In 1975, Popular Electronics featured on its January cover a computer kit built for home enthusiasts, touted to cost at least $US1,000 than anything else out there. It was the Altair 8800. Its creator, Dr. Ed Roberts, died Thursday.
Roberts’ creation is widely credited with kicking off the microcomputing boom of the latter quarter of the 20th century, and he is considered The Father of the PC. His computer kit sold thousands in its first month of availability, and so excited two young men that they hatched a scheme to write a programming language for it, called BASIC. Their names were Paul Allen and Bill Gates.
Thursday, the Microsoft cofounders were among many industry giants paying their respects to Roberts.
“Ed was willing to take a chance on us – two young guys interested in computers long before they were commonplace – and we have always been grateful to him,” the two said in a joint statement. “The day our first untested software worked on his Altair was the start of a lot of great things. We will always have many fond memories of working with Ed.”
Roberts later had a falling out with Allen and Gates when the company created by the two, then called Micro-Soft, began selling versions of BASIC to Altair’s competitors. Roberts’ son said the three later patched up their differences, and Roberts remained an influence in both Allen and Gates’ lives.
Roberts later got his medical degree, becoming an internist. His son said Roberts remained interested in modern technology, and up until his death was asking about the Apple iPad. “He was interested to see one,” said David Roberts.
Dr. Henry Edward Roberts was a veteran of the U.S. Air Force, a 1968 graduate of Oklahoma State University, and a 1986 graduate of Mercer University’s medical school. He died in a hospital Thursday after an extended battle against pneumonia. He is survived by his wife, mother, daughter, six sons – and millions of personal computing users and enthusiasts the world over.
Dr. Henry Edward Roberts, Developer of Early PC that Inspired Microsoft, Dies in Ga. at Age 68 [Los Angeles Times via Gizmodo]
One-time Gizmodo guest-blogger Bill Gates was on NBC’s Meet The Press on Sunday to discuss the good works of his and his wife’s foundation. His one comment about the future of computers sounded Natal-y. More »
Microsoft’s Project Natal, the motion-sensing game controls for the Xbox 360 unveiled at E3, is also being developed for PC use, Bill Gates told Cnet in a recent interview. More »
Kotaku recently asked Microsoft if the flourishing of non-gaming features like Netflix, Facebook, Last.fm and Twitter on the Xbox 360 will someday invalidate the classification of the device as a gaming console. More »
Japan loves many things. For example, Louis Vuitton. Japan loves Louis Vuitton. iPods, Japan loves iPods. Japan does not love the Xbox 360. What does Bill Gates think about that? While visiting Japan, Microsoft founder Bill Gates did offer this: Product share varies from country to country. In the US and the UK, the share [of Xbox 360]is high, but besides Japan, there are other areas we haven’t penetrated. From now on, I think the breakthrough’s going to be the online service, and you’ll be surprised if you look at that.
You know something else that’s surprising? The weekly Japanese sales figures. Bill Gates Talks Online [Mainichi Thanks, Ben!][Pic]
It was a little stunning to learn last week that at least one disgruntled Xbox 360 owner had decided to skip the regular channels when dealing with a burnt out 360 and instead went straight to Bill Gates. Even more stunning, Gates apparently knocked some heads and got the guy sorted out in record time (24 hours).
While Consumerist reader, and Xbox 360 owner, Jon was delighted with the outcome, it seems Microsoft was not so much. Today they’ve dropped us a friendly note to remind everyone that Bill really isn’t your go-to guy for Red Rings of Death:
Bill Gates or Microsoft executives are not an appropriate escalation point for customer service issues. Customers experiencing issues with their Xbox 360 console should contact Xbox Customer Service. Our customer service team is well equipped to ensure that the repair process goes smoothly.
That said, Microsoft stands behind its products and takes responsibility to ensure that every Xbox 360 console owner continues to have a fantastic gaming experience. We are continually improving the design and performance of the Xbox 360 consoles to decrease the likelihood that a customer will experience the three flashing red lights. In the event they do, they are covered for three years under our extended warranty.
Wow, can you imagine the tongue lashing the likely tsunami of angry emails spurred? Gates, I suspect, may be retired, but he’s not THAT retired.
Emailing Bill Gates Results in New Xbox [Consumerist]
What sucks worse than getting the Red Ring of Death? Getting the console fixed. Sure, there are some success stories regarding Xbox customer support. But there are some real headaches as well. Over at The Consumerist, tipster Jon took matters into his own hands. When his launch Xbox 360 crapped out, he emailed Bill Gates and customer service VP Kathleen Hogan. Within 24 hours, he got a reply from the escalation department saying that a new console was on its way. Jon tells The Consumerist:
So Bill Gates gave his last keynote. End of an era! But what about the man? Some of you would like to know more. We’ve run loads of creepy KotakuStalku posts, but this has to be one of the creepier. (Oh goodie!) France’s most famous blogger Loic Le Meur dishes to Shiny Shiny’s Kat about the time he took a whiz next to Microsoft honcho Bill Gates at another conference. Le Meur says:
You know what I’ll tell you. I will look like I’m full of shit if I tell you… I went to the bathroom, and the person next to me was Bill Gates. So, I had more than eye contact. Well, no contact. No, no, there wasn’t any contact, right. But, you know, it’s kind of a weird situation. You’re kinda like, ‘I know this guy.’ There was no bodyguard or nothing there… That’s a true story.
True or not, we take this as startling evidence that Bill Gates is in fact human. Peeing Next to Bill Gates [Shiny Shiny][Pic]
newVideoPlayer("billgateslastday.flv", 475, 286,""); Normally, “humorous” clips that involve executives showing off their acting chops are nothing short of cringe-worthy, an exercise in amateur comic timing. Not this fictional video of Bill Gates’ last day of full responsibilities at Microsoft, however, as the solid cameos and moments that capitalise on Bill’s inherent geekiness make the head Borg at MS seem hilariously human. Stick around for Bill’s blippy wailing on a Guitar Hero II controller. This clip, courtesy of our brothers at Gizmodo, represents but a grain of sand in the vast desert that is their CES 2008 coverage.
