Bill Gates, Android, and his 'biggest mistake'

[MoodyBlues]

Here's an interesting spin from Bill Gates on letting Android become the dominant mobile OS. He says it was his "biggest mistake" at Micro$oft.

I'm SURE that Linux's overwhelming superiority to window$ had absolutely nothing to do with it.

 

[bcrichster]

Here's an interesting spin from Bill Gates on letting Android become the dominant mobile OS. He says it was his "biggest mistake" at Micro$oft.

I'm SURE that Linux's overwhelming superiority to window$ had absolutely nothing to do with it.

Bahahhaahah!! Nice one. Yeah. Linux doesn't automatically update itself, erase all partitions, and reinstall itself as main boot drive whenever it just wants to.. all while NOT giving ridiculous constant error complaints like (when trying to delete stuff) "you do not have enough storage space to complete this task, please erase some files firsts and try again".. Lol. Or "Please install drivers needed to perform this function and try again" In fact, Linux is actually so superior that M$ actually uses Linux to run their servers and stuff because it is actually less a resource hog and generates less heat

 

[lvt]

Being the richest man on Earth could also be his other mistake.

 

[mikedt]

Might have been a different world if Microsoft and not Google had acquired Android, Inc. in 2005.

 

[mikedt]

Bahahhaahah!! Nice one. Yeah. Linux doesn't automatically update itself, erase all partitions, and reinstall itself as main boot drive whenever it just wants to.. all while NOT giving ridiculous constant error complaints like (when trying to delete stuff) "you do not have enough storage space to complete this task, please erase some files firsts and try again".. Lol. Or "Please install drivers needed to perform this function and try again" In fact, Linux is actually so superior that M$ actually uses Linux to run their servers and stuff because it is actually less a resource hog and generates less heat

Thing is Linux is only the kernel. The distros, like Ubuntu, should really be called GNU/Linux. The GNU parts are administered by the Free Software Foundation(FSF). With Android it's the Android Open Software Foundation{AOSP) and Google.

GNU is Not Unix.

 

[bcrichster]

Beautiful clarification, Ty-

 

[MoodyBlues]

Thing is Linux is only the kernel. The distros, like Ubuntu, should really be called GNU/Linux. The GNU parts are administered by the Free Software Foundation(FSF). With Android it's the Android Open Software Foundation{AOSP) and Google.

You're correct about that, but laziness dictates that it's okay to just call it all 'Linux.'

GNU is Not Unix.

"GNU's not UNIX" was my introduction to recursive acronyms.

 

[MoodyBlues]

Might have been a different world if Microsoft and not Google had acquired Android, Inc. in 2005.

Now that's a scary thought!

 

[mikedt]

You're correct about that, but laziness dictates that it's okay to just call it all 'Linux.'

"GNU's not UNIX" was my introduction to recursive acronyms.

Think a main difference between GNU, the components that make up a Linux distribution like Xfree, etc. and Android is the licensing.

GNU is General Public License(GPL), which means you must make your source code available for others to learn from, and Android(apart from the kernel) it seems to be a mixture of BSD, MIT, Apache, etc. and those you don't have to make your source code available AFAIK

 

[MoodyBlues]

Bahahhaahah!! Nice one.

Yeah. Linux doesn't automatically update itself, erase all partitions, and reinstall itself as main boot drive whenever it just wants to..

No kidding. I simply cannot grasp how people not only use an OS like that, but are apparently okay with its insanity!

I need to know that *I* am in complete, absolute control over my computers.

all while NOT giving ridiculous constant error complaints like (when trying to delete stuff) "you do not have enough storage space to complete this task, please erase some files firsts and try again".. Lol. Or "Please install drivers needed to perform this function and try again"

If I didn't know it really does crap like that, I'd think you were pulling my leg!

In fact, Linux is actually so superior that M$ actually uses Linux to run their servers and stuff because it is actually less a resource hog and generates less heat

I know! I've always assumed that Bill Gates uses Linux for real, but touts window$ because he has to.

But just thinking about changes, concessions if you will, that Micro$oft has made recently regarding Linux shows they've changed their tune. It's like, "we can't beat them, so let's embrace them." I'll still never use window$, of course, but knowing it now has Linux commands and such makes it a little less unpalatable. A little.

 

[mikedt]

No kidding. I simply cannot grasp how people not only use an OS like that, but are apparently okay with its insanity!

I need to know that *I* am in complete, absolute control over my computers.

With most Android devices, unless rooted and has a custom ROM, it's the manufacturers and sometimes carriers that have absolute control of your phones, tablets, smart TVs. And they can force them to update and do pretty much whatever they like, Samsung Galaxy Note7 proved that with mandatory OTA updates to disable charging and neuter them. I returned that particular Linux kernel device before Samsung was able to break it remotely.

 

[MoodyBlues]

With most Android devices, unless rooted and has a custom ROM, it's the manufacturers and sometimes carriers that have absolute control

You'll note that I always qualify my statements with 'computers' to distinguish from phones, tablets, etc. With my Android devices, I take as much control as I can, for example, not allowing automatic updates/upgrades. (I no longer bother rooting, so I don't have that level of control available.)

I returned that particular Linux kernel device before Samsung was able to break it remotely.

I'd have done the same!

 

[Steven58]

Article:


https://www.cnbc.com/2019/06/24/bil...-missed-mobile-and-let-android-get-ahead.html

 

[Unforgiven]

The same idiot that thought the WWW was a fad thought mobile was a fad. Who knew?

 

[Steven58]

The same idiot that thought the WWW was a fad thought mobile was a fad. Who knew?

Ha!

 

[MoodyBlues]

Yes, I posted about this yesterday.

 

[Unforgiven]

Yes, I posted about this yesterday.

Good call, merged.

 

[Steven58]

You'd think I would notice this stuff. Guessed not. Men. Can't live with with them. Can't shoot them.