Bill Gates
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The terrifying Probo in pictures and video
Have you ever dreamed that you stared into the ineffable face of the abyss... and the abyss stared back? Well dream no more, friends, and witness the gallery of photos and video below of Probo, the Belgian, Bill Gates-backed, huggable, robotic Alf wannabe. We saw a bit of the little guy earlier today, but now we've found a treasure-trove of media and wanted to share. One thing that's been bugging us: he's supposed to help kids who've been through traumatic experiences, and, you know... cheer people up -- but doesn't this bot look profoundly unhappy? Take a peek and judge for yourself.
Some thoughts on the new Microsoft ads
Well, the new ad blitz from Microsoft has begun. Advertising agency Crispin Porter + Boguksy is back at it with a new web video and click through banners that tell the story of Lauren, a Los Angeles woman (and member of the Screen Actors Guild) who was recruited from Craigslist. She supposedly didn't know she was in a Microsoft ad, but instead thought she was in a laptop marketing test.She was given a thousand dollars after saying she wanted a 17-inch laptop with a good keyboard. She tried an Apple Store, but couldn't find anything at the price she wanted. She wound up with an HP Pavilion (here are the specs) running Windows Home Premium and a pretty slow AMD processor. She has minimal screen resolution and about 2 1/2 hours of battery life if she's lucky. All in all, not a bad machine, but certainly not a 17" Mac which would have been a lot more money.Of course the laptops were not comparably equipped, so the cards were stacked in Microsoft's favor. That's what commercials do. Microsoft has been pummeled for more than 3 years by the extremely popular Mac vs. PC guys. Microsoft responded last summer with the Mojave ads, where people were tricked into believing they were seeing a brand new OS from MS, when in fact they were just seeing Vista. They were told about the features, and loved them. What they weren't allowed to do, however, was actually use Vista, or try to install it on their own PCs. Those were telling omissions.Microsoft followed up with the Jerry Seinfeld-Bill Gates ads. They were fun to watch, but had no discernible message. Interestingly, Vista was never mentioned.Now we come to the new ads, which doubtless will be followed by more shopping trips. In the first ad, Vista is never mentioned, just like in the Seinfeld commercials. Interesting. MS does not make computer hardware. Instead, their main product is an OS which is currently Vista. Yet in 2 out of 3 'expensive' ads, not a word about the flagship operating system.
Melinda Gates secretly pines for iPhone, actually doesn't even like Africa
In a recent Vogue interview, Melinda Gates confided that she's battled some iPhone envy in her day: "Every now and then I look at my friends and say 'Ooh, I wouldn't mind having that iPhone'." It's just too bad for her that Apple is forbidden fruit in the Gates household. "There are very few things that are on the banned list in our household. But iPods and iPhones are two things we don't get for our kids," said Melinda. Stay strong, Mrs. Gates, we're hearing good things about Windows Mobile 7. Oh, and we made up that part about Africa.[Image courtesy of Save the Children]
Microsoft to push cool factor with retro-inspired clothing line
It's actually kind of amazing how much dough Microsoft has spent over the past little while in an attempt to polish its image in the minds of the general populace, and as if those "I'm proud to be a PC" and completely incomprehensible Gates / Seinfeld spots weren't enough, the Redmond-based outfit is about to roll out its own clothing line (dubbed "Softwear") this month. And no, we're not kidding. Not even a little. Microsoft has purchased the assistance of Crispin Porter & Bogusky in order to ensure the results are actually desirable, and it has also hired rapper Common as a spokesman. We can't definitively say the shirt you see above is as fly as Pharrell's Gizmondo Enzo tee, but we'd rock it. We'd rock it hard.[Via Boy Genius Report]
Microsoft sued in California for faulty Xbox 360s
According to DailyGamesNews, Microsoft is the target of a class action lawsuit in California, alleging that not only have too many Xbox 360s failed, but that the company concealed the fact to "compete with the pending launch of Sony's Playstation 3 and Nintendo's Wii gaming systems." If it loses the suit, Microsoft would have to "disgorge" all the cash it made on the 360 and implement a refund program in California.... Ladies and gentlemen, our economy is hurting. Now is the time for us to rally around our gigantic corporations, not try to tear them down! Did you know that Bill Gates is only the planet's third richest man now? Can you imagine how that must feel, being a hair's breadth from being surpassed by steel magnate Lakshmi Mittal? No. No, we bet you can't.You know that part of the beach where there's only one set of bald-eagle-skin loafer footprints? That's where he carried you.
