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10 Examples Of Bill Gates Telling It Like It Is
Chairman of Microsoft Bill Gates has always seemed to enjoy the challenge of taking on difficult topics, especially ones concerning Microsoft’s and its rivals’ strategies. Gates has frequently done so in a combative manner, seemingly to suggest, “You know what? I’m sick of hearing that stupid question.”
As a result, ChannelWeb decided to go back and revisit our earlier conversations with Gates to extract his most candid insights on the range of problems Microsoft has encountered, even as he gets ready to ride off into the sunset, or at least reduce his daily engagement in Microsoft activities.
1. On Microsoft’s rationale for starting a channel program
GATES: We decided against following IBM’s or Oracle’s lead in the services space. Early on, as we mentioned, we developed a method for working with PC hardware that centers on creating software products, which is exactly what we are skilled at doing. We naturally gravitate toward our main focus, but is there no way to obtain additional components through partners? We choose to concentrate on handwriting, security, and development—the one, really difficult item.
2. On partners’ concerns over the complexity of Microsoft licensing
GATES: You’ve probably chosen the incorrect person to speak with about licensing if you’d like to interview someone at Microsoft. We believe that software ought to be licensed. In one way or another, licensing has never really interfered with the success of our products. We are a low-cost, high-volume software supplier.
3. On Microsoft’s .NET strategy
GATES: Nothing compares to what we have in. NET. What is Oracle’s authentication service, exactly? What is Visual Studio.NET’s equivalent to Oracle? Oracle isn’t even present in the standards-setting work we’re undertaking with these schemas. They are indeed adding XML support to their databases, but it is the only apparent.NET activity they are engaged in.
4. On whether Sun might commit to the Intel platform
GATES: Only over the corpse of [Sun CEO] Scott McNealy. In addition to stating that individuals shouldn’t own PCs and that they should accept the loss of their privacy, he has also stated that he doesn’t want to be a person who doesn’t create his architecture and that those who purchase from Intel are useless and have no future. They thus only take their hardware architecture seriously.
5. On Microsoft’s Linux strategy
GATES: We don’t have any Linux-compatible software. We have no intention of releasing any software [for Linux].
The academic software loop is broken by the General Public License (GPL), which is effectively government-financed software that is initially made accessible for commercial use. Free software has always been available. Additionally, there has always been a positive feedback loop whereby for-profit startups improve open-source software. That cycle is broken by GPL.
6. On the government’s claim that Microsoft illegally tied Internet Explorer to Windows
GATES: The action was filed to conceal end-user access, not to remove anything. The foundational technology supports the aid system. Therefore, you should investigate the meaning of the term “remove” rather thoroughly.
Eliminating end-user access is not the same as deleting the code. Of course, the operating system becomes unusable if the code is removed. That does not exclude us from being able to delete it.
7. On Microsoft benefiting from Novell’s failure to generalize its platform
GATES: Historically, Novell (NSDQ: NOVL) was the primary business with which we truly battled for partners. They saw that as a great advantage, and we have benefited greatly from some failures in their software strategy, as they did not generalize their platform and we were able to acquire many of those partners. I believe that, when it comes to numbers, there could still be more Novell partners in the globe than there are Oracle, IBM, or SAP partners.
Any effective action Microsoft takes, whether it be via words alone or by practical implementation, makes our rivals say, “Hey, that’s a good thing.”
8. On Oracle’s acquisition Of Siebel
GATES: Well, Larry Ellison, the CEO of Oracle, said that the software sector will merge. Having spent billions of dollars, he has succeeded in realizing his prophecy.
9. On the prospect that Google might enter the VoIP market:
GATES: They walked into the room. You ought to write a piece about Google Talk’s ubiquity and market share. They are here, after all. Not that anyone has noticed them lately.
Usually, the most buzz occurs right before they make an announcement. It was evident before Google Talk was introduced that it would cure cancer; you may make your judgment by looking at the use statistics.
10. On where unified communications fits into Microsoft’s SaaS strategy
GATES: We are transitioning to symmetry so that you can host it or run it on your servers, but it will take many years to get all the components to line up perfectly.
