to combat the scourge of AIDS in India? Or was it a public relations exercise to strengthen his company's brand and to keep people from dropping Microsoft's Windows operating system and switching over to Linux?
While most strongly believed that one should not look a gift horse in the mouth and appreciated the Microsoft chief's aid, there were some who felt that Bill Gates had `a hidden agenda' and was here only to further his business interests.
Here, we reproduce some of the responses generated.
Fri Nov 15 17:17:30 2002
Name: Tushar
Email: tgs@engineer.com
Your Views: Bill Gates is an astute businessman, and he has demonstrated it time and again. The way he wriggled out of NETSCAPE's case is point to be considered. In more than 10 years of WINDOWS history, nobody has ever heard of Bill Gates praising Indian's contribution towards Microsoft's success. Then why now? The main reason behind this praise and the generosity is the Government's directive to switch from Windows to Open systems like Linux, for cost cutting. This was a wake up call for Bill and he has come running to meet and manage Government heavyweights. Make no mistakes about it. Meetings with AIDS NGOs etc. are incidental. Of course, I am sure, as usual, this will be highly successful trip. He is a good MANAGER, you see. If he can manage USA Government, Indian Government(s) are too easy.
Fri Nov 15 17:18:51 2002
Name:VJ
Email:nlkvs@indiatimes.com
Your Views:Its not time to think of business, should appreciate his generosity towards helping children and AIDS patients. Who is taking care of this helping program? Neither the Governments nor the so called rich indian individuals.
Fri Nov 15 17:21:39 2002
Name:Bhupendra
Email:anshurishu@yahoo.com
Your Views:India and Indians better be careful of neighbor whose alltime pastime is thinking of destroying India. At least, do not spin any conspiracy theories about Gates's visit and his donations. He may have business objectives behind his actions...but so what. Any largesse from US do good for India. Thanx
Fri Nov 15 17:21:56 2002
Name:Anirudh Singh
Email:anirudh_singh1@rediffmail.com
Your Views:I guess he has learnt the "INDIAN " way of doing things ...." EK TEER SE DO NISHANE " ...........
Fri Nov 15 17:22:53 2002
Name:sagar
Email:sagarj10@rediffmail.com
Your Views:it was purely bout his company bout microsoft he did not want people to change from windows to linux platform and he won't succeed in his attempt to do that.
Fri Nov 15 17:23:40 2002
Name:Subhomoy Mukherjee
Email:subho_moy@rediffmail.com
Your Views:I strongly feel that there is some sort of hidden interest lying behind this act. Maybe for building up other development centre or marketing for Windows .
Fri Nov 15 17:24:18 2002
Name:V. BALASUBRAMANIAN
Email:vbalanal@yahoo.com
Your Views:The honesty behind Bill's visit is knowen to him alone. However, Bill has been a shrewd businessman in pushing Windows and MS products at the cost of others. His generosity would have been appreciated better is he had reduced prices of his products or made some of the software free rathen than robbing Peter to pay Paul. However, all said and done, people have started realizing that Bill is making more money than he probably should and so linux and other products should also be given a chance so that the users can decide for themselves which is better, MS product or any of its competitors. Ultimately, the true worth of a product decides its continuance or otherwise in the market. So Bill beware!!!
Fri Nov 15 17:25:40 2002
Name:shan
Email:shan2k@outgun.com
Your Views:Boss....no kidding..remember Gates is a perfect business man. No sentiments...please.
Fri Nov 15 17:26:50 2002
Name:Ashwini Gaur
Email:ashwinig@rediffmail.com
Your Views:It was business purely. Thjis money means nothing to him but a lot to India. Now this guy can buy governments off the shelf when so ever he feels like.
Fri Nov 15 17:27:04 2002
Name:Sujith
Email:sujith28@yahoo.com
Your Views:This is not a correct question. You have limited the choice to two: Bill Gates is either a Business Man or is a Philanthropist. Why can't he be both? I think he's both and he's a visionary. But, his vision is more in the Computer Business and technology line. Not in the human suffering or spiritual line. He's sure a Business Man. He's just 46 and isn't it amazing when he proclaims that computers havent even scratched the surface of possibilities? or when he says that very soon software revenues will soon overtake hardware revenues? So many people have great ideas in their minds. How many of those ideas find themselves implemented? But Bill Gates had a technology vision at the age of 20+ years and pursued that to build a Business Empire! Successfully. Now, he has a lot of money. What can he do about it? He earns $300 Mn a second. How much can he spend in a second? He's using his wealth for society's welfare-that's great. He's both - a Hardcore Businessman and a man with enough money to be generous with. I think he can donate more.
Fri Nov 15 17:27:20 2002
Name:tarun
Email:romantictarun@rediffmail.com
Your Views:hi, i think so this all debate about mr gates is really absurd and it is literally a waste of time. he donated some fraction of his money for charity work whicjh is really good. how many businessmen do that? and it is really his perogative whether he wants to invest in india for his business. after he is not a saint and by investing in our country he is confirming what we all believe that we are right up there in the it world!
Fri Nov 15 17:28:21 2002
Name:Raghu
Email:r_akili@yahoo.com
Your Views:It is nothing to do with his company's business.He became very generos after earning lot of money.It is a good thing in investing countries like india.It will help in eradicating poverty.Afterall one needs money for basic needs apart from that what else one can do with money.
