So Who Won - Bill Gates Or Steve Jobs?
 

During the eighties and nineties the big debate was who would "win" the computer wars, Microsoft or Apple. Well, Apple just had the biggest revenue quarter of any business in the history of the world so does this mean Apple has "won" the computer wars?

Bill Gates is off doing humanitarian work in Africa and Jobs is dead....but which company is the Big Winner in the 21st Century?

I remember well the times when this debate was raging - Microsoft vs. Apple. Now it seems (to me) like Apple has left Microsoft in the dust. What do you think?

It's really hard to say..... I don't think its that clear cut because Microsoft did so much and was so pivotal during it's time.

Now of course, Apple has momentum.

Well.. I'm used to work on Windows machines, but now all my work and phone products are Apple...

I freakin love Apple. And not the fruit stuff..

Apple won!

David Bowie won ...

They both won for them

well one man is standing and the other is in the ground so...

UGH... so cruel.

Jobs will be remembered for his vision, for the products that became tethered to us throughout the day and became a part of us, for his taste in design, for his creativity, for his success after success after success and the impact Apple has had on everyone. Gates will only be remembered as a billionaire.

Shareholders that gone in early won.

Bill Gates/windows clearly won.

something like 90% of computers run on Windows.

:1orglaugh:1orglaugh

WE WON ! As the users of the technology :)

Microsoft won the computer war.. Apple won the fan boy club..

apple clearly won in the long run.

Bill Gates is still alive, FTW.

Still too early to say, really. When it's all said and done, it may end up being a tortoise/hare war:

Bill Gates stepped down in 2008, and Microsoft's revenue and profit margin slipped for a year but then bounced back and continues to climb. So, MS clearly doesn't need him.

Jobs appeared to be more closely tied to Apple's vision and success, though. Jobs has projects he started while alive still in development, but after that pipeline runs out, will they retain their momentum?

I'll wait a few more years before casting a vote. (But I am PC all the way.)

Yeah was thinking that Microsoft had a much further reach.
Not being able to match competitive cost of product could be seen as a failure since that limited Apple's reach.

The smart phone war is probably not over yet.

Soon enough people will have forgotten about smart phones as the new tech arises; but
Gates will probably be remembered forever in Africa.

You said it - computer wars.
Apple gets revenue from phones and such as well. Microsoft also. So only total revenues/profits is not enough to judge who specifically wan the computer thing.
I would say microsoft, because majority of computers, laptos runs windows.

When it comes to convergence, Apple has everyone else licked.

They both won.. Both companies are in the billions financially so you tell me who the loser really is.. It's not MS or Apple

Agreed! :2 cents::2 cents:

I think they've both really pushed the envelope for tech, and are still continuing to do so. In my opinion and to be very brief, Apple has awesome marketing and design and MS has always been my go to for utility.

Because of this, both are still in a tech battle to see which one can be the best of both worlds. Which means we get products that look awesome, are user friendly, and have tons of functionality.

So the answer? We win (except for when we get raped by pricing).

Apple wins hands down, not even close!


From Forbes

This is an entirely stunning statistic: Apple?s iPhone sales are now worth more than all of Microsoft:

One Apple product, something that didn?t exist five years ago, has higher sales than everything Microsoft has to offer. More than Windows, Office, Xbox, Bing, Windows Phone, and every other product that Microsoft has created since 1975. In the quarter ended March 31, 2012, iPhone had sales of $22.7 billion; Microsoft Corporation, $17.4 billion.

Thank you Kenny

Not sure who the 'winner' is - I think the two companies are symbiotic.

But I know who lost.


http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedi...cworld2009.jpg

:2 cents::2 cents: :thumbsup

linus torvalds

http://cdn.arstechnica.net/wp-conten...ou-640x363.png

Iphones could be replaced within 24 months if accidently another company invents something better - millions and millions of PCs in offices all over the world on the other hand...

Over 90% of computers run windows which is obviously Microsoft. That was what most of the "competition" between the two companies was all about and clearly Microsoft won there and it doesn't appear that they will be losing that lead anytime soon. Apple found its niche with Ipods and Phones but there are more Android phones being sold than Iphones and the Android lead is increasing (Though that's split between multiple hardware companies).

Apple LOST to Microsoft in the desktop war and found success by branching out. Apples major competitor in tablets, phones, etc.. is actually Google and there are more people with phones and tablets running Googles Android software than there are running Apples.

As men Bill Gates is a philanthropist who donates millions and helps others all over the world while Steve Jobs, although he was brilliant and a innovator who attracted lots of hardcore fanboys, was someone known for creating overpriced products that were locked down and featured less choice.

Who won? Both companies specialize in different things and are two of the most successful tech empires in the world. They both won.

depends on ones yardstick right. i mean, in 1995 gates kicked steves dick in the dirt. 15 years later the table is turned. so jobs wins the business award.

but if you measure the men based on their charity work? gates wins by 50 billion light years.

:2 cents:

The world runs on Windows, not Mac OS.

Not saying its better.

Shortest. Acceptance. Speech. Ever.

Vision - Steve Jobs
Making Cheaper Computers, Available To More People - Bill Gates
Philanthropy - Bill Gates

You hit it right in the balls!

Oh and:
Nice username! :2 cents: :thumbsup

Imagine if there were a hundred Bill gates running around the world trying to make it better. The world would definitely be better.

He's the anti Koch Brothers.

Yup. A hundred people like Bill Gates makes the world a better place. A hundred people like Steve Jobs doesn't improve shit except convince sheep to buy tech devices that they didn't even know they wanted.

Bill Gates is the clear winner as the history books will show.

Windows brought computers to the masses. Apples was and still sold as an elitist brand and only out for MONEY from day one.

Apple users are loyal though, personally have 2 iPhones and 2 apple tv deals, and yes I'll continue to upgrade just cause I'm building my apple sticker collection. :1orglaugh

bill gates ,

Apple brings technology to the rich, the upper middle class and to the snobs. Microsoft put technology in the hands of everyone.

I'd say Microsoft have had a much bigger impact on our lives.