FACT BOX - 8 ( Mr. William Bill Gates)

Hi Junta,

Its been long since i updated my blog and longer since i posted any fact box. I was a bit tied down with so many exigent work at the same time. was busy with some of the most importatnt things in my life. besides the college, i had to please my boss big time as he was the one who had some of the secrets :). With due respect to him ( one of the most appealling personality i seen) let me start with what i want to.

Last month Mr. Gates got retired, firstly he just left the full time work and continued to be the Chairman of world's biggest software firm "MICROSOFT" (somewhat similar to waht im doing :D ). It was a case of rise and rise of gates he is still just 52 and the most famous drop out. He is the one inspiring soul for millions. Every man and woman on earth must have thought to be as rich as him one or another point of time. Its natural to dream to be like him but its more important to think like him. Being associated with Microsoft, i have strongest and deepest regard for him and want to salute him from the bottom of my heart. Here goes the Fact Box.....





Oct 28, 1955 |

Son born to William H Gates Sr and Mary Maxwell Gates in Seattle. Christianed William Henry Gates III, the fourth in family to have that name. Gets suffix ‘III’ because his father had dropped his

1968 |

Enrols in the elite Lakeside School. When in eighth grade, writes his first program on a primitive GE computer. He is one of four Lakeside boys banned from using a PDP-10 minicomputer for exploiting bugs in the operating system to obtain free computer time

1972 |

At age 17, forms a venture with schoolmate Paul Allen, called Traf-O-Data, to make traffic counters based on the Intel 8008 processor

1973 |

Graduates from school. Scores 1590 out of 1600 in his SATs and is enrolled at Harvard College. There, he meets future partner, Steve Ballmer

1975 |

Forms software firm, Micro-soft, with Allen after Intel had launched Intel 8080 CPU, the first computer chip to cost below $200. Takes leave of absence from Harvard to develop a BASIC programme for a new microcomputer built by MITS.

Feb 1976 |

After he learns that a pre-market copy of their BASIC software was being widely copied by enthusiasts, Gates writes an ‘Open Letter to Hobbyists’ saying that MITS couldn’t continue to produce quality software without payment. The letter riles many hobbyists but underlines Gates’ core beliefs on piracy

Nov 26, 1976 |

Trade name ‘Microsoft’ registered after dropping the hyphen. Around this time, the company becomes independent of MITS

1980 |

IBM approachs Microsoft to make a BASIC interpreter for its upcoming personal computer, IBM PC. Microsoft buys an OS, 86-DOS, from Seattle Computer Products, adapts it and delivers it to IBM as PC-DOS for $80,000. Microsoft insists on keeping the copyright. The sales of MS-DOS makes it a major player

June 25, 1981 |

Microsoft is re-incorporated and Gates becomes president and chairman of the board

Nov 20, 1985 |

First retail version of Microsoft Windows launched as an add-on to MS-DOS; achieves little popularity and competes poorly with Apple

Nov 1987 |

Windows 2.0 released; is slightly more popular. Windows 2.03, released in Jan 1988, results in Apple filing a suit for copyright infringement

1990 |

Microsoft releases Windows 3.0 with improved user interface. It’s a huge success, selling 2 million copies in the first six months. In March 1992, Windows 3.1 is launched. Microsoft and Gates are on their way to becoming household names

Jan 1, 1994 |

Gates marries Melinda French. They have three children: Jennifer Katharine Gates (1996), Rory John Gates (1999) and Phoebe Adele Gates (2002)

1995 |

Microsoft releases Internet Explorer as add-on package for Windows 95. It becomes the most widely used web browser in 1999

1995 |

Forbes declares Gates world’s richest man. He remains No.1 in the rich list till 2007. In 1999, Gates’s wealth briefly surpasses $101 billion, causing the media to call him a ‘centibillionaire’

May 18, 1998 |

Suit filed against Microsoft Corp by US department of justice and 20 US states for alleged abuse of monopoly power. Judge holds Microsoft’s practices as constituting a monopoly and rules that Microsoft be split. Ruling overturned after appeal

2000 |

The Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, the largest transparently operated charitable organization in the world, formed

June 15, 2006 |

Gates announces he would transition out of his day-to-day role in Microsoft over the next two years

June 27, 2008 |

Steps down as chairman of Microsoft. Will remain parttime chairman

LEGACY |

Even after his exit, Gates remains the posterboy of I-T industry for his vision that redefined the rules of game. But he has also been criticized for his robust attitude to competition

EXIT |

Many feel Gates has quitted at the right time. Microsoft has struggled to grasp trends shaping internet in the new millennium. Its attempts to buy its way in, by picking up stake in Facebook and the failed bid to acquire Yahoo haven’t really worked.

{Courtesy TOI}