhme/im_bill_gates_cochair_of_the_bill_melinda_gates/

 

[mkultra]

I love all the people gifting Bill Gates reddit gold. I'm sure he really appreciates it.

 

[zxlk21e]

I love all the people gifting Bill Gates reddit gold. I'm sure he really appreciates it.

most of those people are just using it as a way to "PM" gates I think. One guy used it as a way to get his resume in front of him. Who knows if old billy is even going to read the notes.

 

[nighthaze]

jesus fucking christ. you've got one of the biggest business men of planet earth and you're asking him questions like: did you ever own a mac or what is something that needs to be changed in the world or which is windows is better?

fuck.

 

[BlokBlok]

 

[jacky8]

Someone should ask him, "do you even lift?"

 

[Zaino]

should ask him, how do you feel all these years later for ripping off apple,

or

when do you think microfail will file bankruptcy?

 

[shawnhag]

he really dug deep into the comments wow, he must of had microsofts top rediter replying for him. ive always liked bill...

 

[avatar33]

While I understand the whole philantropy thing, and I would probably do the same if I had billions sitting in my debit account, I don't understand why he had to leave Microsoft so early. This company clearly isn't what it used to be and the only reason they're still thriving is because of the marketshare that Windows has... and corporations refusing to embrace Linux, MAC or any other option. I give them a maximum of 15-20 years before they're off the map if they continue on the same track...

 

[roclafamilia]

While I understand the whole philantropy thing, and I would probably do the same if I had billions sitting in my debit account, I don't understand why he had to leave Microsoft so early. This company clearly isn't what it used to be and the only reason they're still thriving is because of the marketshare that Windows has... and corporations refusing to embrace Linux, MAC or any other option. I give them a maximum of 15-20 years before they're off the map if they continue on the same track...

Mac*

It drives me crazy when people say Mac as an acronym.

 

[music4mic]

should ask him, how do you feel all these years later for ripping off apple,

He described The Pirates of Silicon Valley as "reasonably accurate," which is akin to acknowledging that he ripped off Apple.

 

[Fatbat]

I give them a maximum of 15-20 years before they're off the map if they continue on the same track...

What track are they headed on exactly? What are they doing wrong?

 

[amateursurgeon]

While I understand the whole philantropy thing, and I would probably do the same if I had billions sitting in my debit account, I don't understand why he had to leave Microsoft so early. This company clearly isn't what it used to be and the only reason they're still thriving is because of the marketshare that Windows has... and corporations refusing to embrace Linux, MAC or any other option. I give them a maximum of 15-20 years before they're off the map if they continue on the same track...

I think it's fairly simple - he decided it was time to move on to a new challenge. ALL companies/people/ideas have their day in the sun, before they inevitably fade. He's been smart enough to recognise this, the same way a good boxer knows it's time to retire before he started losing bouts. It's very unlikely him sticking around would have returned them to their former glory.

Plus, what he's working on now is more important than whatever operating system is running on people's computers.

 

[louiexism]

LOL Redditors asking stupid questions like did he own Apple products. If I have the chance to ask one of the world's richest and greatest businessman a question then I might as well ask something useful, profound and relevant.

 

[pocketrockets]

While I understand the whole philantropy thing, and I would probably do the same if I had billions sitting in my debit account, I don't understand why he had to leave Microsoft so early. This company clearly isn't what it used to be and the only reason they're still thriving is because of the marketshare that Windows has... and corporations refusing to embrace Linux, MAC or any other option. I give them a maximum of 15-20 years before they're off the map if they continue on the same track...

Annual revenue of $74 Billion, Cash on hand $68 Billion ...Peasant money... pfft

 

[WildGunner]

He described The Pirates of Silicon Valley as "reasonably accurate," which is akin to acknowledging that he ripped off Apple.

Great film. Watch periodically for inspiration and insight. Jobs was a monster leader

 

[boatBurner]

Bummer, I was a little disappointed with this AMA.

 

[cardine]

I did like this answer he gave:

 

[avatar33]

What track are they headed on exactly? What are they doing wrong?

Their flagship products haven't really changed in 20 years.

Try Ubuntu and you'll see how bad Windows sucks.

Try Chrome (which you probably already do) and you'll see how bad IE sucks.

On the surface (no pun intended) all their products look fancier year by year, but at the core it's the same BS coding philosophy. Can you imagine that in 2013 I still need to restart my computer after I install a software on Windows? Can you believe that?

Like I said, the only reason they're still balling is their domination in the corporate world. Once big corporations slowly start dropping these windows licenses, MS Exchange and the multi-million dollar business services they have with them, they'll fade away. XBox, Windows Phone and Surface aren't gonna save them at that point.

 

[cardine]

On the surface (no pun intended) all their products look fancier year by year, but at the core it's the same BS coding philosophy. Can you imagine that in 2013 I still need to restart my computer after I install a software on Windows? Can you believe that?

Of all the things to criticize Windows for, you succeeded in picking about the most irrelevant and nitpicky thing possible.