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[Spirit]

here it is guys, please tell me what you think of it and what I can improve on
btw I didn't finish putting citations in the bottom but help me out if you can


Bill Gates Biography

Bill Gates came from humble beginnings to great ends. Born in Seattle, Washington he proclaimed one day in class that he shall become a millionaire, something he surpassed by far. His father being an attorney and his mother a schoolteacher, he was unlikely to achieve fame, not to mention becoming a billionaire and reinventing the computer technology world. Bill Gates believed that in the near future every home would have a computer and they would be used for nearly everything. (Bill Gates, 1)
At the tender age of 13, Bill Gates wrote his first program. It was but a simple tic-tac-toe game at the time when computers were large enough to fill rooms. Paul Allen and Bill shortly founded a company Traf-O-Data, while still in high school. It analyzed traffic and the government did not come out with their version until almost a year later.
Scoring a perfect 800 on the math section of SAT’s, it would’ve been natural for him to go into the computer field. However, trying to follow his father’s footsteps, Bill Gates proceeded to Harvard in 1973 hoping to become a lawyer. Sadly he dropped out in his junior year, pursuing his goals in the computer industry.
After struggling for a few years to ensure Microsoft’s survival, Bill Gates introduced a new software program MS-DOS, which ensured Microsoft’s survival and expanded Microsoft worldwide. He shortly became a millionaire and the company started to pick up.
In 1994 Bill Gates married Melinda French, an executive at Microsoft. They had two children, daughter Jennifer and son Rory. (Gates, 1-2)
Bill Gates was the youngest billionaire yet, at a tender age of 31. He revolutionized the 
(https://www.graveline.com/remotes/ces2000/bill-gates.jpg)
computer industry and influenced many individuals. His company, Microsoft is one of the biggest five companies in the world and is worth well over 100 billion. Bill Gates has been the number one richest man in the world for eight years straight now, with a reported fortune of over than $50 million. (Smale, 120)
His life recently has started to change. While he hasn’t lost an interest in golf, and still enjoys reading a lot, he left control of Microsoft in Steve Ballmer’s hands. Writing Business and the speed of though, one of his many books, he received worldwide acclaim from the critics. Bill Gates and his wife created a foundation and contributed over 2 billion to health organizations. Bill Gates shortly founded a charity and became the largest donator ever, with his 6 billion donation in august of 1999.

