Talk:Bill Gates

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This is the talk page for discussing improvements to the Bill Gates article.
Article Improvement Drive Bill Gates was the Article Improvement Drive for the week starting on November 27, 2005.

For more details, see the Article Improvement Drive history.
Peer review Bill Gates has had a peer review by Wikipedia editors which is now archived. It may contain ideas you can use to improve this article.
News This article has been cited as a source by a media organization. See the 2005 press source article for details.

The citation is in: Rob Enderle (April 25, 2005). "IPod's Dirty Little Secret and the Power of the Internet". TechNewsWorld.

Articles for deletion This article was nominated for deletion on September 2, 2006. The result of the discussion was Speedy keep.


Just as a note when Gates was in school the SAT was only worth 1400 points. That would make it impossible to get a 1590. 1390 maybe, but not 1590. If someone would change that it would be appreciated.

Contents

[edit] Bad Picture

I personally think the picture doesn't show what Bill Gates accually looks like, I will be replacing it as soon as I find one that will work. Tack 05:12, 26 August 2006 (UTC)

How about here? Acdx 22:49, 28 September 2006 (UTC)
The picture does need replacing but I think the pictures you are referencing require permission to use.Pasado 00:38, 2 December 2006 (UTC)

[edit] Bad Manners

Sweet Jesus. Does anyone in Wikipedia understand basic English grammar and punctuation? Why are so many of these articles crammed with misplaced modifiers, dangling participles, and subject-verb disagreements? I cannot believe how poorly written these articles are. Facts will make no impression if they are presented via terrible English. The Gates article needs a vast amout of simple, straightforward, copy-editing. —The preceding unsigned comment was added by 68.79.25.120 (talk • contribs).

Thank you for your suggestion! When you feel an article needs improvement, please feel free to make those changes. Wikipedia is a wiki, so anyone can edit almost any article by simply following the Edit this page link at the top. You don't even need to log in (although there are many reasons why you might want to). The Wikipedia community encourages you to be bold in updating pages. Don't worry too much about making honest mistakes — they're likely to be found and corrected quickly. If you're not sure how editing works, check out how to edit a page, or use the sandbox to try out your editing skills. New contributors are always welcome. Accurizer 01:49, 29 September 2006 (UTC)

[edit] Notes for rewriting the "Microsoft" section

Just some notes on how I want to reorganize this to focus on Gates rather than random details about Microsoft. This should be easier now that we know how the story will end.

Entrepreneur, 1975-1986

Microsoft prior to the IPO, Gates as software developer, bringing in Ballmer and Jon Shirley, origin of MS-DOS

Chief executive officer, 1986-1998

IPO, no longer programming, management style, breakdown of the IBM relationship, antitrust

Departure, 1998-present

Antitrust cont'd, Chand becomes president then CEO, Gates becomes CSA, announces departure, remains as chairman.

Gazpacho 18:19, 29 June 2006 (UTC)

Sounds good to me - the Microsoft nitty-gritty should be left for the Microsoft article, as you suggest. Stu 13:28, 7 July 2006 (UTC)
Apparently I'm not going to get around to this. Sorry for mentioning it. Gazpacho 07:12, 8 August 2006 (UTC)

[edit] THEREALVIEW

To all editors who have been reverting this user's ridiculous edits, thanks, and it has been reported at Wikipedia:Administrators%27_noticeboard/3RR. --Renesis13 14:39, 27 July 2006 (UTC)

I don't think it was ridiculous, just misleading and not relevant to Bill Gates personally, while his deposition testimony and the decisions he was shown to have made are. Gazpacho 18:06, 27 July 2006 (UTC)

The content itself is not necessarily what I meant was ridiculous -- it was combined with the fact that it had nothing to do with Gates' specifically, it was being reinserted immediately after removal (7 times), and also the edits to Gates' photo's caption to make him sound like a criminal ("before his founding company was declared an illegal monopoly in the United States."). Anyway, the user has been blocked now, so we don't have to keep reverting the page over and over again. -- Renesis13 18:53, 27 July 2006 (UTC)

[edit] Semi-Protection

Anyone think, with the recent vandalism, that this article needs protection? - A Shade Of Gray 09:49, 13 August 2006 (UTC)

[edit] Pre-Law

I think Bill Gates studied pre-law at Harvard, not computer science. He enrolled as pre-law.

