I think the software industry needs to take the same mentality as the electronics industry. That is, already being on to the next innovation by the time the "hacker" culture and reverse engineers catch up to what they've already put into circulation. It's just good business sense.
Bill Gates #1 concern from the get-go was to make money writing software, make money supporting that software, and try to suppress or buy up anyone who wrote something better or different, by any means possible. He obviously succeeded, and although it's nice to see someone succeed at their ventures, the way he conducted business left a lot to be desired. MS Windows in all it's glory, is *still* the buggiest software on the planet. :-p
I'm suprised they didn't put sounds of screaming women and children in the background when that woman was reading the letter. Talk about over-dramatic.
It's funny how people look at how profitable Microsoft is today and use that to dismiss or play down the argument that Bill Gates made back then. If he had failed as a businessman would we be hearing the over-the-top tense music? No.
I have to agree with Bill Gates for one thing... If you produce software, it is your produce to do with as you see fit. You may purchase permission to use the software, but this does not necessarily entitle you to copy it.
It is some people's livelihood to write software. It is how they survive. If you share without consultation with the author is missing out on income.
To anyone who says "Screw Bill Gates", ok fine - a billionaire is missing out on income. What of individuals and small firms?
This all sounded like almost reasonable arguments then. Of course, several decades later after Bill Gates became the richest man in the world, these arguments now must be taken with a big skeptical grin. Particularly considering the long line of horrendously buggy versions of Windows that followed.
"Who can afford to do professional work for nothing? What hobbyist can put 3 man years into programming, finding all bugs, documenting his product and distribute it for free?" I don't know, Uncle Bill. Go to the sourceforge website and then you tell me.
I believe Bill Gates comments to be viable to the point where he states that no-one has invested money in hobbiest software other than Micro-Soft. Why would any company invest money into a hobbiest domain? To do so would be as a hobby! It seems Bill Gates wanted to do this as a hobby, then saw dollar signs and kicked up a fuss! Bottom line, if he was designing software for the hobbiests, it should be open source to begin with, it wasn't, so was it investing in the hobbiest market?? Hell no!
He may be an ass, but his arguments are correct no matter how much you humorize his informal open-letter. If you put a novel that you wrote on line for free, someone else could steal ideas to write a real novel for royalties you should be getting. Gates, today, does not care if someone puts out code for free because he just contracts out better programers from India. You get what you pay for.
I have a comment for Bill Gates: Who makes money off "hobby" software ? Most of your competitors. And "good software" is not something you have ever been involved with.
ALL THIS FROM A GUY WHO STOLE JUST ABOUT EVERYTHING FROM APPLE
reachforacreech 4 months ago
@reachforacreech your and idiot microsoft was founded well before apple, apple stole alot of ideas from IBM, microsoft are the true innovators
elitewarrior11 3 months ago
@elitewarrior11 apple stole from zerox microsoft stole from apple.
reachforacreech 3 months ago
I love Bill!
Blairw85 1 year ago
I think the software industry needs to take the same mentality as the electronics industry. That is, already being on to the next innovation by the time the "hacker" culture and reverse engineers catch up to what they've already put into circulation. It's just good business sense.
myguitardidyermom12 1 year ago
This has been flagged as spam show
Was it not until the early 80s that the courts recognized source code as valid intellectual property?
baarbear 1 year ago
Wasn't it not until the early 80s that the courts recognized source code as valid intellectual property?
baarbear 1 year ago
Bill Gates #1 concern from the get-go was to make money writing software, make money supporting that software, and try to suppress or buy up anyone who wrote something better or different, by any means possible. He obviously succeeded, and although it's nice to see someone succeed at their ventures, the way he conducted business left a lot to be desired. MS Windows in all it's glory, is *still* the buggiest software on the planet. :-p
lrover03 1 year ago
I'm suprised they didn't put sounds of screaming women and children in the background when that woman was reading the letter. Talk about over-dramatic.
It's funny how people look at how profitable Microsoft is today and use that to dismiss or play down the argument that Bill Gates made back then. If he had failed as a businessman would we be hearing the over-the-top tense music? No.
antzrhere 1 year ago
I have to agree with Bill Gates for one thing... If you produce software, it is your produce to do with as you see fit. You may purchase permission to use the software, but this does not necessarily entitle you to copy it.
It is some people's livelihood to write software. It is how they survive. If you share without consultation with the author is missing out on income.
To anyone who says "Screw Bill Gates", ok fine - a billionaire is missing out on income. What of individuals and small firms?
carneeki 1 year ago 5
This all sounded like almost reasonable arguments then. Of course, several decades later after Bill Gates became the richest man in the world, these arguments now must be taken with a big skeptical grin. Particularly considering the long line of horrendously buggy versions of Windows that followed.
cobrachoppergirl 1 year ago
i would have appreciated an unbiased tone + the music makes it sound like a horror movie buildup
itsBarcode 1 year ago
Wow, that voice is overly theatric.
RappingDelight 2 years ago
...and the rest, as they say, is history...
hrb266 2 years ago
Don't copy that floppy!
musicteacher8 2 years ago
"Who can afford to do professional work for nothing? What hobbyist can put 3 man years into programming, finding all bugs, documenting his product and distribute it for free?" I don't know, Uncle Bill. Go to the sourceforge website and then you tell me.
invaderator 3 years ago
FUCK BILL GATES
He's monopolistic, tyranical asshole!
JadeDragon007 3 years ago
Comment removed
TLucretiusCarus 1 year ago
@JadeDragon007
Ok , so what makes him wrong his letter is very aggressive but makes important points.
eddiekoski 1 year ago
Robinhood told me that stealing is okay.
He said stealing for people who cannot afford such things is good.
Piracy destroy Hollywood? I am all for it.
Fucking Hollywood is destroying my childhood with shitty remakes of my childhood shows, like the Transformer.
As for the music industry,, they just crank out songs and the only people that make real money is the company and not the singers and song writers.
JadeDragon007 3 years ago
Then move to hardware asshole, he shouldve seen this coming -_-
tiechiman 3 years ago
I believe Bill Gates comments to be viable to the point where he states that no-one has invested money in hobbiest software other than Micro-Soft. Why would any company invest money into a hobbiest domain? To do so would be as a hobby! It seems Bill Gates wanted to do this as a hobby, then saw dollar signs and kicked up a fuss! Bottom line, if he was designing software for the hobbiests, it should be open source to begin with, it wasn't, so was it investing in the hobbiest market?? Hell no!
gpaluk 3 years ago
Nice clip, but what is up with the frenetic tone of the narrator, and the sinister background music? It gives me a headache...
haroldbingo 3 years ago
He may be an ass, but his arguments are correct no matter how much you humorize his informal open-letter. If you put a novel that you wrote on line for free, someone else could steal ideas to write a real novel for royalties you should be getting. Gates, today, does not care if someone puts out code for free because he just contracts out better programers from India. You get what you pay for.
lastvirginonearth 4 years ago
I have a comment for Bill Gates: Who makes money off "hobby" software ? Most of your competitors. And "good software" is not something you have ever been involved with.
CerebralGump 4 years ago
Gates was an ass even back then.
Membrane556 4 years ago 2
Nice clip from Revolution OS. I was going to cut and up this myself but figured I'd check first.
:-)
Darganot 4 years ago