Keepin' it real fake, CXXXIX: Young Bill Gates edition

If the one-two punch of Taiwan and China can reverse-engineer the Zune and Xbox 360, certainly they can reproduce its fearless leader. Here we have Fake Bill hocking a PDA. Man, you know it's gotta be good.

[Thanks, Marco]

[Archelium @ Sep 12th 2008 2:15AM]

AWESOME. Where can I get one?

[Hao @ Sep 12th 2008 2:46AM]

First of all, that's Jeffrey Mindich, a news anchor in Taiwan.

Second, that's an e-dictionary from Besta, a subsidiary of Inventec group.

http://www.besta.com.tw/

[MastrCake @ Sep 12th 2008 2:16AM]

OMG IT'S ASIAN BILL GATES!!!

[burriot_avatar @ Sep 12th 2008 2:24AM]

That kicks so much ass. On my reverse-engineered PDA I'll play reverse-engineered Xbox 360 games and listen to 120 GB of music all for $40. I gotta make some Chinese friends so they can import this stuff for me.

[MastrCake @ Sep 12th 2008 2:29AM]

Just a little sidenote, you guys are one fake away from CXL. That's a whopping 140 fake posts, people!

Congratulations on Keepin' it real fake, Engadget!

(That pun was totally planned.)

[Taylor @ Sep 12th 2008 3:45AM]

burriot_avatar:
Unfortunately, the music is reverse engineered in Taiwan too, meaning that the words are in pigeon english, and every 5th note is a little off.

It'll still do the job.

[Rynth @ Sep 12th 2008 5:06AM]

MastrCake, may a point you to this: http://www.thebestpageintheuniverse.net/c.cgi?u=puns

That is all.

[j.d.ripper @ Sep 12th 2008 6:55AM]

@burriot_avatar

"I gotta make some Chinese friends so they can import this stuff for me."

ebay.com is my friend ;-)

[bananna @ Sep 12th 2008 2:22AM]

OMG is that an iPod?!

[Samurai Jack @ Sep 12th 2008 2:22AM]

That's not fake Bill Gates... it's fake John Hodgeman...

[xtian @ Sep 12th 2008 2:26AM]

I want to see the Asian version of sweaty Steve Ballmer dancing on stage...

[TJ @ Sep 12th 2008 7:09AM]

Ummm You DO NOT want to see that. I don't think anyone wanna see that.

[gerbick @ Sep 12th 2008 2:40AM]

It's Birr Gates.

[Dyranios @ Sep 12th 2008 2:41AM]

You do this feature so frequently you should just ditch the roman numerals already, why do you even need a numbering system at this point? Just admit you were in over your head when you started and quietly omit the "part CXIXIXXIXXIXIX" from the forth coming posts.

[Colin Potter @ Sep 12th 2008 3:47AM]

thats not how roman numerals work.

[jupiterthunder @ Sep 12th 2008 12:53PM]

Interesting number. Did you drop out in IIII-th or VXII-th grade?

[Jeff @ Sep 12th 2008 2:42AM]

Hmm, it's an ad for electronic dictionary, not PDA.

And when did looking like a young Bill Gates get you a spot on Engadget under Keeping it real fake? Oh wait, I get it.. it's because he is Chinese and China has lots of fake stuff. Ah, real smooth Engadget, real smooth.

[allislost @ Sep 12th 2008 2:55AM]

It's just a joke people... JUST a joke... relax.

[jupiterthunder @ Sep 12th 2008 12:55PM]

Sorry, but his is "keepin' it real fake", not" keepin' it maybe funny". I don't know this anchor guy either, but engadget got misinformed on this one or was uninformed, it appears.

[allislost @ Sep 13th 2008 2:51AM]

So get over it. Damn whinny bitches...

[johnnyletter75 @ Sep 12th 2008 3:07AM]

I would pay one thousands internets to anyone that can find Chinese Jerry Seinfeld...

[peter @ Sep 12th 2008 3:15AM]

agreed with Jeff

some people, like the writer, might consider it as a joke
but it can totally mislead people and leave them a real bad and wrong impression about taiwan and china
you think it's only a joke? it's only because this doesn't affect your life as you are not from those countries
this article is seriously disappointing and offensive
not funny
thank you

[Tom @ Sep 12th 2008 4:56AM]

I agree, this is pretty offensive and only reinforces the stereotype. Sure, you can say it's just a joke, but "Here we have Fake Bill hocking a PDA" sounds pretty much as if he's stating a fact.

[Gene @ Sep 12th 2008 7:18AM]

that's why some western media distortion exist!

be educated and be gentle!!!

chinese people are always nice, china welcomes you! (btw, taiwan is a province of china!)

[cpt @ Sep 12th 2008 12:30PM]

@Gene

keep dreaming, baby :)

[Sanh @ Sep 12th 2008 3:52AM]

OMG Microsoft has invented a time machine already. runn

[Kelmon @ Sep 12th 2008 3:55AM]

Is it me or does anyone else find the expression in that picture slightly, er, unnerving? I'm actually finding it somewhat creepy.

[kas @ Sep 12th 2008 4:05AM]

THIS IS NOT funny! Actually this is very offensive.

Well, it is politically correct in Western world. You do not have serious consequences, but you really lose your creditability as a media trying to open some business in Asia.

[Xavier @ Sep 12th 2008 4:31AM]

@ Thomas Ricker,

Bad joke.

[deedeedee @ Sep 12th 2008 4:31AM]

wha...am I missing something? just where does it even mentioned Bill Gates? He doesnt even look like Bill, the only thing they have in common with is the glasses, and I think this guy is actually famous in taiwan not just some random dude, and this "PDA" you are talking about is an electronic dictionary.