Microsoft's new ads: Seinfeld and Gates out, Hodgman lookalike in
According to a report from in the New York Times, the next phase of Microsoft's latest ad campaign is set to begin -- sans Bill Gates and Jerry Seinfeld. Apparently, the new ads do away with the unusual (and somewhat ill-received) banter and "real life" experiences of the two celebrities, and trade them for an earnest embrace of... Apple's "PC" character. Apparently, one of the new ads even begins with a John Hodgman lookalike stating, "Hello, I'm a PC, and I've been made into a stereotype." Beyond the flip on a rival's depiction of its brand, the campaign will feature cameos from Eva Longoria, Deepak Chopra, Pharrell Williams, and even Gates -- though Seinfeld doesn't make the cut. While we're curious to see what the company cooks up in the new ads, it does strike us as somewhat odd that the supposed narrative Microsoft was establishing with Gates and Seinfeld has abruptly been abandoned in favor of these new spots. Is this a decision which was made long ago, or did the largely negative / confused reaction to the last set of ads force the company's hand? We only have its official statement to go on: "We will be executing the second phase of our advertising campaign tomorrow, as planned from the start."[Thanks to everyone who sent this in]
Microsoft airs second ad, campaign makes sense
Microsoft aired the second in its series of new ads featuring Jerry Seinfeld and Bill Gates, and unlike the first ad, we finally discover that the pair are trying to find out what life is like for the average person. Since Gates "lives in a moon house over Seattle" and Seinfeld "has so many cars he gets stuck in his own traffic," the pair are living with a stereotypically average family in order to "connect with real people." Thus the theme of the campaign: "perpetually connecting." PC. Get it? Mac developer Daniel Jalkut thinks the ads are genius: "They are so random, indeed so touchy-feely, that the universal reaction among the 'smart-asses' I know, is to declare them ridiculous, not-funny, and utter failures. [...] So if you think the ads suck, don't worry, you're not the target audience." You Look Nice Today's Adam Lisagor adds a salient point: "If you smile even once, the Windows brand wins." Thus the heart of the matter: The ads are not intended to sell Windows: They're ads to sell The Windows Brand. Think of it as The Soul of Windows. If, by the end of this campaign, we only think of Microsoft as the company with the weird ads, then Microsoft will have saved Windows' soul.
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]
Seinfeld and Gates get in touch with regular folks
The second installment of the Bill Gates / Jerry Seinfeld saga has been released, and we'll level with you: if they keep making them this good, we don't really care what they're about. See for yourself after the break.[Thanks to everyone who sent this in]
Poll: Is Microsoft's new ad working?
By now you've probably watched the Bill Gates / Jerry Seinfeld Microsoft ad a dozen or so times (if not, get to it). If you're like us, you've got a healthy conversation happening about what the new campaign means, and whether or not you actually like the thing. According to a leaked internal email from Redmond's senior vice president Bill Veghte, this first installment in what will be a series of commercials is meant to function as an "Icebreaker to reintroduce Microsoft to viewers in a consumer context." It seems that the company is following the path they've stamped out with their previous media burst, the Mojave Experiment, which appears to be less concerned with changing the product (Windows), and more concerned with changing consumers' perception of the product. In Veghte's words, "Telling our story means making significant investments to improve the way consumers experience Windows." So here's our question to you: is Microsoft on the right track here? Let us know in the poll below! (You can also read the full text of the email after the break) %Poll-19148%
Seinfeld and Gates pair up for intense shoe-fitting session, cryptic advertisement
As promised, Gates and Seinfeld made their television pair-up debut tonight, in an advertisement for something or other. We were sad to see Seinfeld sans-bee suit, and Gates is lacking in Costanza-isms, but we might just be looking at a beautiful friendship here. Video is after the break.[Thanks to everyone who sent this in]
Steve Ballmer, Steve Ballmer's fists to deliver CES keynote
Are you ready to really let loose at this year's CES? If you said yes, then you'll be stoked as hell to know that our main man Steve Ballmer will be taking over Bill Gates' famous keynotes. You read that right, the scariest fratbanger this side of your last toga party will be stepping up to the plate in what we can only hope will be the kind of explosive performance we've come to expect from him. Other keynoters will be the handsome Sony CEO Sir Howard Stringer and Alan Mulally, president and CEO of Ford. Here's hoping Gates at least drops by for a cameo -- it just won't seem like CES without him.
Microsoft enlists Seinfeld, Gates to battle "Get a Mac" ads
Those Apple "Get a Mac" ads have long been an annoyance to Microsoft and to Bill Gates in particular. No surprise as Apple, emboldened by rising market share, continues to ratchet up the venom with quips like, "fear of switching is the foundation of customer loyalty for PCs," found in its latest TV ad. Now Microsoft is fighting back. Microsoft's new $300 million campaign (one of Redmond's largest ever) is set to launch with a $10 million assist from "key celebrity pitchman" Jerry Seinfeld. Yes, Bill Gates will appear as well -- the once maligned, rich corporate nerd turned adorable, rich humanitarian nerd. The campaign is said to be based on the idea of "Windows, Not Walls," stressing the need to "break down barriers that prevent people and ideas from connecting." Something we think open-sourcers might have a laugh at. Anywho, the immediate goal of the campaign is to reverse the negative public perception of Vista and thus incorporates elements of the Mojave Experiment. While we have doubts about the latter, the combination of Seinfeld's pithy observations with a bit of that Bill Gates, self deprecating humor seen in "Bill's Last Day" could be a winning combination. Whether that turns the slow moving boat of public opinion remains to be seen.P.S. The campaign is said to debut on September 4th. Mulva.