Regardless of whether that is true, "pre-law" is not a degree. It is a program of courses you take in addition to your degree studies to prepare for law school. Gazpacho 01:15, 4 September 2006 (UTC)

Were there even computer science degrees back then? I'd think almost certainly no... my only doubt stems from the fact that Harvard tends to be ahead of the curve User:coreydaj 03:53 17 Sept 2006

[edit] Arrest

When was Gates arrested? April '75, September '75, or December '77? Somebody changed it, and I don't know what's right. Google is no help at all; different dates are all over the place. In the picture there's a number that could be the arrest date: 12 13 77. But I don't know if that's supposed to be a date or not. We should have some definitive source for this. Everyking 08:47, 27 August 2006 (UTC)

What was the disposition of this arrest? Was he convicted or acquitted? We shouldn't leave it hanging there because that implies that he was guilty. –Shoaler (talk) 09:29, 27 August 2006 (UTC)
I don't know, but I think the most important thing is to ensure that we have the right date in there, because inaccuracy is worse than omission. Everyking 09:33, 27 August 2006 (UTC)
Two links

http://www.distant.ca/UselessFacts/fact.asp?ID=220 http://weirdpicturearchive.com/pics/mug-gates.html

which both say 29 april 1975 for speeding and driving without a license. yanneman 20:34, 31 August 2006 (UTC)

Google is no help at all. Lol, the irony. Sorry!

[edit] AfD nomination

This article was nominated for deletion by User:MasterEagle. I decided to ignore some rules and speedy keep it, anyone who disagrees feel free to revert. Michael Billington (talk • contribs) 07:09, 2 September 2006 (UTC)

[edit] Bill Gates' Religion (or the lack of)

The topic of Gates' religion, athiest/agnostic should be mentioned in the "personal life" section; with references to the interviews that refer to it. Lukeewing 03:48, 4 September 2006 (UTC)LE 9-03-06Lukeewing 03:48, 4 September 2006 (UTC)

I agree. Sources, anyone? Andycjp. 21st Sept 2006

http://www.time.com/time/gates/gates2.html

[edit] Microsoft references, or lack thereof

I release most of these statements are referenced in other articles, but at FAC time it is likely people will object due to the (lack of) inline citations there. Best to take care of it before then... RN 18:52, 7 September 2006 (UTC)

[edit] mugshot inquries

  1. Is"This is a police mug shot of Bill Gates." and "This picture is Public Record." a valid source for the image?
  2. It says it is a public domain mugshot, but as per previous discussion here [1] and now on commons, mugshots are not public domain in every state... anyone know about New Mexico?
  3. The text for the mugshot appears to be taken verbatim from [2]
  4. Also, is an arrest record a valid source?

RN 07:16, 9 September 2006 (UTC)

[edit] Why I reverted User:Futureobservatory

  1. Copyright concerns. Apparently this is an ongoing concern with this user (Wikipedia:Requests for comment/Futureobservatory) that as far as I can tell has not been resolved.
  2. Factual/technical errors:
    1. There is no such thing as a "mainframe language"
    2. Microsoft did not "port" languages from mainframes, which would mean working on the mainframe implementation's code
    3. Microsoft did not develop software for minicomputers
  3. Personal speculation ("it is reasonable to imagine" "as I would have done", "maybe that is why Microsoft seemed to want to forget about it")
  4. Compounding the longstanding problem of discussing Microsoft in general, not Gates personally
  5. All this "luck" talk... Why is it Gates's "luck" that DR marketed CP/M-86 badly, and not Gates's credit that he marketed DOS well?
  6. The history of Windows and how other GUIs inspired it overlooks the significant influence of one particular computer system.

