Re: Not "Satanism;" realism.

[stan johnson <sjohnson@gwi.net>]

** Reply to note from ericb@pobox.com Fri, 1 Jan 1999 20:31:18   
-0500 
 What's the company we're focused on discussing? Microsoft. Who 
 built it? Bill Gates. What did he start with? Approximately zero. 
 
Based on what I've seen related about the startup of M$, Bill Gates   
did not start with 'zero' by any stretch of the imagination. He had   
affluent, well-connected parents, who gave him an 'in' at IBM, which   
was itself restrained from using its doubtless greater wealth as it might   
have, by antitrust action.  
 
As I understand it, it was the tremendous presence of IBM as mfr of   
the PC that gave him his burst into the market. If it had not been for   
his family wealth/connections, and IBM's massive market presence, he   
would have likely been just another squeeky wannabe.  
 
And the rest, together with his Machiavellian and unscrupulous   
maneuvering and leveraging, is history. 
 
To coin a penetrating commentary <g> on Bill Gates and those who   
would like to be able to emulate him, 'the love of money is the root of   
all evil'.

-- 
Stan Johnson    TeamOS/2
sjohnson@gwi.net