Interesting thoughts about the legacy of Bill Gates

Today’s Network World story “Gates legacy filled with good, bad and ugly” gives an interesting perspective on the career of Bill Gates. Senior Editor John Fontana did an excellent job in showing just how fragmented the opinions of technology industry is over what Gates’ legacy is and what it ought to be. I find it particularly interesting that one industry insider said, "There are not too many people who can be Darth Vader and Luke Skywalker at the same time." Of course, this was in reference to Microsoft’s villainy of tough competitive and even questionable business practices while at the same time being a major part in bringing technology to where it is today.

You know for me it’s hard to be angry. Like many other people in this industry I have made quite a living being a Microsoft certified professional. Yes, I have worked heavily with Linux, Novell and Unix. However, I can say it was always in heterogeneous environments. Microsoft has always been involved and I’ve made a living for the last 10-plus years.

As far as questionable business practices goes I’m an Italian kid from Brooklyn, N.Y. Therefore, when Fontana writes, “Observers have noted that Microsoft is a reflection of Gates' personality, combining his arrogance with stubbornness, antagonism, and outright bullying.” Needless to say, to me Bill Gates and Microsoft are not the worst villains out there. I also agree with John, it will be some time before Gates' legacy is established. In addition, the Microsoft world he helped build probably will be a secondary discussion. Then again, I’m sure the industrialists, oil barons, steel magnates and business mavens of the early 20th century were not particularly loved.

Don’t get me wrong I don’t approve of questionable business; I called out IT consultants in my blog last month over this kind of thing. I also have to admit there is a soft spot in my heart for all those unheard-of technologies. I played drums in a hard rock band for 10 years and witnessed literally hundreds of great bands get buried or shelved by greedy record companies. Being able to hear their music and know what people missed out on, I understand the concept that "there could be something out there better than this, something possibly greater than what we’ve seen." I feel that.

The article also makes the point that other major industries have their “dark hours,” and I hate it but that’s our reality. I would love to see fair and clean business practices across the board. If we had those kinds of practices, enterprises would not be spending tons of money on Sarbanes–Oxley, e-mail retention and document archiving. Bills Gates' legacy – hero or villain? I’m not sure. I do know Gates was a part in making a Better Windows World. All the rest I’ll leave it up to those who write the history books. Whatever your opinion of Microsoft, check out John Fontana’s article on Gates' legacy -- and please post your comments on the subject. We’d love to hear what you think.

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