It's not that all of the writing is bad or poorly researched. It just isn't written and researched with Wikipedia's content policies in mind, and makes some major blunders. I'll see if I can pull in some of the info, if not the wording. Gazpacho 21:11, 12 September 2006 (UTC)

[edit] Centibillionaire

I have removed the reference to centibillionaire in this article for two reasons. First, there is some doubt that Gates ever reached 100-billion USD. Forbes does not report it and they have been reporting Gates's wealth for many years. But the principal reason is that "centibillionaire" is not a notable term. Looking it up on Google only found a few dozen hits -- almost zero in today's world. Some media have used the term but it has not caught on, primarily because it runs completely counter to the use of "centi" in the SI "metric" system and therefore makes it confusing when we talk about centimetres (is that 100 metres?). If you have a different opinion (or support mine), please add to the discussion below. Thanks. –Shoaler (talk) 09:05, 14 September 2006 (UTC)

The claim and wording appears to come from this article. Gazpacho 18:25, 14 September 2006 (UTC)
The only reason Forbes doesn't report Gates being a centibillionaire is because they only take a snapshot of wealth at the same time every year. Gates was only a centibillionaire very briefly, & unfortunately his status didn't last long enough to be documented by Forbes annual list. And the only reason centibillionaire's not an established term is because he was the only one and it didn't last. That makes it more notable, not less. And centimillionaire is quite established, so centibillionaire is valid by extrapolation. Timelist 21:40, 14 September 2006 (UTC)
I think you are right about the centibillionaire. It should be "hectobillionaire" (but that doesnt have the same ring to it).Hongy r 02:49, 9 October 2006 (UTC)

[edit] IBM's Gifts to Bill Gates

I feel a major omission is the extent to which, in the early days, Bill Gates was given his products by and IBM Independent Business Unit desperate to get its PC off the ground. Thus it seems clear that IBM organised the sourcing of, and financing of, Gates' acquisition of MS DOS. Later, when IBM should have set out to compete with Microsoft, the fact that its then CEO was on the board of a charity with Gates' mother meant that IBM PC staff were banned from competing aggressively. Futureobservatory 09:31, 17 September 2006 (UTC)

Sounds like a discussion for MS and not Bill Gates personally. coreydaj 03:59, 17 September 2006 PST

Sounds like pulp fiction. Gazpacho 03:40, 18 September 2006 (UTC)


With Mom and Dad financing/clearing the way, Billy's success looks very similar to the other 400 billionaires in the USA. 170 IQ - getting coding scraps from the wastebasket?? - why, with a 170 IQ this sounds odd.

[edit] Agnostic? Knights Order?

Hey, I'm not sure, but I heard that he was Jewish (and on another account, Methodist), however, I was wondering what source says he's agnostic. Also... When did he become part of an Order? I may have skipped that, but please state sources. Just interested. IronCrow 01:37, 5 October 2006 (UTC)

Well of course he's Jewish! He has money, doesn't he? Seriously, he told David Frost he doesn't know whether there's a god or not. See Wikiquote. Gazpacho 19:49, 5 October 2006 (UTC)

[edit] Lobbygate's Gateses

I just came across this story in the Seattle Weekly. Does it belong anywhere in this bio?

[edit] Bill Gates' Role

I found the second paragraph, where "by all accounts" Bill Gates is x, y, and z to be unprofessional sounding. By whose account? This seems hearsay to me and does not fit in an encyclopedia article.

Follow the citations. The same was confirmed in an interview ca. 1999 by Barbara Walters, and in I Sing the Body Electronic, and in Renegades of the Empire. Literally every account of a Bill meeting has described it pretty much the same way.

[edit] Salary in infobox

As has been pointed out, the reference link provided for Bill's salary has gone the 404 route. Can anybody find a newer link? Luna Santin 06:35, 30 October 2006 (UTC)

[edit] Citation needed for Bill Gates Salary

I have removed the reference link for Bill Gates' salary information on Microsoft.com, because the link is dead. New citation needed ASAP.

Why'd you restore the dead link? I was only trying to help.