Bill Gates officially retires
Folks, it's the end of an era. As of last Friday, June 27, Microsoft founder Bill Gates had officially left the company, although he's staying on as non-executive chairman. Engadget spent all day celebrating the man whose company was responsible Windows, Xbox and Flight Simulator. If you're interested, be sure to check out his top ten hits (and misses); Xbox and Xbox 360 make the list (in the hits category), while Games for Windows - Live earns a cameo in the other list.
Bill Gates Day wrap-up
You didn't really think we'd make it through his retirement without running the sexiest of all Bill photos, did you? We have to wonder what he'll feel like tomorrow morning, though -- we hear the headache on a 33 year software hangover is absolutely vicious.Anyhow, just because the man's left the building doesn't mean you can't take home a few of his fine products. Hit the contests below, they close up Sunday night.Feel the loveThe Bill Gates EngadgethologyBill Gates: top ten greatest hits (and misses) - the Microsoft yearsEngadget's farewell card to Bill GBill Gates wipes away tears at Microsoft farewellHow would you change Microsoft if you were Bill Gates?Celebrate Bill Gates Day with us here at EngadgetContestsThe Bill Day giveaway (part 1) - Toshiba Gigabeat T400 The Bill Day giveaway (part 2) - Office Ultimate 2007 The Bill Day giveaway (part 3) - Zune 80GB (black) The Bill Day giveaway (part 4) - Windows Vista UltimateRead - Coverage of Bill's farewell town hall eventRead - Clip from Bill's little speech to employees
Engadget's farewell card to Bill G
Well, Bill, it's just about quittin' time out here on the left coast, so with your final day at Microsoft drawing to a close, we wanted to present you with a little farewell card. It's not much, but we hope you like it.Bill,I can't believe you're already taking off! They even going to let your pension fully vest? Just kidding, I think heard somewhere that you're worth a lot of money or something. Thanks for the Xbox 360 and for always being so damn friendly -- promise I'll try my best to think only of Allchin whenever I bluescreen. Come visit soon and KIT, okay?Yours Truly, Ryan
How would you change Microsoft if you were Bill Gates?
Being that it is Bill's special day and all, we figured we'd give you a shot at stepping into his shoes and shaping Microsoft into something even more dominant that the juggernaut it is. Just imagine taking a seat in the biggest corner office Redmond has to offer, getting your Outlook set up, fiddling through a mess of old floppy discs and finally conjuring up a business plan. How in the world would you tweak / overhaul / etc. Microsoft if you were suddenly dubbed the big kahuna? We know this one's wide (and we mean gaping wide) open, so feel free to write a book down there.
Bill Gates wipes away tears at Microsoft farewell
It looks like there more than a few misty eyes around Microsoft's Redmond campus today, where even the man of the day himself wiped away tears as he bid his official farewell to the company. According to Reuters, Gates was joined on stage at the employee-only event by CEO Steve Ballmer, who reportedly got choked up himself as he heaped praise on Gates, saying that "there's no way to say thanks to Bill. Bill's the founder. Bill's the leader," adding that, "this is Bill's baby." Ballmer also talked about how he had contemplated leaving Microsoft just a month after joining the company, only to have Gates persuade him to stay by saying "You don't get it. You don't get it. We are going to put a computer on every desk and in every home." Say what you will about some of his predictions, but he was sure on the mark with that one.
Bill Gates: top ten greatest hits (and misses) - the Microsoft years
Damn, Bill, you have come a LONG way. Look at you there back in '82, you handsome devil. As part of our tribute, let's take a quick look back at the top ten greatest (and not so great) products created on Bill-time, shall we? Don't worry, it'll only sting a little.
The Bill Gates Engadgethology
As part of our ongoing Bill Gates Day coverage, we present to you the Bill Engadgethology. This is by no means every Gates-related story from over the years -- just the choicest cuts from Club Bill Gates.Bill and usThe Engadget Interview: Bill Gates, Part 1The Engadget Interview: Bill Gates, Part 2The Engadget Interview: Bill Gates (again!)Bill Gates, Engadget readerA lunchtime chat with Bill Gates at CESBill Gates: the exit interviewBill Gates liveBill Gates: Live at Microsoft's Digital Entertainment Anywhere EventIn real time: Engadget live from the Bill Gates 2005 CES Keynote at the Las Vegas HiltonLive coverage of Bill Gates CES keynoteLive from the Bill Gates keynoteLive at the Windows Vista launch eventSteve Jobs and Bill Gates: Historic discussion live from D 2007 -> Poll: Jobs and Gates sit down in an alternate realityBill Gates: live at his 12th and final CES keynoteLive from D: Gates and Ballmer debut Windows 7Bill in high societyBill Gates to get knighted -> Bill Gates getting knightedBill Gates the dropout to receive honorary Harvard degree, will finally be able to do something with his life Bill Gates gets Harvard degree, not at all smug about itBill vs. "PC""I'm a PC." "And I'm also a PC.": Gates vs. Hodgman on Daily Show tomorrow?Bill Gates on Mac ads: "I don't even get it"AdAge asks Gates about Hodgman to ill effectMore Bill after the break. Photo by Brennanator.