Microsoft Timeline

January 1st, 1975 Paul Allen and Bill Gates decide to develop BASIC language for Altair
February 1st, 1975 Paul Allen and Bill Gates sell BASIC to MITS, in Albuquerque, New Mexico
March 1st, 1975 Paul Allen becomes Director of software at MITS
February 3rd, 1976 Bill Gates starts the issue of computer software piracy
July 1st, 1976 Microsoft refines BASIC and sells it to more consumers
November 1st, 1976 Paul Allen resigns from MITS to join Microsoft
November 26th, 1976 “Microsoft” is registered in the state of New Mexico
February 3rd, 1977 Paul Allen and Bill Gates sign a partnership agreement
July 1st, 1977 Microsoft develops a second language product, FORTRAN-80
November 18th, 1977 Microsoft ceases the exclusive license to MITS for BASIC
November 1st, 1978 Microsoft opens an office in Japan
December 31st, 1978 Microsoft sales for the year surpass one million dollars
January 1st, 1979 Microsoft headquarters moves to Bellevue, Washington
April 4th, 1979 8080 BASIC, the first microprocessor product, wins the ICP Million Dollar Award
June 11th, 1980 Steve Ballmer joins Microsoft
June 25th, 1981 Microsoft becomes a private corporation with Bill Gates as President and Paul Allen as Vice president.
August 12, 1981 IBM introduces its personal computer which uses Microsoft’s MS-DOS
June 28th, 1982 Microsoft introduces a new logo, along with new retail materials
February 18th, 1983 Paul Allen retires from Microsoft, but remains on the board of directors
May 2nd, 1983 Microsoft Mouse is introduced
September 29th, 1983 Microsoft Word is out for MS-DOS
November 10th, 1983 Windows is revealed at last but will not be out until 1985
September 9th, 1984 Francis J. Gaudette becomes Microsoft’s vice president of Finance
August 12th, 1985 10th anniversary of Microsoft arrives, with sales exceeding $140 million
November 20th, 1985 Windows final version is shipped
March 13th, 1986 By the end of the first day that Microsoft stock goes public it increased from $21 to $28
September 8th, 1987 Microsoft Bookshelf ships in CD-ROM format, 10 of the most popular reference works.
June 14th, 1988 Mike Maples, leaves IBM and becomes the vice president of Application Software in Microsoft
August 1st, 1989 Office, a business software is announced by Microsoft is available on a CD-ROM
May 22nd, 1990 Windows 3.0 is announced at City Center Theatre in New York
June 30th, 1990 Jon Shirley retires as president and chief operating officer. Michael R. Hallman succeeds him
July 25th, 1990 Microsoft sales exceed $1 billion
January 1st, 1991 Microsoft creates a computer science research organization, Microsoft Research (MSR)
May 20th, 1991 Microsoft Visual Basic for Windows comes out
March 1st, 1992 Microsoft starts a television advertising campaign
March 1st, 1992 Microsoft shifts its business focus by creating three sections; Worldwide Product group, headed by Mike Maples; Worldwide Sales and Support Group, headed by Steve Ballmer; and Worldwide Operations Group, headed by Frank Gaudette
March 24th, 1992 Microsoft and Fox Software, Inc. announced their plan to merge
April 6th, 1992 Microsoft releases Windows 3.1. One million orders are placed immediately worldwide
April 27th, 1992 Microsoft Board of Directors approves 3-for-2 stock split
June 23rd, 1992 President Bush awards Bill Gates with the National Medal of Technology Achievement
January 1st, 1993 Microsoft Word 10th year anniversary, with over 10 million user worldwide
March 22nd, 1993 Microsoft Encarta, the first computer encyclopedia, is released
May 24th, 1993 Microsoft releases Windows NT
March 16th, 1994 Bill Gates becomes the number one richest man in the world and holds the title for the next eight years in a row
April 18th, 1994 Microsoft Windows for Workgroups 3.11 becomes the world’s number one selling operating system
June 28th, 1994 Microsoft buys SoftImage, Inc. a developer of 2-D and 3-D animation and graphics
November 8th, 1994 Bob Herbold old becomes the new vice president of Microsoft
August 24th, 1995 Windows 95 is released worldwide
November 20th, 1995 Microsoft creates MSN (Microsoft Network) and becomes one of the largest internet service providers having half a million people sign up with three months of the free service
November 20th, 1995 Bill Gates writes his first book, The Road Ahead, focusing on technology
January 16th, 1996 Microsoft buys out Vermeer Technologies, the producers of FrontPage(a very powerful html designer)
June 5th, 1996 NBC News and Microsoft bring forth MSNBC, a 24 hour information network
November 12th, 1996 Microsoft’s Board of Directors approve 2-for-1 stock split
April 6th, 1997 Microsoft buys out WebTV Networks for about $425 million
July 23rd, 1997 Bill Gates and his wife announce the formation of the Gates Library foundation
January 26th, 1998 Microsoft stock splits 2 for 1, making the seventh split since the stock went public
June 25th, 1998 Windows 98 comes out worldwide
July 21st, 1998 Bill Gates designates Steve Ballmer President of Microsoft
October 16th, 1998 Microsoft’s antitrust trial begins as 20 states sue Microsoft
January 8th, 1999 Microsoft releases Encarta Africana, the first encyclopedia of black history and culture
February 24th, 1999 Microsoft first online store opens
March 18th, 1999 Bill Gates introduces Internet Explorer 5.0
March 24th, 1999 Bill Gates’ Business @ The Speed of Though book comes out
January 7th, 2000 Microsoft buys Visio Corporation, the largest acquisition ever in Microsoft’s history
January 13th, 2000 Bill Gates becomes Chairman and Chief Software Architect, while Steve Ballmer becomes president and CEO
June 22nd, 2000 Microsoft comes out with Microsoft .NET platform which advances the internet using advanced software
September 14th, 2000 Windows Millennium is out
September 20th, 2000 Warner Books publish a commemorative 25th anniversary booklet
October 25th, 2001 Windows XP comes out worldwide

(From U.S. v. Microsoft Timeline, Key events in Microsoft History, Stanford students and Joe Wilcox, 2-3)

[Spirit]

