Melinda Gates Is Having None of That Apple Bulls**t
You may or mayn’t’ve heard the rumour that Bill Gates secretly uses a MacBook to do… like, I guess, Bill Gates things? Check his Hotmail? What’s even left for Gates to do at this point? I bet he just veggies out and plays Plants vs Zombies on Steam.
Either way, seems Gates’ wife, Melinda, has taken it upon herself to quash these clearly fabricated tales of the most scientific fiction, telling the New York Times’ Deborah Solomon last Sunday that not only does Willy not use a MacBook, but that there is a complete ban of Apple products in the Gates’ techno-fortress. Home. I meant home. Check this action out.
Do you own an iPod, which is made by Apple?
No, I have a Zune.
What if one of your children says, “Mom, I have to have an iPod?”
I have gotten that argument — “You may have a Zune.”
Do you have an iPad?
Of course not.
Is it true that Bill works on an Apple laptop?
False. Nothing crosses the threshold of our doorstep.
Isn’t there room in this world for both Apple and Microsoft?
Microsoft certainly makes products for the Macintosh. Go talk to Bill.
Alright, alright, Mel, settle down. I guess her zealous defense can’t be blamed – I wouldn’t drink Pepsi if I was married to one of those little dancing Coke cans. Still, though, I think her children should be afforded the right to choose one kinda-sorta-alright music player over another kinda-sorta-alright one.
What do you think? Is Mel gettin’ silly up in this? I think she’s gettin’ a lil’ silly up in this.
5 User Comments
unixman
take your hormones sweetie. way way way too much pride for me… then again i go by unixman.
Wardell
I agree with both Mitch and Lyfe. As far as the kids being able to chose what kind of music player they have I’d say sure to getting an iPod as long as they brought it with their own money in which case I personally would rather have a free Zune than an iPod i had to save up and pay $300+ for.
Jeff Alldridge
I have done work for Microsoft for years and this approach to anything non-Microsoft is pervasive throughout the company. It’s an attitude of either A) that other thing that is not a product of ours does not exist; or B) ew, gross, why would you use anything besides, you are disgusting.
Now to their credit, I this attitude exists in other companies too —just more vocal at Microsoft perhaps?
And it’s an attitude I don’t understand. Other things exist in the world that are not yours. Sometimes they are in direct competition, sometimes side competition, and sometimes you don’t have a product that competes directly with something a competitor has or you have.
Ideally, wouldn’t want to know what exists out there? It’s shameful that John Rubinstein, CEO of Palm, said he never used an iPhone. If you make a phone, I expect you to have EVERY phone from every manufacturer. See how it works, see why people love it or hate. That’s responsible.
Just because YOU don’t use something doesn’t mean that others don’t —or that your current clientele or mindshare won’t be using it soon.
Lyfe
You Guy’s(media) would love to catch one of their children with an iPod. It would be your next article. “Gates Children use iPods, Can Zune be that Good/Bad” Give em a break. Jeeez.
Mitch
I don’t think she was being too excited about things. She would hardly be expected to support the “opposition” in this kind of matter and as the parent she gets to call the shots when it comes to her kids.