“Until recently, Bill Gates has been viewed as the villain of the tech world, while his archrival, Steve Jobs, enjoys an almost saintly reputation,” Leander Kahney writes in a commentary for Wired News. “Gates is the cutthroat capitalist. A genius maybe, but one more interested in maximizing profits than perfecting technology. He’s the ultimate vengeful nerd. Ostracized at school, he gets the last laugh by bleeding us all dry.”
“On the other hand, Jobs has never seemed much concerned with business, though he’s been very successful at it of late. Instead, Jobs has been portrayed as a man of art and culture. He’s an aesthete, an artist; driven to make a dent in the universe,” Kahney writes. “But these perceptions are wrong. In fact, the reality is reversed. It’s Gates who’s making a dent in the universe, and Jobs who’s taking on the role of single-minded capitalist, seemingly oblivious to the broader needs of society.”
“Gates is giving away his fortune with the same gusto he spent acquiring it, throwing billions of dollars at solving global health problems. He has also spoken out on major policy issues, for example, by opposing proposals to cut back the inheritance tax,” Kahney writes. “In contrast, Jobs does not appear on any charitable contribution lists of note. And Jobs has said nary a word on behalf of important social issues, reserving his talents of persuasion for selling Apple products. According to Forbes, Jobs was recently worth $3.3 billion which puts him among the 194th richest in the world, and makes him the 67th richest American. But the standings were shuffled on Tuesday with Disney’s $7.4 billion acquisition of Pixar Animation — a deal that makes Jobs’ Pixar holdings alone worth some $3.7 billion. But great wealth does not make a great man.”
Full article here.
MacDailyNews Take: Note that even Kahney, soaring in mid shark-jump, can’t bring himself to write that Gates “earned” his fortune; just “acquired.” How did Bill Gates get that all of that money? Did he somehow “acquire” it legally while illegally abusing a monopoly? What exactly did he do to get it? Dupe typewriter company IBM into using an “operating system” he picked up for a song, constantly fake the Mac operating systems over the years, buy some companies, pretend to be innovative, etc? Bill Gates is a business genius, sure. He’s not a software genius. He’s not a visionary. He’s been following Steve Jobs for decades now and pretending to be a tech leader. In case you missed it: Windows is an upside down and backwards Mac, folks. Gates put the icons on the left side of his fake Desktop, renamed Trash to Recycle Bin, ran the whole thing through Microsoft’s patented “Intuition Destroyer,” boxed it up and hired The Stones. For this he deserves our adulation?! Sorry, but we’ll have to pass, Leander, as we’re still in our right minds.
Leander, we read about Robin Hood. We know about Robin Hood. Robin Hood could’ve been a friend of ours. Leander, Gates is no Robin Hood. Don’t believe everything you read in TIme.
As Kahney writes, Steve Jobs is an intensely private man. Kahney suggests that Jobs could be giving vast sums in private, without publicizing it. It is appallingly crass for Kahney to criticize Jobs and then praise Gates for publicizing his every contribution. Kaheny actually has the gall to write, “On the evidence, [Jobs is] nothing more than a greedy capitalist who’s amassed an obscene fortune. It’s shameful. In almost every way, Gates is much more deserving of Jobs’ rock star exaltation.” Kahney must have lost his mind; from jealousy perhaps? Hey, as long as it’s high season for impugning people’s motives willy nilly and without any facts, let’s go! How’s it feel, Leander?
The way in which people approach charity, how much money people give or don’t give to charity, and which charities they may or may not support is none of Leander Kahney’s or anybody else’s damn business.
Our advice to Kahney is to put down the TIme Magazine, go read Jobs’ 2005 Commencement Address to Stanford University, and take Jobs’ advice to heart, “Your time is limited, so don’t waste it living someone else’s life.”
I agree that Gates does SOME good things with his blood money, but that doesn’t excuse him or his company for the ways in which they acquired it in the first place.
And just because Gates publicly reports all of his donations (partly so he can get some good PR), doesn’t make him a saint and Jobs a demon. There are a lot of people doing great things for those less fortunate every day that never receive nor seek any press attention for it. How does Kahney know what Jobs donates or doesn’t donate to charity anyway?