Microsoft on the web

A small computer serving as a server for Microsoft’s first implementation of internet was the beginning for Microsoft on the web in 1993. Nine short years later, serving five million people daily, Microsoft website has become one of the largest sites online.
How did Microsoft grow so quickly is only nine years is no wonder. Internet time runs much faster than normal time. Eight years may be viewed as cat years, seven years for every year. Windows NT 3.1 was the first implementation of the server, and html became the language online. With windows 95 Microsoft picked up online, updating first monthly, then weekly, then daily. The servers doubled very often to meet the demand of millions of people trying to get online.
Microsoft shortly released the ever so popular Internet Explorer and started using unethical practices to ruin their competitor, Netscape Navigator. Shortly enough Microsoft was slapped with a lawsuit from Netscape charging them with using illegal practices against competition.
Microsoft continued to grow daily and with every new version of Windows, it added Internet Explorer as a standard browser. On the web, Microsoft became a internet service provider, and continued to sell software over the internet up to present. (Dave Kramer, 1-3)

Microsoft Antitrust Lawsuit

Beginning in the early 90s, and still not resolved, the Microsoft Antitrust lawsuit has become one of the biggest events in the modern world. As Microsoft grew, it monopolized by seizing power and acquiring rival companies. The problems that could come out of this monopoly are indescribable. If Microsoft holds a monopoly, this would only mean the rise of prices and suppression of ideas. United States Government took the problem in their hands to start the biggest lawsuit in the history of the world. Losing millions of dollars on the antitrust lawsuit, both Microsoft and United States government have not yet reached a settlement. It all started when the Federal Trade Commission noticed a gap in competition within the computer field. (U.S. v. Microsoft Timeline, 1)

The Investigation begins

Beginning in May 30th 1990, the Federal Trade Commission began an antitrust investigation of Microsoft. This agency claims that Microsoft inserted hidden codes within their applications to hinder the competitors software. The Federal Trade Commission could not, however, continue the case, so the Justice Department picked it up.
In 1994 Microsoft and Justice department reach a settlement that requires a lot of changes within Microsoft, but U.S. District Judge Stanley Sporkin rejects it, pointing out the problems. The case begins to drag on, but when Microsoft tries to acquire Intuit Inc, maker of a famous finance program, Justice Department immediately sues Microsoft. Shortly thereafter, Microsoft abandons the purchase.
The Justice Department doesn’t try to block Windows 95 release, meanwhile, Caldera Inc. files an antitrust lawsuit against Microsoft, stating that Microsoft tried to block rival DOS operating systems from reaching the light of day. Soon, the Justice Department begins to look into the bundling of Internet Explorer browser with Windows 95.
While allowing Microsoft’s purchase of the WebTV Networks, the Justice Department objected Microsoft’s $150 million investment in Apple Computer Inc. Then the Justice Department sued Microsoft once again, claiming that the company required computer developers to install Internet Explorer browser if they want to license Windows 95. (Joe Wilcox, 1-2)

United States begins the antitrust trial

European Commission announced the start of their own Microsoft probe. Shortly thereafter Texas began to file suit against Microsoft, as did 19 other states. Judge Jackson ordered Microsoft to stop the requirement of Internet Explorer bundling. Microsoft appeals the order and tries to make a deal by offering computer makers more options, but The Justice Department rejects the proposal, stating that the options Microsoft gave don’t meet the requirements.
Microsoft and the Justice Department reach a settlement as a Texas judge sides with Microsoft. Microsoft Chairman Bill Gates appears before congress and testifies on the company’s practices. (Microsoft “monopoly” debated in senate, 1-3)
As Bill Gates, President of Microsoft, gave his first speech before Congress, he addressed his company’s huge expansion was due more to rapid changes in the industry than trying to make a monopoly. He also gave quite a few examples involving some of his services.
At the hearing, turning to address the audience, Barksdale called for a show of hands to make his case against Gates' company.
"How many of you use Intel-based PCs in this audience, not Macintoshes?" he asked. Several hands went up. Barksdale continued: "Of that group who use PCs, how many of you use a PC without Microsoft's operating system?" When all the hands went down, Barksdale turned to the Senate panel and said, "Gentlemen, that is a monopoly." (Microsoft “monopoly” debated in senate, 4)
Following the testimony, twenty U.S. states sue Microsoft, but the Federal court rules that Microsoft did not violate the government agreement by bundling Internet Explorer with Windows 95.
Five computer executives complained that Microsoft has been using illegal and unfair business practices, yet Microsoft called the lawsuit “completely groundless.” Microsoft rejects turning over the code or Bill Gates for questioning to the government. The Justice Department begins another investigation on Microsoft to determine if it used illegal business practices against Intel or Apple. Microsoft’s requests to throw out the two lawsuits and to limit the evidence used in the trial are rejected by Judge Jackson. The pre-trial tensions tense up, yet both sides continue the lawsuit.
As the trial begins on October 19th, 1998, Microsoft’s Internet Explorer surpasses Netscape’s Navigator in browser market shares. After both sides rest their case, they can’t reach an agreement after settlement talks. After each side gets limited to three witnesses only, both deliver their arguments. After massive amounts of closing statements on September 21st 1999, in the preliminary ruling, Judge Jackson states that Microsoft has a monopoly in the Windows operating system and uses this monopoly to hurt competitors, consumers and computer producers. Finally on December 6th, the Justice Department states that Microsoft violated the antitrust laws in at least four ways.

