Gates is up to something....

Tempus · Post by **Tempus** » Thu Sep 18, 2003 11:04 pm

From CNN 09/19/03
NEW YORK (AP) -- It's not often that Bill Gates is associated with the free Linux computer operating system, Netscape's Web browser or royalty-free software, but on Wednesday he embraced all three.

Gates, chairman of Microsoft Corp., sat through a computer demonstration running on Linux -- a competitor to Microsoft's Windows -- and the Netscape browser, a rival product that all but disappeared because of giveaways of Microsoft's Internet Explorer browser.

Gates attended a technical briefing in Manhattan, where Microsoft and software rival IBM Corp. touted so-called Web services, software aimed at streamlining Internet transactions.

Partnering with IBM
Gates and IBM executive vice president Steve Mills said their companies' three-year collaboration had developed tools that will let computers conduct secure transactions whether they run Microsoft's Windows platform or others, such as IBM's WebSphere or the open-source Linux system that is given away.

"We're being as inclusive as we can," Gates said of Microsoft's role in the cross-platform project. "This is a fabric for someone to do e-commerce that's independent of the operating systems that are out there."

Free for all?
Mills said the companies had decided to cooperate even though the new standards also benefit rival companies and software.

"Standards are always a give-to-get bargain," he said.

The two executives said they would turn their developments over to Internet standards bodies.

Gates said the Redmond, Washington-based company's work toward Web services standards would be "royalty free." That remark led to questions from the audience, which wanted to make sure Gates hadn't misstated the deviation from the company's royalty-based software sales model.

"I can't believe I said that," Gates joked.

SOMETHING SMELLS FISHY ABOUT THIS....

[PX]IronFist · Post by **[PX]IronFist** » Thu Sep 18, 2003 11:37 pm

I think that what most people don't understand (including the media) is that Bill Gates dosen't care about Windows or Linux or even computing in general.

All he cares about is making money, and he is really, really, good at it.

Clearly he wouldn't be interested in this if he didn't see some potential for making a profit.

Tempus · Post by **Tempus** » Thu Sep 18, 2003 11:39 pm

funny you should mention money.... lol he just gave himself a raise...

http://news.com.com/2100-1014_3-5079027.html

[PX]IronFist · Post by **[PX]IronFist** » Thu Sep 18, 2003 11:45 pm

While Gates and Ballmer received no stock options

That's a real show of faith in the company, when the two top execs don't even take stock.

Tempus · Post by **Tempus** » Fri Sep 19, 2003 12:03 am

Lindows Strikes back

http://news.com.com/2100-1046_3-5078074.html

THE JEW (RaVeN) · Post by **THE JEW (RaVeN)** » Fri Sep 19, 2003 3:55 pm

Stock really doesn't matter as much as it used to. In fact, not too long ago Ballmer sold off some of his stock. In case you didn't notice, IT stocks took a real @$$-kicking recently. Yeah, they'll make money through sales, but they might make more money off the stock market through traditional "bricks and mortar" companies. Nobody really cares if the execs have stock any more--they just care that it makes them money.

[PX]IronFist · Post by **[PX]IronFist** » Fri Sep 19, 2003 4:55 pm

I know that both Ballmer and Gates sold off alot of stock reciently, I'm just saying that if they don't have the faith to put their own money in the company, how can they expect anyone else too?

Nobody really cares if the execs have stock any more--they just care that it makes them money

I think that the average shareholder still looks to the exec's for guidance, and when that guidance amounts too "I have no faith in this company" I can't see how that can be a good thing.

THE JEW (RaVeN) · Post by **THE JEW (RaVeN)** » Fri Sep 19, 2003 6:27 pm

Maybe they're trying to show that they don't think that their stock values matter all that much to them as a company. Maybe they're gonna try and say that their "pay as you go" method will be their new money maker.

I happen to disagree (seeing as how Microsoft's current value is mostly just "paper value"). Yeah, it does look bad to the average person, but experienced stock holders will realize they're just diversifying. Stocks get traded so fast anymore that a cent difference is a big difference.

[PX]IronFist · Post by **[PX]IronFist** » Fri Sep 19, 2003 6:34 pm

THE JEW (RaVeN) wrote:Yeah, it does look bad to the average person, but experienced stock holders will realize they're just diversifying.

I think that the experienced stock holders will realize that this "diversifying" crap is just what they are trying to feed the average person (who may or may not be buying it) and that the real reason they are selling stock is that they are unsure of the future of their own company, and the fact that most of their value is "on paper" makes it even more meaningful.

THE JEW (RaVeN) · Post by **THE JEW (RaVeN)** » Mon May 03, 2004 12:12 am

Maybe, but when the U.S. government computer advisor was a former member of the M$ board, I think Greenspan will tilt their numbers no matter how much money they lose.