“Of course, Jobs and his wife may be giving enormous sums of money to charity anonymously. If they are funneling cash to various causes in private, their names wouldn’t show up on any lists, regardless of the size of their gifts.
For a person as private as Jobs, who shuns any publicity about his family life, this seems credible. If so, however, this would make Jobs virtually unique among moguls. Richard Jolly, chairman of Giving USA Foundation, said not all billionaires give their money away, but a lot do, and most do not do it quietly.”
Let’s keep this in perspective…
For Bill Gates to donate $1 Billion to charity equals the equivalent of him donating about 2% of his total fortune. The other 98% he keeps for himself.
Now with that in mind, is that really saint worthy? And obviously he could afford to do much, much more to be quite frank about it. Does he deserve credit? Yes. But he certainly won’t be a candidate for sainthood anytime soon for giving up 2% of his net worth to something worthwhile.
Leander Kahney may have point.
Donations to help our society are good.
That is why I suggest that everyone who subscribes to Wired cancel their subscription and donate the refund to their favorite charity.
And of course please email Wired magazine and let them know that Leander Kahneys thought provoking editorial has started your campaign to help better our society.
Steve Jobs favorite charity is Al Gore.
Heck, he´s keeping that loser off the street. that´s something to applaud.
Judge Bork – the MDN quote: “Gates is no Robin Hood.”
So if Gates is no Robin Hood then he does not steal from the rich and give to the poor….as Robin Hood did.
MDN is saying that Gates is not a thief.
Judge Bork your IQ is the same as MDNs, low and falling fast – whoops you are MDN.
Bill Gates is a nice guy that makes crappy software. Steve Jobs is a jerk that makes great software and hardware. I would rather go bowling or fishin’ with Bill than Steve. I like Bill more than the excessive self-esteem, exaggerated dignity and pretentious behavior of Steve Jobs. But when it comes to buying a computer I would pick Apple everytime.
Gates is basically finished … since quite a while back. Think about it: “Chief Software Architect” of mass mediocrity.
His “wealth” was a problem in need of a solution. Invest in new businesses and grow the economy? Sorry, no expertise there other than screwing some little software guys or leveraging the monopoly.
But charity … well, you benefit the needy, get a tax deduction, earn recognition, respect, and maybe even banish some of the nasty smell that won’t go away. What a great idea! And the beauty is that it won’t cost much. It’s money you can’t spend on youself — it’d attract the wrong kind of attention; it’s obscenely plentiful even if mostly paper; you’d have to pay tax, and you certainly can’t “take it with you.” A foundation it is then … and the only name you’d put on such an endeavor would be … your own.
MW: “Lay” off Jobs.
I really don’t give a crap what people contribute of their own money. It’s their money – they can do whatever the hell they want to do with it. They earned their money, I earn mine. I don’t want people telling me what to do with mine, I’m not going to tell them what to do with theirs.
And considering how freakin’ liberal Steve Jobs is, I’m kind of glad I don’t hear him whining about whatever cause is en vouge this week. What the hell does Steve Jobs know about solving the world’s social problems? The guy makes iPods and cute cartoon movies for God’s sake…
No, Steve Jobs is cool because he introduces cool products and is charismatic. The guy comes out and starts preaching about how we all need to save the whales, and I’m immediately turned off…
Billy Gates is a Godless wad of snot of a man.
MDN, Judge Bork, Dave H, you guys have it right.
I bash anything pro Mac.
Some people do what they to and try to atone for its impact on the world in other ways. Some poeple do what they do and it is their contribution to the world.
BG can give away his entire fortune and might break even for how he got it and the suffering that Windows imposes on the world every day. SJ could not give away a penny and still be in balance because of the grace brought to the world by Apple.
The above is a bit harsh and single dimensional (read: cheap shot). I read somewhere that BG contributes 1% of all charitible giving in the US. I doubt that his $50B or so worth is 1% of the total worth of individuals in the US. So where the hell are the rest of us. If I were as rich as BG, I hope I would have the wit and charity to give a bunch of it away.
