News Petrol-head Gates plays Gotham

Discussion in 'Article Discussion' started by The_Pope, 17 Oct 2005.

  1. The_Pope

    The_Pope Geoff Richards Super Moderator

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    The_Pope, 17 Oct 2005
    #1
  2. MrWillyWonka

    MrWillyWonka Chocolate computers galore!

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    I see you've finally got 1000 post now!

    A good read! This quote "Thankfully, though both cars suffered "heavy damage," the occupants were not seriously injured (and the history of the world was not altered by a messy automotive fatality" made me realise how different the world would be if Bill had actually died in the crash, there wouldn't be a windows!
     
    MrWillyWonka, 17 Oct 2005
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  3. Kameleon

    Kameleon is watching you...

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    Now there's an episode of Sliders they should have made :cooldude:
     
    Kameleon, 17 Oct 2005
    #3
  4. The_Pope

    The_Pope Geoff Richards Super Moderator

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    Not just no Windows, Mr Wonka, but no DOS, and arguably, no home computer revolution. If you happened to have read the book I linked, you would know that while IBM launched the first PC, it was Microsoft that made the whole thing possible. They not only created* DOS, and a bunch of applications, but in their deal with IBM, they negotiated to be allowed to license their software to other manufacturers. Hence the whole era of "IBM Compatible" computers - clones - and while IBM ultimately failed in the home computer market, it was the making of Wintel dominance we have today.

    *I say "created" but in reality, they licensed 86-DOS from Seattle Computer Products for $25,000. They then sublicensed it to IBM.
     
    The_Pope, 17 Oct 2005
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  5. Kameleon

    Kameleon is watching you...

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    Interesting. What does the book say about what might have happened if Gary Kildall hadn't been out flying his plane when the IBM guys came round? DRDOS was far superior to MSDOS in every way, especially at the time, and if it had had the backing of IBM who knows where it could've gone?
     
    Kameleon, 17 Oct 2005
    #5
  6. The_Pope

    The_Pope Geoff Richards Super Moderator

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    Hands up if you thought Gates' favourite game was Monopoly :D
     
    The_Pope, 17 Oct 2005
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  7. Tim S

    Tim S OG

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    /raises hand :D
     
    Tim S, 17 Oct 2005
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  8. Asphix

    Asphix What's a Dremel?

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    Interesting news bit.. but it went from "what game does bill play" to a history of what cars he drives and never really answered the question of if he actually plays/played PGR3.

    All ass-hatery aside good article.. and I like the forum posts too.. really makes you wonder what life would be like if he never achieved what he has.
     
    Asphix, 17 Oct 2005
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  9. Kipman725

    Kipman725 When did I get a custom title!?!

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    from what I hered the xbox crashed when he demonstrated it to a bunch of students.. like windows 95 did on cnn.
     
    Kipman725, 17 Oct 2005
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  10. Flibblebot

    Flibblebot Smile with me

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    Lack of PCs aside, there would also be other ramifications, such as no Linux. You could also argue whether Apple would exist too, and what about things like the interweb - would that be as popular without PCs? Probably not.
    On the plus side, at least we wouldn't have that blasted frog on our TVs :wallbash:
     
    Flibblebot, 17 Oct 2005
    #10
  11. Asphix

    Asphix What's a Dremel?

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    Frog? What frog? Is that a UK based thing... I dont think i've ever seen any frog on TV other than the one for that smacks cerial or whatever... oh and those budweizer frogs :p
     
    Asphix, 17 Oct 2005
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  12. MrWillyWonka

    MrWillyWonka Chocolate computers galore!

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    FROG - the very annoying UK thing, which has now started to infiltrate the states. My advice is to chuck all your TVs and radios out of the window for your ears security.

    Anyway, I knew about the DOS and IBM agreement, but nonetheless, the world would be very different today. I don't think we would be as advanced in technology as we are now. Not just using computers to manufacture, but the amount of time computers has saved in offices etc!

    And I might get that book for a read, anyone got one for sale?
     
    MrWillyWonka, 17 Oct 2005
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  13. kiljoi

    kiljoi I *am* a computer king.

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    Does that mean we all have to thank Bill for the existence of Bit-tech?
     
    kiljoi, 17 Oct 2005
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  14. koola

    koola Minimodder

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    Lets hope not! :eyebrow:
     
    koola, 17 Oct 2005
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  15. woodshop

    woodshop UnSeenly

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    That just so makes me wana go key the darn thing.:)
     
    woodshop, 17 Oct 2005
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  16. fev

    fev Industry Fallout

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    that makes you a jealous idiot then... go get yourself an education and invent/invest in something that could lead to riches
     
    fev, 17 Oct 2005
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  17. woodshop

    woodshop UnSeenly

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    naaa i'm just board and feel like comitting a "random" act or vandalism..

    Why not against the head of an evil multi billion dollar company....
    of course it's be my head on teh block i'm sure.
     
    woodshop, 17 Oct 2005
    #17
  18. cpemma

    cpemma Ecky thump

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    Kildall = CP/M at that time, not DR-DOS. If he'd been in the office that fateful day, we'd be using PIP instead of COPY, VERA instead of DEL, DDT to kill bugs, and having to remember to put destination before source in commands. :duh:

    But DR-DOS was good until MSDOS5 came & matched it. But Win was teh biggie.

    Maybe without Bill we'd all have Apples and be cool people. :cooldude:

    Seems the plane story (if true) wasn't the only reason MS got in with IBM.
    http://www.cadigital.com/kildall.htm
     
    Last edited: 17 Oct 2005
    cpemma, 17 Oct 2005
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  19. kiljoi

    kiljoi I *am* a computer king.

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    /me shudders
     
    kiljoi, 17 Oct 2005
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  20. John Cena

    John Cena What's a Dremel?

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    I wonder if he plays xbox live online....it be AWSOME to race him.
     
    John Cena, 18 Oct 2005
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