8. Microsoft and Innovation
“Every day were saying, ‘How can we keep this customer happy?’ How can we get ahead in innovation by doing this, because if we don’t, somebody else will.” – Bill Gates
“Microsoft is not about greed. It’s about innovation and fairness.” – Bill Gates
I rather like the following quotes from Robert X. Cringley and Oracle CEO Larry Ellison, on this topic:
“There is a fantasy in Redmond that Microsoft products are innovative, but this is based entirely on a peculiar confusion of the words ‘innovative’ and ‘successful.’ Microsoft products are successful — they make a lot of money — but that doesn’t make them innovative, or even particularly good.” – Robert X. Cringley
“Microsoft has innovated nothing. The thing I find most contemptible is Bill’s lying, this thing about innovating. It makes me want to puke. That’s innovation a la Rockefeller, not innovation a la Edison.” – Larry Ellison
Poor Robert and Larry, completely wrong-footed by Bill’s masterful use fo irony. Of course Bill doesn’t believe that Microsoft actually innovates. How could he? No he’s just playing that good old irony card and laughing to himself at the confusion it causes among those who think he’s talking straight.
9. Real Life
Television is not real life. In real life people actually have to leave the coffee shop and go to jobs. – Bill Gates
It’s possible that you’re not exactly sure that I’ve got it right by identifying some of the above quotes as being expressions of irony, but when you read this one, there can be no doubt can there? Well can there?
10. Life, The Universe and Everything
“It’s possible, you can never know, that the universe exists only for me. If so, it’s sure going well for me, I must admit.” (Bill Gates)
No Bill, it’s not possible. Painful as it must be, you’re gonna have to share that universe.
See Also:
10 IT Quotes From The Wise
10 More IT Quotes from the Wise
Yet Another 10 IT Quotes From The Wise
IT Quotes: The Prescience of Bill Gates
The full list of IT Quotes postings
~ Master Yoda