Macbones: The estate tax only applies to estates greater than $1.5M, which is less that 2% of the population. Most Congressmen and Senators are millionaires. Guess who the repeal of the estate tax will really benefit. Not you or me, since the estate taxes not collected will have to come from other sources, like income taxes. Once again, the cost of running the country is shifted from the very wealthy to the middle classes.
iDon’t
Thats the truth
Steve Jobs was ranked the Forbes top ten hardest CEOs to work for.
but its undeniable even to IT drones that Mac is far superior then Windoze.
Mr. Gates live in Bangladesh and give all your money away a leave computers to Apple, because it sure makes my life much easer.
I find it sad that people are so disillusioned with the business side of things, that people can’t separate the difference between microsoft the company and bill gates the man. Whether bill gates has 45 billion dollars or 3 billion dollars, the man has done amazing things.
Over the past several years, he’s given away close to 30 billion dollars of his personal fortune. While that still leaves him with more money then most could ever dream of, the amount of money that Bill and Melinda have given away if far and away the most generous amounts of money ever given in the history of the world.
The reality is he’s given a huge amount of his personal fortune and continues to give more. Well beyond the average donations that people in his billionaire bracket do (and i’m talking about percentage of donations to personal wealth. Not just dollar amounts). He doesn’t have to give that much money away.
There are so many other things to criticize when it comes to microsofts business and criticizing bill gates’ personal donations doesn’t help apple in any way. Your petty jabs at bill gates doesn’t make the mac a better platform. It doesn’t make the ipod more usable.
It’s macdailynews people. Let’s keep our eyes on the ball.
i think the real question after reading this article is really ‘How many fuckn idiots are their in the in the world?’
…and why do most of the them use windows?
Mac & PC Guy — What a maroon you are.
You actually think that giving away money is a sign of worth as a person? Are you KIDDING me?
I actually thought that most people in this day and age had realized that wealthy people like to give away money because . . . are you ready for it dipshit? . . . because they HAVE TO IN ORDER TO MINIMIZE THEIR TAX BURDEN!!!!!
What a f*ckin’ tool you are. You, and people like you. “Oooohh, he gives away more of his money than HIM, so HE’S a better person.” Bullshit. The people who give away the most are usually the scummiest of the bunch.
I’ll take a person like Jobs — regardless of what he gives or doesn’t give to charity, which is NONE OF MY BUSINESS –over a putrid wank like Gates anyday. Jobs actually does more for the world with the wealth and employment and economy he creates (and inspires) than Gates, who . . . who . . . oh yah, that’s right — who HAS SUCCEEDED IN BOGGING DOWN GLOBAL PROGRESS WITH HIS HORRIBLE SHIT-FILLED EXCUSE OF AN OPERATING SYSTEM!
Monopoly abusers like Gates should be seen and not heard.
Kind of like Mac & PC Guy’s brain.
Mac & PC Guy — What a maroon you are.
You actually think that giving away money is a sign of worth as a person? Are you KIDDING me?
I actually thought that most people in this day and age had realized that wealthy people like to give away money because . . . are you ready for it dipshit? . . . because they HAVE TO IN ORDER TO MINIMIZE THEIR TAX BURDEN!!!!!
What a f*ckin’ tool you are. You, and people like you. “Oooohh, he gives away more of his money than HIM, so HE’S a better person.” Bullshit. The people who give away the most are usually the scummiest of the bunch.
I’ll take a person like Jobs — regardless of what he gives or doesn’t give to charity, which is NONE OF MY BUSINESS –over a putrid wank like Gates anyday. Jobs actually does more for the world with the wealth and employment and economy he creates (and inspires) than Gates, who . . . who . . . oh yah, that’s right — who HAS SUCCEEDED IN BOGGING DOWN GLOBAL PROGRESS WITH HIS HORRIBLE SHIT-FILLED EXCUSE OF AN OPERATING SYSTEM!
Monopoly abusers like Gates should be seen and not heard.
Kind of like Mac & PC Guy’s brain.
Mac & PC Guy — What a maroon you are.
You actually think that giving away money is a sign of worth as a person? Are you KIDDING me?
I actually thought that most people in this day and age had realized that wealthy people like to give away money because . . . are you ready for it dipshit? . . . because they HAVE TO IN ORDER TO MINIMIZE THEIR TAX BURDEN!!!!!