Fixed and no offense. I thought someone was claiming the wealth link had broken, not the salary link.


[edit] Gates Foundation

BG is the founder and principal donor to the largest charitable foundation in the world- and which is significant not only for its size, but what emphases it has made in its endeavours. It merits a stronger reference than is currently the case. I'll give it some thought, and try to improve it myself, but I invite other editors to give some thought to it as well. Gabrielthursday 23:54, 2 November 2006 (UTC)

Fair enough, just remember that this article needs to stay focused on what Gates has done personally. It rambles at time into Microsoft's history, but it shouldn't.

[edit] Autism?

My father had told me that Bill Gates has autism but I forgot which kind. Whover is contirbuting, find it out please and add it to the article.

--[[User:Storkian|Storkian] 15:45, 4 November 2006 (UTC)

We don't add claims about autism unless there has been a medical diagnosis.

[edit] Vandals are restless

A whole page of vandalism and reverts within 24 hours. I removed my remark from the warning comment in case it's contributing to the problem, but it might be necessary to go back to sprotect if this keeps up. Gazpacho 20:22, 7 November 2006 (UTC)

I think the whole article should be just locked, as the vandalism will obviously never stop.--MajinBejitto 01:41, 9 November 2006 (UTC)
Agreed, I've semi-protected the article, the recent spate of vandalism has grown tiresome. Gwernol 01:46, 9 November 2006 (UTC)
Vandalism detected at the end of "External links", the following line: "lukyk9.hired to snuff jonbenet by Gates at Stone boatyard alameda cal.because she was b-mailing him over fondeling and inappropriate touching." --MajinBejitto 03:53, 10 November 2006 (UTC)
Sigh... I'd hoped that the article could survive without protection (it was un-protected like 10 days ago after being protected for weeks), but it looks like we've got little choice except to wait for better tools from Wikimedia... -/- Warren 04:06, 10 November 2006 (UTC)

[edit] Gate's 05 Knighthood

While I know 'sir' shouldn't be added to the front of his name (as he is American and not British, Canadian, New Zealander etc), shouldn't KBE added to the end? (With reference to is 2005 OBE)

This had been discussed ad nauseum. Gates doesn't use the KBE in his name, so we don't. But read all the discussion in the archive. –Shoaler (talk) 10:35, 15 November 2006 (UTC)

[edit] 53 Billion dollars?

That is an astronomically gigantic amount of money. Of course, I do not mean this in an offensive way, but most of that money will likely never be even touched. That is likely enough money to feed, clothe, shelter and school a lot of people. Which is quite sad considering how many people there are in the world who live without all of those things... SilentWind 16:59, 15 November 2006 (UTC)

It's not sitting in a vault somewhere. -207.188.xx.244
Gates has given away about $30 billion to charity in the last few years, and the Gates Foundation is actively addressing those very problems you mentioned. The Foundation is also receiving another $30 billion from Warren Buffett to help double its efforts. Note that much of Gates' net worth is non-tangible, eg. in Microsoft stock, currently worth about $27 billion; how do you suppose the market will react if he tried to sell all his shares at once? Shawnc 10:01, 26 November 2006 (UTC)

[edit] Arnie (<- <- <- <- <- ) Bill Gates for President!

http://politics.slashdot.org/article.pl?sid=06/11/19/2252229

Scott Adams recommends a clever atheist leader, namely one Bill Gates for America. God help us then! 195.70.32.136 11:29, 20 November 2006 (UTC)

There's an official site now - billgatesforpresident.net - which has gotten some noteworthy press coverage in the past day. Perhaps something should be mentioned in the article if this movement grows... Esn 07:02, 1 December 2006 (UTC)

[edit] Picture

Anyone wants to use the following as the picture in the infobox? Shawnc 10:04, 26 November 2006 (UTC)

Enlarge
I prefer the current image used in the infobox. — Wackymacs 11:29, 26 November 2006 (UTC)


[edit] Orthography

As the page is semi-protected, Yours Truly can't correct this :

- Entreprenuer -> Entrepreneur.

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