Which Tech Genius Do You Respect the Most?

[dawheat]

How about all the billions he sucked out of the tech industry in the 90s? How many startups were destroyed by Microsoft entering their market with the sole intention of taking over? Embrace and extend.

Anybody can sign a check for charity. It takes a heartless prick to shut innovative startups down just to make a multi-billion dollar outfit a few more million.

Utter ridiculousness - millions of children are alive today solely due to the Gates Foundation and that number will increase dramatically every year. The leadership he has set has influenced philanthropy around the world.

If there ever was a noble reason to suck billions out of the tech industry, this is certainly one of the best cases.

On the flip side, Steve Jobs was in the top 50 richest Americans and his philanthropic record is thin. I was never a fan of his "I'm focusing on Apple, don't have time" attitude. Then delegate it to some trusted advisers or heck give it to the Gates Foundation.

It takes a heartless prick to ignore dying children just to sit on 8 billion dollars and buy a new Mercedes SL every 6 months to avoid putting on a license plate.

BTW - I have nothing but respect for Steve Jobs and his contributions and he was certainly entitled to spend his money whatever way he likes. But posts like the above drive me crazy.

 

[Farmer]

How about all the billions he sucked out of the tech industry in the 90s? How many startups were destroyed by Microsoft entering their market with the sole intention of taking over? Embrace and extend.

Anybody can sign a check for charity. It takes a heartless prick to shut innovative startups down just to make a multi-billion dollar outfit a few more million.

So, instead he should've allowed the startups to thrive and eventually threaten his own business? That doesn't sound as easy as nipping them in the bud.

He's a business man. His job is to make a few more million, or make a few more anything. How can you criticize him for employing a strategy that worked?

 

[dwell]

So, instead he should've allowed the startups to thrive and eventually threaten his own business? That doesn't sound as easy as nipping them in the bud.

He's a business man. His job is to make a few more million, or make a few more anything. How can you criticize him for employing a strategy that worked?

He did it by employing illegal, predatory, monopolistic practices. See United States vs. Microsoft.

 

[dwell]

If there ever was a noble reason to suck billions out of the tech industry, this is certainly one of the best cases.

So if Bernard Madoff dumped all the cash he accumulated into cancer research, all wrongs forgiven? I disagree.

Again, I 100% commend Gates on his philanthropy. But let's not forget what an asshole he once was.

 

[darkswordsman17]

Of those 3 its Gates by a massive margin.

If its based solely on what they've done for tech though, then none of them. In that respect you might as well lump Al Gore in there.

 

[Farmer]

So if Bernard Madoff dumped all the cash he accumulated into cancer research, all wrongs forgiven? I disagree.

Again, I 100% commend Gates on his philanthropy. But let's not forget what an asshole he once was.

How is that even comparable? Madoff was a scam. Are you saying Microsoft is a scam?

 

[videogames101]

How is that even comparable? Madoff was a scam. Are you saying Microsoft is a scam?

He's just jumped on the M$ hate machine bandwagon. For some reason people don't seem to understand just how good their products are, they think Microsoft is only at the top because of anti-competitive practices. Sigh...

 

[dwell]

How is that even comparable? Madoff was a scam. Are you saying Microsoft is a scam?

No, but they were convicted of being an illegal monopoly.

 

[Veliko]

iPhone bereavement hotline set up as Samsung outsells Apple:

http://michaelcargill.wordpress.com/

 

[SSSnail]

No, but they were convicted of being an illegal monopoly.

And I love how everything is opened with any Apple products.

 

[Anubis]

Richard Feynman

/bowdown

Feynman was most likely the smartest person to be born last century, His genius was truly amazing

 

[leotheliongrrr]

Nikola Tesla

 

[Farmer]

/bowdown

Feynman was most likely the smartest person to be born last century, His genius was truly amazing

Hard to argue that, because Feynman is an amazingly popular man. But I'd say Paul Dirac.

 

[disappoint]

/bowdown

Feynman was most likely the smartest person to be born last century, His genius was truly amazing

His peers didn't think so.

 

[bradley]

Nikola Tesla

I though the question was regarding modern "tech" geniuses. But yeah, he dwarfs everyone before and since.