What a f*ckin’ tool you are. You, and people like you. “Oooohh, he gives away more of his money than HIM, so HE’S a better person.” Bullshit. The people who give away the most are usually the scummiest of the bunch.
I’ll take a person like Jobs — regardless of what he gives or doesn’t give to charity, which is NONE OF MY BUSINESS –over a putrid wank like Gates anyday. Jobs actually does more for the world with the wealth and employment and economy he creates (and inspires) than Gates, who . . . who . . . oh yah, that’s right — who HAS SUCCEEDED IN BOGGING DOWN GLOBAL PROGRESS WITH HIS HORRIBLE SHIT-FILLED EXCUSE OF AN OPERATING SYSTEM!
Monopoly abusers like Gates should be seen and not heard.
Kind of like Mac & PC Guy’s brain.
Mac & PC Guy — What a maroon you are.
You actually think that giving away money is a sign of worth as a person? Are you KIDDING me?
I actually thought that most people in this day and age had realized that wealthy people like to give away money because . . . are you ready for it dipshit? . . . because they HAVE TO IN ORDER TO MINIMIZE THEIR TAX BURDEN!!!!!
What a f*ckin’ tool you are. You, and people like you. “Oooohh, he gives away more of his money than HIM, so HE’S a better person.” Bullshit. The people who give away the most are usually the scummiest of the bunch.
I’ll take a person like Jobs — regardless of what he gives or doesn’t give to charity, which is NONE OF MY BUSINESS –over a putrid wank like Gates anyday. Jobs actually does more for the world with the wealth and employment and economy he creates (and inspires) than Gates, who . . . who . . . oh yah, that’s right — who HAS SUCCEEDED IN BOGGING DOWN GLOBAL PROGRESS WITH HIS HORRIBLE SHIT-FILLED EXCUSE OF AN OPERATING SYSTEM!
Monopoly abusers like Gates should be seen and not heard.
Kind of like Mac & PC Guy’s brain.
It is sad that so many people in this forum are blind to what is really important and how they let that ignorance cloud their thinking and their opinions. It’s no wonder Mac users are considered a cult.
Mac & PC Guy’s Brain,
Did you know that you sound like a 5 year old?
Charity is definitely nobodies business except the givers and receivers.
But sentimentally I’m right with MDN on this one.
We are really stupid people if we believe this liberal garbage by Kahney. Who cares who gives more and who does not?
Gates is really not trying to stop this inheritance tax cuts. It just sounds good to the flaming liberals. Most wealthy people in this country have work arounds in place so they don’t pay this death tax.
I know many small mom and pop business and family farms that have gone belly up because of this liberal death tax. If anything Gates would be a bully by close the American Family Farm with keeping the death tax.
The best thing we can do to help the poor is to open up real honest capitalism and free trade everywhere. If you look at where the really poor people are in the world, they have dictators, no free trade and tyrants as leaders in their country.
I guess the way I see it both Steve Jobs and Bill Gates are doing a great job creating jobs and expanding capitalism. Liberals hate the “Capitalism” word but like it or not it works!
wmd
Balzac once said, “Behind every great fortune lies a great crime.” The very fact that the world can support billionaires is a crime given the number of people who starve each day.
I’m not going to fault Bill Gates for his generosity. It’s far more important than looking good on stage. As for Steve Jobs, maybe he’s just as generous in a less overt way. Honestly though, I doubt anyone could keep hundred million dollar donations secret.
There are two memes here. First that Gates is good because he uses his money and name for good causes. Jobs is bad because WE DON’T KNOW that he gives anything to help the “less fortunate.” This assumes that Steve doesn’t give. It’s possible. But for someone who has expressed, in many fora (that plural for forum), that he believes in Karma, it is unlikely that he is that selfish. This is just a provocative article because he needed to get something to his editor.
The second meme, which I find much more offensive, is the belief that those who are successful don’t deserve to use their success any way they choose. This jealousy is what fuels those who want to tax the successful out of existance because “it’s not fair” that they are rich. If Bill or Steve give away all they earn or keep all they earn it is fine by me. They should be the ONLY ones who decide that.