I'm doing a research report on Bill Gates. The prompt is:
This person has been placed on a list of the top 100 most influential people of all time. Write a research report justifying why they should be on that list, or a report explaining why they should be removed from that list.
I took the stand of removal. I decided that Bill Gates was just a not(c) pirate that steals things from other people. So, these are the quotes from various encyclopedias, articles, and other places that are my evidence against him. (NO Wikipedia.)
Subtopic 1) His accomplishments:
"In developing Windows, Microsoft signed an agreement with Apple that Windows 1.0 would not use Macintosh technology. When future versions of Windows did utilize Macintosh ideas, Apple took Microsoft to court for copying the "look and feel" of the Macintosh." #2
"between 1985 and 1987 Microsoft and IBM collaborated on creating a new OS. Microsoft pulled out of the collaboration and released Windows 3.0 based on technology that had been developed jointly. IBM continued working on the new OS and released OS/2 in 1987. Although it was a technologically advanced system, it was not a great commercial success. " #2
"In 1980, an American computer programmer named Tim Paterson (1956-) developed an OS termed 86-DOS (Disk Operating System.)" #2
"Microsoft had bought all the rights to DOS."#2
2) The way he treats his competitors
"A new model, Lisa, was offered in 1983 for business people with few computer skills, but it could not compete with lower-priced machines from IBM. By this time, Apple had lost half of its market share to IBM. "#3
"In 1976, American businessman Steve Jobs (1955-) and American computer engineer Steve Wozniak (1950-) designed and built the Apple I, which consisted of little more than a circuit board. However, by 1977 they had incorporated Apple Computer (now known as Apple, Inc.) and announced the Apple II, which established a benchmark for PCs. The Apple II had a simple OS that came on a disk and accepted basic commands from a command line. In the same year, American businessmen Bill Gates (1955-) and Paul Allen (1953-) founded Microsoft Corporation. "#2
"During the Super Bowl in January 1984, Apple, Inc. introduced America to a completely innovative computer in an Orwellian-themed advertisement. The Macintosh was the first commercially successful computer with a graphical user interface (GUI). The GUI style of OS allowed users to interact with the computer through click buttons, pull-down menus, and other image options on the screen rather than through a command line. In addition to the graphical interface, the Macintosh had more advanced hardware than IBM-style PCs." #2
"For $205 million, Microsoft received a 5 percent stake in Apple" #4
"In 1980, IBM hired Microsoft to develop a computer language and operating system for its new line of minicomputers, which were introduced to the public in 1981 as the IBM Personal Computer. In 1997, Microsoft was ordered to make Windows 95 available without the Internet Explorer application. The argument was that by automatically including Internet Explorer on Windows 95, Microsoft was using its monopoly of the PC OS market to destroy competition in other markets, such as Internet software. Microsoft appealed the order. An appeal court ruled that the 1995 injunction did not apply to Windows 98, released in 1998." #2
"Forming a partnership called Microsoft, Gates and Allen entered a contract with MITS regarding the Altair computer. Under the contract, Roberts retained rights to sell the hardware, or physical parts of the computer, and could use and market the BASIC software with it. Microsoft retained ownership of the computer language and software. This relationship between a software developer and a hardware manufacturer became a model for future software licensing agreements. "#4
"By 1991, Microsoft provided the operating systems for about 90 percent of the world's personal computers. The U.S. Federal Trade Commission (FTC) and then the U.S. Department of Justice opened investigations of Microsoft as a possible monopoly (a company that maintains an exclusive right to produce a particular product or service by unduly hampering its competition). To settle, Microsoft agreed to make it easier for personal computer makers to install its rivals’ software. "
Do you guys think this is evidence enough to have Bill Gates removed from the list of most influential people of all time?
(If you guys really want to see my sources, here they are. (Just so I don't get blamed for plaugerizin' or nothin'))
#1
"William Henry Gates, III." Encyclopedia of World Biography. Detroit: Gale, 1998. Gale Student Resources In Context. Web. 9 Mar. 2011.
#2
"The Development of Computer Operating Systems." Science and Its Times. Ed. Neil Schlager and Josh Lauer. Vol. 7. Detroit: Gale, 2009. Gale Student Resources In Context. Web. 9 Mar. 2011.
#3
"Steve Jobs." Newsmakers. Detroit: Gale, 2000. Gale Student Resources In Context. Web. 9 Mar. 2011.
#4
"Personal Computers." U*X*L Encyclopedia of U.S. History. Sonia Benson, Daniel E. Brannen, Jr., and Rebecca Valentine. Ed. Lawrence W. Baker and Sarah Hermsen. Vol. 6. Detroit: UXL, 2009. 1222-1228. Gale Student Resources In Context. Web. 9 Mar. 2011.