U.S. proposal

The following year, on April 28th U.S. files its proposal to break up Microsoft into two companies. Microsoft files a counterproposal pointing out the problems with breaking up the company, but the judge declines it. The Judge issues the final ruling on June 7th, 2000 stating that Microsoft will be broken up into two companies, one for applications and the other for the operating system. Microsoft appeals, and tries to get the case to the Supreme Court, but is denied and the case is sent back. As Microsoft’s struggle continues to stay a single company, The European Union drops their case against Microsoft, after Microsoft altered some contracts.
The case drags on to 2001, as a new judge and court is appointed, and the Justice Department stating that it does not want to break up Microsoft. The Justice Department, however, does come to a settlement. The agreement is that Microsoft will have a new set of rules to operate under and the companies as well as the competition will receive parts of the code to insure that everything works and no more illegal antitrust is done. Meanwhile, nine of the twenty states announce that they will not settle for this appeal and will continue to take the case to court. Microsoft, of course, offers the nine states money to pay for all the costs of lawyers and more than one billion dollars in software and hardware to public schools. The Federal judge rejects such a vile proposal as the states continued to pursue tougher laws for Microsoft and more supervised sales.
In 2002, Microsoft continues to have an illegal monopoly, as AOL Time Warner and Sun Microsystems sue Microsoft. Even as the settlement deal process comes through, RealNetworks and the makers of palm-based devices sue Microsoft and claim it continues the use of unethical practices.

Bill Gates testimony

Bill Gates gave his first testimony on Tuesday April 23rd, for the first time in the four years of antitrust case to the nine states that continued to sue Microsoft. As no apologies were made, he used a slide show and short replies as he patiently answered questions.
He then pointed out what the removal of his Internet Browser would do to Windows. “This shows that if you move this block of code, other functions are degraded in the most extreme way,” Bill Gates explained. Even as he was confronted with a 1998 e-mail memo, where he clearly stated “We have to stop putting any effort into this,” referring to Microsoft Documents problem to work on rival Web Browsers.
The Bill Gates that appeared for questioning was a clam and quiet man, who answered politely to every question directed at him. It was nothing compared to the Bill Gates of 1998, when he appeared before the congress.

That a pretty long paper. Sorry but I don't have enough patience to read it all but the first two words sound very good.

[olver14]

I think its very good paper, only you missed a bit of the timeline out : 666 B.C. Bill Gates created in hell by satan and comes to earth in various forms, including Emperor Nero of Rome, Attila the Hun, Hitler, and his current state, evil (but rich) chief of evilness. In other words, why do you praise this flagranty bad person with over (stops to count, gets bored, guesses) lots of words, none of which seem to be insulting. Lovely turn of phrase tho, keep up the good work

[RobHardo]

Awesome report man, by the way nice to meet you

[kupoartist]

Seems very good Spirit, with just about the right amount of Balance in your arguements (you do NOT take sides, giving Bill praise in certain places, and highlighting him as... a tit in others ^_^), in the right place.

Just 3 little nigly problems that I have:

1. : "Paul Allen and Bill shortly founded a company Traf-O-Data, while still in high school" - perhaps a teeny explanation of who Paul Allen is, could be inserted in brackets. It seems to me that the sentance gives the impression that he's already been refered to, but I may just be hallucinating again...

2: A stupid one this... but I can't see Windows 2000 in your Timeline (It deserves a mention, as its the only version of Windows thats been half decent recently ^_^)

3: Niggly Spelling mistake under "Microsoft On The Web" -
"How did Microsoft grow so quickly is only nine years is no wonder"

Apart from that, it seems first rate! But to tell you the truth I really have no idea of what my teachers expect from my english... I just hand it in, and pray for good grades

[Frozen]

I guess I'm a little late for this but oh well

It was well documented and the redaction and all were good. And I like the fact that both of "his sides" were shown. Not only that of an extremely intelligent and dedicated man who did something outstanding, but then is shown as well how he becomes greedy (just as anyone who holds big amounst of money or power, or both)


But, didn't you need some sort of concluding paragraph?