TECHNOLOGY

Bill Gates’s Farewell

Microsoft's founder offers up a celeb-studded video but few tech surprises at his last CES.

By Steven Levy | Newsweek Web Exclusive
Jan 7, 2008 | Updated: 2:55  p.m. ET Jan 7, 2008

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  • Posted By: ah7903 @ 01/09/2008 11:45:04 AM

    He didn't do bad for a man that created an empire on stolen software.

  • Posted By: Americhin @ 01/08/2008 3:00:51 AM

    I care! In at least a dozen ways we all should!

    We can all see that you use the Internet to read your news. There is a better than 80% chance you are using Microsoft Internet Explorer (Bill Gates did that). Let's think about the computer that you are using. Were it not for Bill Gates, what would that PC look like and how behind what we have now would it be? I'm not for a minute suggesting that Bill Gates is a god, but let's be fair. By this megalomaniac running of Microsoft and dare I say computer and technology industries, we would be a fair distance behind.

    Let's also consider some simple economics factors. Where did the money come from to buy that PC at which you???re sitting? Directly or indirectly Bill Gates has made that tool in front of you an affordable and necessary part of our lives. It enables hundreds of millions of people to be more productive, thereby increasing real value and wealth for individuals, firms, and countries. It can be easily argued that aside from FDR (on a present dollar value basis), Bill Gates has contributed more to the world economy than any other individual person

    So unless you are off 'the grid', which we know you aren't, Bill Gates' departure is an important event.

    Finally, if Bill Gates was riding off into the sunset it would be a little less important. But he is not. With his new devotion to his charity foundation, he is probably embarking on the biggest and most important crusade of his life. In my book, saving lives and education people is a good thing. If he put just 20% of the effort he put into growing Microsoft into this next phase of his life??? Real change can and will happen. Bill Gates does NOTHING at 20%! You can expect GREAT things to start happening!

    I hope you care a little now.

    • Posted By: aaabbb @ 01/09/2008 6:45:44 AM

      This charity stuff has been invented by the Microsoft marketing folks to improve Gates' public image which has become very very dim.

  • Posted By: brewerhaus @ 01/08/2008 12:25:20 PM

    If only Levy could leave out the jabs and innuendo, perhaps just write the technical review. Maybe someday he could do re write this without his petty and personal desire to zing a man who has done far more good in the tech world than harm.

  • Posted By: brewerhaus @ 01/08/2008 12:25:05 PM

    If only Levy could leave out the jabs and innuendo, perhaps just write the technical review. Maybe someday he could do re write this without his petty and personal desire to zing a man who has done far more good in the tech world than harm.

  • Posted By: luigi837 @ 01/08/2008 9:22:07 AM

    he made his money and now he's retiring to enjoy it ,but he'll be around in doing what he had accomplishedwith microsoft

  • Posted By: Asif @ 01/08/2008 8:48:13 AM

    Well Bill Gates may you enjoy your upcoming retirement. And while you have that much time to contemplate try and invent some new gadgets to play with.

  • Posted By: Asif @ 01/08/2008 8:45:31 AM

    I like to wish Bill Gates all the best in his retirement. May he invent some new gadgets while his that much time to contemplate.

  • Posted By: lynz0515 @ 01/08/2008 8:36:40 AM

    Oh please
    As if Bill Gates is the only person with anything to do with PC technology. Yes he may have started it but many, many other people made it come to life. Bill Gates is not responsible for the internet either, only a program that a lot of people use to view it, and all of that will change in the future as well. I agree with djonesss post. Microsoft is on their way out and Bill's move to leave isn't that big of a surprise. I will say I'm glad to hear he's going to put all of that money we shove into his pockets to some good use.

  • Posted By: lynz0515 @ 01/08/2008 8:36:01 AM

    Oh please
    As if Bill Gates is the only person with anything to do with PC technology. Yes he may have started it but many, many other people made it come to life. Bill Gates is not responsible for the internet either, only a program that a lot of people use to view it, and all of that will change in the future as well. I agree with djonesss post. Microsoft is on their way out and Bill's move to leave isn't that big of a surprise. I will say I'm glad to hear he's going to put all of that money we shove into his pockets to some good use.

  • Posted By: djonesss @ 01/08/2008 7:31:31 AM

    Bill Gates and the other senior management at Microsoft should ALL have retired 8 years ago. As a company it has held back innovation and progress for everyone despite all their espousing of their so-called new things...

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