This person has been placed on a list of the top 100 most influential people of all time. Write a research report justifying why they should be on that list, or a report explaining why they should be removed from that list.
I took the stand of removal. I decided that Bill Gates was just a not(c) pirate that steals things from other people. So, these are the quotes from various encyclopedias, articles, and other places that are my evidence against him. (NO Wikipedia.)
Subtopic 1) His accomplishments:
"In developing Windows, Microsoft signed an agreement with Apple that Windows 1.0 would not use Macintosh technology. When future versions of Windows did utilize Macintosh ideas, Apple took Microsoft to court for copying the "look and feel" of the Macintosh." #2
"between 1985 and 1987 Microsoft and IBM collaborated on creating a new OS. Microsoft pulled out of the collaboration and released Windows 3.0 based on technology that had been developed jointly. IBM continued working on the new OS and released OS/2 in 1987. Although it was a technologically advanced system, it was not a great commercial success. " #2
"In 1980, an American computer programmer named Tim Paterson (1956-) developed an OS termed 86-DOS (Disk Operating System.)" #2
"Microsoft had bought all the rights to DOS."#2
2) The way he treats his competitors
"A new model, Lisa, was offered in 1983 for business people with few computer skills, but it could not compete with lower-priced machines from IBM. By this time, Apple had lost half of its market share to IBM. "#3
"In 1976, American businessman Steve Jobs (1955-) and American computer engineer Steve Wozniak (1950-) designed and built the Apple I, which consisted of little more than a circuit board. However, by 1977 they had incorporated Apple Computer (now known as Apple, Inc.) and announced the Apple II, which established a benchmark for PCs. The Apple II had a simple OS that came on a disk and accepted basic commands from a command line. In the same year, American businessmen Bill Gates (1955-) and Paul Allen (1953-) founded Microsoft Corporation. "#2
"During the Super Bowl in January 1984, Apple, Inc. introduced America to a completely innovative computer in an Orwellian-themed advertisement. The Macintosh was the first commercially successful computer with a graphical user interface (GUI). The GUI style of OS allowed users to interact with the computer through click buttons, pull-down menus, and other image options on the screen rather than through a command line. In addition to the graphical interface, the Macintosh had more advanced hardware than IBM-style PCs." #2
"For $205 million, Microsoft received a 5 percent stake in Apple" #4
"In 1980, IBM hired Microsoft to develop a computer language and operating system for its new line of minicomputers, which were introduced to the public in 1981 as the IBM Personal Computer. In 1997, Microsoft was ordered to make Windows 95 available without the Internet Explorer application. The argument was that by automatically including Internet Explorer on Windows 95, Microsoft was using its monopoly of the PC OS market to destroy competition in other markets, such as Internet software. Microsoft appealed the order. An appeal court ruled that the 1995 injunction did not apply to Windows 98, released in 1998." #2
"Forming a partnership called Microsoft, Gates and Allen entered a contract with MITS regarding the Altair computer. Under the contract, Roberts retained rights to sell the hardware, or physical parts of the computer, and could use and market the BASIC software with it. Microsoft retained ownership of the computer language and software. This relationship between a software developer and a hardware manufacturer became a model for future software licensing agreements. "#4
"By 1991, Microsoft provided the operating systems for about 90 percent of the world's personal computers. The U.S. Federal Trade Commission (FTC) and then the U.S. Department of Justice opened investigations of Microsoft as a possible monopoly (a company that maintains an exclusive right to produce a particular product or service by unduly hampering its competition). To settle, Microsoft agreed to make it easier for personal computer makers to install its rivals’ software. "
Do you guys think this is evidence enough to have Bill Gates removed from the list of most influential people of all time?
(If you guys really want to see my sources, here they are. (Just so I don't get blamed for plaugerizin' or nothin'))
#1
"William Henry Gates, III." Encyclopedia of World Biography. Detroit: Gale, 1998. Gale Student Resources In Context. Web. 9 Mar. 2011.
#2
"The Development of Computer Operating Systems." Science and Its Times. Ed. Neil Schlager and Josh Lauer. Vol. 7. Detroit: Gale, 2009. Gale Student Resources In Context. Web. 9 Mar. 2011.
#3
"Steve Jobs." Newsmakers. Detroit: Gale, 2000. Gale Student Resources In Context. Web. 9 Mar. 2011.
#4
"Personal Computers." U*X*L Encyclopedia of U.S. History. Sonia Benson, Daniel E. Brannen, Jr., and Rebecca Valentine. Ed. Lawrence W. Baker and Sarah Hermsen. Vol. 6. Detroit: UXL, 2009. 1222-1228. Gale Student Resources In Context. Web. 9 Mar. 2011.
I think you've done a good job of proving him a cutthroat businessman in your first post, but I'm not convinced yet that he's not influential from that. 