This is the worst Keepin' it real fake ever, shame on you engadget, i'm going over to giz :P

[kimisawa @ Sep 12th 2008 4:43AM]

WHF Engadget??? SHAME ON YOU!!

The guy is named, Jeffrey Mindich, an English news anchor in Taiwan. He is promoting the electronic dictionary.

Nothing to do with Bill Gates, and nothing to do with any PDAs.

BAD!

[kimisawa @ Sep 12th 2008 4:47AM]

W-T-F
typo

[George @ Sep 13th 2008 7:52AM]

Did anybody found any single word saying "Bill Gates" in this product?
Only article itself and the title shows it.
This is Jeffery -- a FTV's English newscast.
also a guy who well-known in English-teaching.

http://www.taipeitimes.com/News/feat/archives/2003/03/16/198323/print

This article is not only a misleading but also a quality issue of a writer.
Found something real and practice more.

[howi @ Sep 12th 2008 5:33AM]

Thomas Ricker / Marco the tipster,

Like other have already told, it PROVES you have no idea what that picture and product is all about... It has NEVER wanted to mock Bill Gates!

* The person in that photo is Jeffrey Mindich, a news anchor of International Community Radio in Taipei...

http://englishnews.ftv.com.tw/anchors.htm

* The product using him as a "spokesperson" to plug: A Electronic Dictionary from Besta, model CD-859...

http://gomos.sunup.net/showroom/view.php?V=anow&C=633094

* The images show his signature matched his in the so-called fake/Asian Bill Gates deal.

[howi @ Sep 12th 2008 6:06AM]

More about Jeffrey Mindich at ICRT...

http://www.icrt.com.tw/en/on_air.php?perid=16&sppp=news

[howi @ Sep 12th 2008 5:45AM]

This piece of article contradicts with the Engadget's parents' high standards...

http://www.weblogsinc.com/#exp_readers

Weblogs, Inc. is a blog company run by bloggers for bloggers; as such we're committed to keeping blogging authentic and honest. We want our readers to trust our blogs, so we've committed to the following:

* There is a clear separation between advertising and editorial on all WIN blogs. Our bloggers are not involved in the advertising process. In fact, our bloggers find out who's advertising on our blogs at the same time as the audience!
* Bloggers do not receive free products or services from the companies they write about.
* Bloggers do accept review units (i.e., a new cell phone at Engadget, a video game at Joystiq, or a week-long car loan at Autoblog); however, when they're finished reviewing products, they return these items to the manufacturers. If the manufacturers do not take the items back, we give them to our readers. This is the same editorial policy as the New York Times or Wall Street Journal.
* Bloggers do not accept "junkets" from vendors. Junkets are free trips that PR firms and the companies they represent provide to journalists in the hopes of getting favorable reviews for their products. Our bloggers routinely get offers of first class tickets and four-star hotels at amazing destinations � we NEVER accept them! If we go to an industry event you can be sure that we've picked up the cost of the tickets and that we suffered in coach in order to maintain our integrity.
* If we get something wrong, we correct the error immediately.
* Bloggers are committed to being up front and honest. Their opinions are their own, and if you don't agree with them, feel free to post a comment!

[SirCrumpet @ Sep 12th 2008 7:06AM]

How, exactly?

* This is not a paid advertisement
* Engadget did not receive any freebies in regards to this post.
* Engadget was not given a review unit of Fake Bill Gates; however, I have no doubt that if they did, they would have attempted to return him or given him away as a giveaway,
* From what I can tell, Engadget was no offered a first class ticket to meet Fake Bill Gates, and again, I'm certain they would have turned it down if they had.
* The opinions of Ricker are indeed his own, and as mentioned, you are more than welcome to post a comment, which you have.

[howi @ Sep 12th 2008 7:14AM]

* If we get something wrong, we correct the error immediately.

[wcw001 @ Sep 12th 2008 7:44AM]

I've never particularly liked the "keepin it real fake" segments but this is just a blatant attack on asians. SHAME ON YOU ENGADGET!! There is absolutely no intent to portray bill gates or to rip off any product so what's the meaning of this? I'm sure you think it's a good humored joke but let me tell you that the only way to interpret this is that 1) you're simply racist and 2) you're a total a$$hole.

[wcw001 @ Sep 12th 2008 7:44AM]

Looking at comments like yours only tells me that you're a little pathetic prick. Hurry home to your momma, it's time for your breast feeding.

[Rich @ Sep 12th 2008 8:00AM]

cgoblen, why don't you grow up...you get a hardon don't you from getting a laugh every once in a while on an inane subject. Common now...admit it, lowlife.

[kempcross @ Sep 12th 2008 9:49AM]

Man, such sensitivity on this comment board. It kind of reminds me how defensive Chinese people got when you asked them what they did with all the poor people in Beijing for the Olympics.

And I don't see how this is racist. If you find me a Caucasian who looks like Yao Ming, I would find that hilarious.

[emiljou @ Sep 12th 2008 2:00PM]

1. This advertisement and the product is from Taiwan.
2. What they did in Beijing has nothing to do with Taiwan.

[Xenoterranos @ Sep 12th 2008 10:33AM]

You gotta admit though, that's very creepy in a Mr.Sparkle sort of way.

[arcainkid @ Sep 12th 2008 10:38AM]

herro, imu peecee.

[Al @ Sep 12th 2008 2:36PM]

God made America. Americans invented everything. Everything else are
REAL FAKE.. that's the hidden logic here.

[Kraken @ Sep 14th 2008 3:29AM]

Does anyone see an EPIC FAIL here? Be careful, ENGADGET, that's not Mr. Gates in his wonder years!