One interesting bit is that BillG reads Gizmodo and was compelled enough to mail a story in.
When he wrote comments for his Thinkweek papers (atleast until the last one), I was always amazed by how much he kept track of stuff happening on the web. He would usually know the nitty gritty of some API of some hot new site on the web. He would have test accounts in every hot new social networking site and would have installed and played with every new product, Microsoft and non-Microsoft. He would also have very sharp, insightful commentary on macro strategy as well as micro-level tactical issues.
I think the sad part is that very rarely have people seen that BillG outside of Microsoft. My feeling is that people outside MSFT have this slightly stereotyped image which is either a) evil corporate overlord who got lucky b) wimpy software nerd billionaire or more and more c) wealthy old philanthropist.
I don't think any of the 3 are really accurate or do justice to him.
I really wish Bill Gates would just stop with the PR company approved image he puts forth for the sake of Microsoft and be himself. These little candid glances make him seem like a guy I would've loved to hang out with had I been there back then. (Especially the poker phenom stuff. I would've loved to have played him.)
I don't read Gizmodo because I had the impression that it's a completely tabloidish gadget blog. But their 1979 series (to which this post by BG ties) actually looks pretty great. At least the Golden Age of Lego gallery gave me that pleasantly piercing rush of nostalgia:
And here is Jason Scott's (BBS Documentary, textfiles.com, Get Lamp, etc) mail exchange with Gizmodo after they asked him to contribute: http://ascii.textfiles.com/archives/2079
[+] [-] sriramk|16 years ago|reply
When he wrote comments for his Thinkweek papers (atleast until the last one), I was always amazed by how much he kept track of stuff happening on the web. He would usually know the nitty gritty of some API of some hot new site on the web. He would have test accounts in every hot new social networking site and would have installed and played with every new product, Microsoft and non-Microsoft. He would also have very sharp, insightful commentary on macro strategy as well as micro-level tactical issues.
I think the sad part is that very rarely have people seen that BillG outside of Microsoft. My feeling is that people outside MSFT have this slightly stereotyped image which is either a) evil corporate overlord who got lucky b) wimpy software nerd billionaire or more and more c) wealthy old philanthropist.
I don't think any of the 3 are really accurate or do justice to him.
[+] [-] smokinn|16 years ago|reply
[+] [-] timcederman|16 years ago|reply
[+] [-] pavlov|16 years ago|reply
http://gizmodo.com/5318253/1979-the-golden-age-of-lego/galle...
[+] [-] fno|16 years ago|reply
Here is the "article" he could have been part of http://gizmodo.com/5316206/the-desperate-times-before-intern...
[+] [-] mainguy|16 years ago|reply