Microsoft, then and now

Man, who could have predicted back in 1978 that this collection of nerds, dweebs, and hippies would come to rule the desktop? A time when a PC in every home was just a vision and 640KB of memory ought to be enough for anybody. That's the original Microsoft "family" re-photographed 30 years later (minus Bob Wallace who died in 2002) in preparation for Bill Gates to slip into tomorrow's smoking jacket of retirement. It's better than a gold watch we guess. Who's who after the break.

Back row (left to right): Steve Wood, Bob Wallace, Jim Lane
Center row: Bob O'Rear, Bob Greenberg, Marc McDonald, Gordon Letwin
Front row: Bill Gates, Andrea Lewis, Marla Wood, Paul Allen

[Cunthor @ Jun 26th 2008 6:16AM]

Proof that nerds will be our overlords one day...

[James @ Jun 26th 2008 6:20AM]

proof that bill gates can't grow facial hair

[Darkroom @ Jun 26th 2008 7:05AM]

proof that bill gates looked like a lesbian in 1978

[Flashpoint @ Jun 26th 2008 8:01AM]

goddamn hippies.

[Idlemind @ Jun 26th 2008 9:50AM]

They should have Photoshopped Bob Wallace in...

My bad... "MS Painted" him in....

[Vidit Bhargava @ Jun 26th 2008 10:07AM]

yeah...a bunch of tech-hippies

[OneLove @ Jun 26th 2008 10:19AM]

I think bill gates came out on top in many ways. He looks the best today out of all of them. He looked scary back then. I guess a little money does help some.

[Mervin @ Jun 26th 2008 6:16AM]

Why do people pick on the nerds and geeks. They are the ones ending up rich, inventing your everyday useful thingy.

[Isak? @ Jun 26th 2008 7:29AM]

Yeah, just how nerdy guys can become the life of the party at the graduation party, and big man on campus in college.... Nerds aren't any more likely to accomplish anything than anybody else. Even more, aren't you picking on them by assuming they're all going to become electrical engineers or inventors?

The fact is that most nerds grow up to be simply that. Not uber successful nerds, or nerds pulling in a million a year. Just weird ugly cats.

[j_g_puff @ Jun 26th 2008 6:19AM]

So, what do you think has improved most? Windows or Fashion?

[giuliop @ Jun 26th 2008 7:26AM]

Windows. And that's telling.

[Mic2000 @ Jun 26th 2008 8:54AM]

Neither

[Le Big Mac @ Jun 26th 2008 9:48AM]

Would have been more entertaining if they could have found the same clothes (not that they'd fit) or something really close. And sat in the exact same positions (with an empty space as needed).

[wasabi @ Jun 26th 2008 6:19AM]

i don't think any of them in the 1978 had any idea of the success in the years to come. it's always amazing to look at then and now photographs.

[Bobs @ Jun 26th 2008 8:22AM]

The guy in the middle row on the left looks like hes thinking about killing someone

[Hellios @ Jun 26th 2008 6:21AM]

I would have imagined more of them would have lasik eye surgery done...

[Josh @ Jun 26th 2008 6:53AM]

Or even wear contacts. Once a geek, always a geek perhaps? I wish I still had to wear glasses. lol

[Chris H @ Jun 26th 2008 6:24AM]

Am I missing something here?
On the front row of the 1978 one, it says,
"Bill Gates, Andrew Lewis, Marla Wood, Paul Allen"
Yet I see two women at the middle of the front...Andrew is a man's name right? O_o

On a side note..this is pretty awesome that they all still work for the big M

[BobTurbo @ Jun 26th 2008 6:29AM]

Yeah probably should be Andrea.

[NG @ Jun 26th 2008 7:13AM]

No they don't.
Apparently some of them already left, thats just a reunion photo
Click the photo link

[jared @ Jun 26th 2008 7:41AM]

The other woman was caught in a snow storm and couldn't make the original photo.

[maxxwizard @ Jun 26th 2008 8:06AM]

i wonder what their then and now salaries now (taking into account inflation, of course).

[Nightmare @ Jun 26th 2008 8:14PM]

@ chris H

Look again it is Andrea you tool.


TOOL!!!!!!!! T-O-O-L = chris h

[BobTurbo @ Jun 26th 2008 6:26AM]

Not this again. I could have sworn last time this comparison was dragged out of the cellar that the picture was in black and white. Did someone add colour?

[Chris @ Jun 26th 2008 7:10AM]

how old do you think Microsoft is?

[Nightmare @ Jun 26th 2008 8:18PM]

@bob turbo

You sir are TOOLx2, you need to get together with chris and compare your stupids, i think his is longer... he can't read and you are color blind...


oh well< you must be a microsoft user...

