Take this quiz to see whether you can properly guess if the statement was something Bill Gates actually said or something people claim that he said.
Answer True or False. Or be a nerd and answer 1 or 0.
- “640K ought to be enough [computer memory] for anybody.”
- “Just in terms of allocation of time resources, religion is not very efficient. There’s a lot more I could be doing on Sunday morning.”
- “Microsoft has no business developing an e-mail program.”
- “There are people who don’t like capitalism, and people who don’t like PCs. But there’s no one who likes the PC who doesn’t like Microsoft.”
- “Our software is not bug-free beyond the bugs the users expect to be in there.”
- “Hey, Steve, just because you broke into Xerox’s store before I did and took the TV doesn’t mean I can’t go in later and steal the stereo.”
- “If you can’t make it good, at least make it look good.”
- “Our unhappy customers are our greatest source of revenue.”
- “If GM had kept up with the technology like the computer industry has, we would all be driving $25 cars that get 1,000 miles to a gallon of gas.”
- “Be nice to nerds. Chances are you’ll end up working for one.”
Answers!
1. “640K ought to be enough [computer memory] for anybody”.
True.
Bill really did say that. At the time, the IBM PC had the potential for only 640KB of RAM storage in a world where 64KB was common. Given that applications were text-based and things like sound and video on a computer were pipe dreams, Bill’s comment made complete sense.
2. “Just in terms of allocation of time resources, religion is not very efficient. There’s a lot more I could be doing on Sunday morning.”
True.
Of course, I’m sure Bill and his Creator will get closer as Bill’s mortality approaches 100 percent.
3. “Microsoft has no business developing an e-mail program.”
False.
It is often said that Bill didn’t care about e-mail, which is why Outlook/Outlook Express was so late to the market in the Internet revolution. although Bill may have had this attitude, the quote is fabricated.
4. “There are people who don’t like capitalism, and people who don’t like PCs. But there’s no one who likes the PC who doesn’t like Microsoft.”
True.
Even so, I know lots of folks who like the PC and utterly detest Microsoft. Bill needs to get out more.
5. “Our software is not bug-free beyond the bugs the users expect to be in there.”
False.
What he really said was, “There are no significant bugs in our released software that any significant number of users want fixed.”
6.”Hey, Steve, just because you broke into Xerox’s store before I did and took the TV doesn’t mean I can’t go in later and steal the stereo.”
True.
Said to Apple Computer’s Steven Jobs as they both quibbled over who stole what first from Xerox.
7. “If you can’t make it good, at least make it look good.”
True.
Bill said this in regards to Windows 9x.
8. “Our unhappy customers are our greatest source of revenue.”
False.
The quote really goes, “Your most unhappy customers are your greatest source of learning.”
9. “If GM had kept up with the technology like the computer industry has, we would all be driving $25 cars that get 1,000 miles to a gallon of gas.”
False.
This is an Internet hoax that makes the rounds in e-mail every time you get a friend with a new computer.
10. “Be nice to nerds. Chances are you’ll end up working for one.”
False.
This came from another Internet hoax, widely distributed, titled “Bill Gates Eleven Rules of Life.” While the rules are quite interesting, Bill never gave such a speech nor wrote those 11 rules.
