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Bill Gates E-Mail Reveals His Frustration With Windows, Too
Most users of Microsoft Windows have had days where they wanted to throw their computer out of a real window; days where the thing just wouldn't cooperate and had to reboot 15 times just to install whatever piece of software or update they are trying to get. Those aren't fun days, and Microsoft's co-founder Bill Gates isn't immune to them either, as shown in a scathing e-mail originally revealed during an anti-trust suit against the company. The e-mail was just republished by the Seattle Post-Intelligencer in a retrospective on Gates, whose last day at Microsoft is Friday.
The e-mail was sent by Gates in 2003 and recounts his troubles trying to download and install Windows MovieMaker and Microsoft Plus. In an e-mail that spans a full five pages, he tells of having to run Windows Update, make multiple downloads, wait through many installs and reboots, and watch as his system is cluttered with meaningless garbage -- all just so that he can install that one app he wanted. At the end of it all....well...read for yourself:
"So after more than an hour of craziness and making my programs list garbage and being scared and seeing that Microsoft.com is a terrible website I haven't run Moviemaker and I haven't got the plus package."Mind you, this was back in 2003, and there have since been many changes made to both Microsoft.com and to Windows, but the next time you're swearing at Windows, just think about this e-mail and remember that you're not the only one. [Source: seattlepi.com]
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Comments
83
Subscribe to commentsB. J. BANUELOS.Jun 26th 2008 1:50PM
you can't possibly have as much trouble with windows as i have, constantly!
no way to contact windows, but they seem to send me apologies every now & then as they have problems. no kidding!
RLSmittyJun 26th 2008 4:22PM
Well, I thought Windows was synonomous with crappy products. Windows has virtually provided NOTHING new to the public that wasn't already designed by another company, well ever since it founding actually. ...and continue to charge new licensing for a the next new crappy product with endless updates and security flaws. Microsoft is a joke, has drastically hampered computer evolution, end-user interface, and if it wasn't for them being so deep in bed with the government (due to obvious national-security reasons), they would have been out of business due to anti-trust violations decades ago. ....damn if we coulda only been so lucky. My $0.02.
johnclrdsprnJun 26th 2008 4:25PM
Maybe if he hired more Americans his software would work better! He is a lover of H1B Visa applicant's over good American engineers!! Oh yeah! MSFT software sucks!!!
Bill & Melinda can be rich , but not there children , how selfish.Jun 26th 2008 2:14PM
Computers are a pain in the butt . Always something wrong and you've to always buy something for it . Hardware / software
Only thing it done is make money for Bill and other companies to become richer . They're addicting , causes couples to divorce ,
and much more . You get the picture.
If I wrote everything I thought about a computer , my book would
be 5,000 pages long .
I still disagree with Bill and Melinda Gates not inheit there children
they deserve something . You two can enjoy the money while you're living but your children cant? That's being very selfish on your part.
I always heard , rich people are selfish , I think Bill and Melinda Gates already approved it .
AnneJun 26th 2008 6:24PM
Please learn to spell so your knee jerk, albeit uninformed, commentary can be taken with some credence.
WienerJun 26th 2008 3:45PM
Give me a break! You don't think the Gates crumb crunchers are going to inherit a billion bucks! Get a clue. Gates invests all his money and he has tons. His kids will be fine and won't have to work if they don't want to.
Plus THE KIDS DON"T DESERVE ANYTHING. They didn't earn it..daddy Gates did! Besides they are reaping every benefit of being rich kids...private schools, living in a 10,000 square foot mansion, vacationing at every rich place around the world and meeting every mover and shaker in the world. They will be fine. Don't boo-boo for them.
Plus....please learn to write English! I don't try to write in a language not my original so please, use the same consideration. If you spell as bad on your job as you do on the Internet you must be a joke at the company.
TomJun 26th 2008 5:00PM
Where on earth did you learn to write English? Pakistan?
MEJun 26th 2008 5:23PM
Whats wrong with you? They owe nothing to their kids, that is what is wrong with this world it's called entitlement. Since when is anyone entitled to anything they didn't work for?
ChuckJun 26th 2008 2:30PM
It's nice to know he's as dumb as I am with his product!
LindaJun 26th 2008 2:27PM
I'm not too worried about Bill and Melinda's children. I am certain they will be provided good educations and enough money gifted to them prior to the death's of their parents to do quite well. They can buy them houses and give them many advantages and I would suspect that even without inheritance they will do quite well on their own. Warren Buffett made the same choice.
MACLUVERJun 26th 2008 3:09PM
BUY A MAC!!!!!!!!!!!!
white_jimJun 26th 2008 3:00PM
When deciding whether to buy a Mac orr PC I kept this type BS in mind and went with the Mac. Having an Intel chip if I REALLY need a Windows only software I know I can run it natively and would only occasionally need to put up with the poor handling of Windows system software. Who says using a computer needs to be difficult? I will also save long term due to not nearly as often caling on an IT person and enjoying the better reliability of the Mac.
It's like raising a puppy. After being totally frustrated with the chewing on furniture, eatinng one of your favorite shoes, having a mess on your new beige carpeting, that when finally house broken we become so appreciative that we begin to form a bond. I'd rater bond with a computer that I don't have to beat my brains out for it to operate properly.
CynthiaJun 26th 2008 2:56PM
Is windows the product of all the H1B workers that Mr. Gates loves so much???
Big DougJun 26th 2008 2:58PM
I'd rather Bill leaves nothing to his children than have them create another silver spoon waste of oxygen like Paris Hilton
SusanJun 27th 2008 12:01AM
The difference between the children of Bill Gates and Paris Hilton is that she (apparently) grew up in a family that did not put much emphasis on education. Clearly, Paris wants to do NOTHING but socialize.
I seriously doubt that the Gates' children will be allowed to forgo college, even tho' Bill dropped out.
pat sherJun 26th 2008 3:02PM
people people people
get off the hate/envy train......paleeze! the gates couple have been responsible for more sincere charity and helping hands around the world then anyone in our lifetime!! from continent wide vaccination programs to schools food and hospitals the list is stunning.
since we haven'[t heard their kids squawking about the inheritance set up, why is it our business?? you all go start an industry and make billions and then see how much good you can do before flinging mud on the few people out there with a social conscience. also the top 10 folks in gates company did the same as he did with their share of the loot. check it out. its good to be green these days, just not with envy!
GaryJun 26th 2008 3:10PM
Clearly, CEO's and other higher level management need to use the tools, services, and products they produce. I'm sure Mr. Gates experience reset the course of Windows Update and the Microsoft web site. Since 2003, they have made significant progress in user friendly tools.
white_jimJun 26th 2008 3:28PM
Are you serious? Even hard core PCers admit that Vista is horrible to work around. Is that recent enough? That was in the making for several years. I don't get it. No matter what comes out for the PC people accept it.
Mikewheels312Jun 26th 2008 3:19PM
He knows how I feel about having to reboot, LOL.
gagblueJun 26th 2008 3:21PM
Proof, for the umpteenth time, that the American public can be duped into buying inferior products if the hype, glitz & glamor, bells & whistles distract them enough. Windows is an inferior OS but Gates has managed (sometimes including through coercive means - just as other monopolistic entrepreneurs before him) to convince the public to buy it. If the public were to demand other operating systems on the computers they buy, Microsoft would respond by improving Windows. Until then,the poor performance will continue.