Woo hoo tOoLx2

[sly @ Jun 26th 2008 6:29AM]

isn't it andrea lewis, not andrew lewis lol

[Wardotron @ Jun 26th 2008 6:38AM]

What a bevvy of beauties! Pure sex.

[Nando @ Jun 26th 2008 10:16AM]

Maxim's Top of the Bottom 100 Sexiest

[Wardotron @ Jun 26th 2008 6:40AM]

Lovely set of beards there too. I might grow one in tribute.

[kccboy2004 @ Jun 26th 2008 6:46AM]

wow this is gonna attract some posts...FLAME ON !!

@clak, btw, i think similarly, that people take all these words so seriously. for me, i have a constant (idiotic) grin with every word i type on this forum/blog.

if everyone replied to a post with "Yes, Ohhh I must have that", "Or do they do that I blue", "Or when's that coming", would anybody really read this ? - lame.

but I like the venon and passion that everyone shows on this site, we are all still alive.

If anyone has the guts to sit through this famous Billy Connolly joke, and substitute the words "Apple Fanboy" for "Rangers" and "Windows Fanboys" for "Celtic", you will understand why Apple and Windows fans will NEVER settle their differences.

[DefPo3t @ Jun 26th 2008 6:52AM]

how bout staying on topic and stop mentioning clak please

[doudOSX @ Jun 26th 2008 6:57AM]

woot-that was amazing truly amazing. you keep up the good work i like your attitude. 1+ for you.


now are you sure that this is the right story 'cause clak didn't post a comment here

[dreamer @ Jun 26th 2008 6:46AM]

wow!!!
hippies and nerds...
anyways...
MSFT FTW!!!

[kccboy2004 @ Jun 26th 2008 6:49AM]

with the link:


http://jp.youtube.com/watch?v=-JjVg0Sbsh4&feature=related

[borg @ Jun 26th 2008 7:04AM]

So, what exactly happened in 1983 to make most of them leave Microsoft?

[sk @ Jun 26th 2008 7:51AM]

I think the company moved in 1983 from Albuquerque NM to Seattle WA.

[gnp @ Jun 26th 2008 7:30AM]

Probably because Ballmer joined Microsoft on June 11, 1980

[Dan Davis @ Jun 26th 2008 9:16AM]

Not Seattle... Bellevue. It's across Lake Washington.

MS is now in Redmond, which is east of Bellevue, up 520.

[roach @ Jun 26th 2008 12:45PM]

I'm sure they're banging their heads for leaving...knowing they could have own a NFL team.

[Richy @ Jun 26th 2008 7:04AM]

Let's see the Apple Computer 1978 photo, and really kick off a 'who's geekier' flame war!

[_man1c_ @ Jun 26th 2008 7:20AM]

wonder how they would have done on the tv show Beauty & The Geeks?

[Rob Bourne @ Jun 26th 2008 7:24AM]

In the old photo, the guy on the left behind Gates looks like a serial killer.

Or a porn star

[J @ Jun 26th 2008 8:25AM]

...and then he aged 90 years.

[Rohit Kapur @ Jun 26th 2008 7:33AM]

You guys *do* realize that Bill G. never actually said that 640kb of memory will be enough for everyone, right?? That's just an urban legend that still holds momentum. I think even Snopes proved that one false. . . Either way, wherever it came from, it wasn't from Bill.


I hope he enjoys his retirement, and his philanthropy. The man's done his part, and then some. :)

[Rohit Kapur @ Jun 26th 2008 7:34AM]

You guys *do* realize that Bill G. never actually said that 640kb of memory will be enough for everyone, right?? That's just an urban legend that still holds momentum. I think even Snopes proved that one false. . . Either way, wherever it came from, it wasn't from Bill.


I hope he enjoys his retirement, and his philanthropy. The man's done his part, and then some. :)

[MMaster23 @ Jun 26th 2008 7:34AM]

Minus Ric Weiland .. everyone skips him...

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ric_Weiland

I call him mr. freaky-child-molesting-mustage-staring-directly-into-your-brain

[Aaronage @ Jun 26th 2008 7:35AM]

They had better lighting in 1978 lol

Why did they take the new pic so dark lol

[sp00g3 @ Jun 26th 2008 10:33PM]

It's not better lighting, it's better photographers, Back then you actually had to KNOW something about photography. Nowadays anyone with a little money for a dSLR and a desire can think he is a photographer because they can see the photos on the spot. Back then, missing good photos, cost money, now, who cares, just delete and re-shoot. Unfortunately Great photographers (Those who understand the technical side, not just 'have an eye') are hard to come by. BTW, Going off topic, but this peeves me. ;)

[Rohit Kapur @ Jun 26th 2008 7:36AM]

Dang. Engadget, please fix your comment system. Pretty please??

And I'm glad to see Highest Ranked back, by the way.