Month: June 2000

“We’ve been writing great software for the past 25 years.”

Microsoft chairman Bill Gates, in a new ad detailing his company’s contingency plan in case it’s actually split up and has to compete with the rest of the industry, The New York Times, 16 June 2000

“We’re simplifying [Windows CE license fees] so there is one pricing model for everything. We’re not fans of communicating specific price numbers.”

Bill Veghte, VP in charge of Microsoft’s second-rate Internet appliance software effort, on recent pricing changes designed to make Windows CE marginally less unattractive to developers, News.com, 14 June 2000

“I will be the first in line to file a class action suit to protect my copyrights if Napster or even the far more advanced Gnutella doesn’t work with us to protect us.”

Courtney Love, fulminating against music file-sharing technologies without realizing the difficulties involved in suing a piece of freeware, Salon.com, 14 June 2000

“Over the past six months, we found you need to have adequate amounts of content to facilitate sales.”

Buy.com CEO Greg Hawkins, on the company’s deal to license movie reviews from now-defunct e-commerce site Reel.com, Forbes.com, 12 June 2000

“My role is simply to have the wild ideas; other people get to figure out how to make money with it. It’s a complex question for everyone working with the Web.”

Author and frivolous business-idea generator Douglas Adams, inviting feedback from all on financial plans for his Hitchhiker’s Guide-inspired website, Salon.com, 12 June 2000