Fri Nov 15 17:30:54 2002
Name:C. Thirunavukkarasu
Email:astra@md2.vsnl.net.in
Your Views:Billgate is really a genius to understand the future IT industry. If he wants to remain as the leader in this industry.the possible way to relay on skilled professionals who are abundant in China and India. He preferred india because of consistant and reliable support of IT workers from India. He did not want to invest in a communist country and preferred India being a demaocratic country and long time companian of USA. After all business is all speculative and it remains with Indians to benefit from this great opportunity. My appreciation and respect to Mr. Billgate and wish him every success.
Fri Nov 15 17:32:03 2002
Name:amol gore
Email:amol_aryan007@rediffmail.com
Your Views:hi, readers according to me mr gates is here to find cheap labour, and second to capture indian market, as microsoft has a great competitor in form of linux. he is their in india to capture the human capital, as he will have to pay less to indian indiviuals, second thing indians have adpoted to computers than any other indiviual from any other country, he will fulfill his dream of charity work, by selling pc to each and every home in india. but it is good for india as it will grow. i am definite that in coming 10 yrs india will become a major information technology centre of world. as u can already see that all call centers from all over world are setting up their offices in india, as india is going to be the greastest nation in 10 yrs from now. only thing government has to take into consideration is not repeat what happened in history. like britishers came and conquered. pls dont let that happen.
Fri Nov 15 17:32:18 2002
Name:Rajiv
Email:RRCOLL@SIFY.COM
Your Views:50-50
Fri Nov 15 17:34:16 2002
Name:deepak nautiyal
Email:deepaknautiyal@hotmail.com
Your Views:Microsoft's (M$) .Net is not selling within software developers in USA. Also, major European and south american countries, and China are embracing Linux over Windows because of it's being highly cost-effective and overall superior technology. So, M$ sends Bill Gates to India with a lot of cash. They are hoping that giving freebies will bring the Indian govt. and the Indian software companies to M$ camp. Bill Gates and M$ forget that Indians by nature are anti-monopoly. M$'s design will never succeed in India.
Fri Nov 15 17:34:41 2002
Name:saran
Email:saran_yhills@rediffmail.com
Your Views:ya, his trip to india was 70% of gegrosity and remaining was abt his business.
Fri Nov 15 17:36:45 2002
Name:saran
Email:saran_yhills@rediffmail.com
Your Views:ya, his trip to india was based in generosity only.
Fri Nov 15 17:37:21 2002
Name:sharad
Email:sharadgaidhane@hotmail.com
Your Views:Primarily Gates is a hardcore businessman.Business first then charity.Here its business thru charity.He has been doing that quite successfully for a long time.Most effective way of doing business especially in India!!
Fri Nov 15 17:37:48 2002
Name:cgunnikrishnan
Email:cgunnikrishnan@yahoo.com
Your Views:A good business leader is quick to pick up the threats and will try to leverage all available resources to mitigate the risks.Bill gates is aware of inclination of govt depts in India & China towards Linux.Hence this visit.
Fri Nov 15 17:38:05 2002
Name:Manya
Email:freespirit@sify.com
Your Views:PURELY BUSINESS. Period.
Fri Nov 15 17:38:34 2002
Name:R.Kannan
Email:rkannanr@hotmail.com
Your Views:The two reaons are not mutually conflicting. Definitely Mr.Gates wants to extend his business interest in India, an important business-opportunity centre. He equall considers Lunix a threat and takes interest in dealing with the same. These are business concerns. But the other side is his personal vision or individual personality. Gates personally has huge resources. He has earned money and now wants to invest part of his money in goodwill and humanitarian causes, that will find a place for him permanently in history, not merely in business chronicles.
Fri Nov 15 17:39:00 2002
Name:Jude Prakash T
Email:jude.prakash@in.eyi.com
Your Views:I dont think that Bill Gates is trying to set a strong future foothold for Microsoft in India. Incase, he has to do this, he can spend the millions of dollars he is spending on AIDS in this country for marketing Microsoft. Mr.Bill has grow beyond all this. Rather than being critical, lets appreciate this benevolent act.
Fri Nov 15 17:40:10 2002
Name:Scott Mcnealy
Email:scott@sun.com
Your Views:One must realize that India with its increasing number of software developers ,is something that needs to be coaxed the microsoft way. By his altruistic donations he may have not won over the tech geek ,but certainly over the state governments and leaders who have pledged to use MS s/w for e-governance. This may not create a Windows loyalty in the developers overnight ,but eventually people still deciding between Windows and other platforms will decide in Windows' favor and many others will follow suit.Its the viscious circle - make the platform available at large ,which increases developer base which inturn leads to more people adapting the platform until usage reaches a critical mass - which Microsoft has so successfully created over the past 2 decades ,that is being planned in India too.. Though his donations may be with the honest intention of allievating AIDS in India ,it is certainly cannot be said that the givings do not have anything to do with MSs business plans. Though Windows is a good OS ,we must avoid an IT industry which thrives on Windows.
Fri Nov 15 17:40:24 2002
Name:XAVIER DAVID
Email:DDJX@REDIFFMAIL.COM
Your Views:BUSINESS
Fri Nov 15 17:42:16 2002
Name:Abhishek Jain
Email:abhijain1@rediffmail.com
Your Views:The trip of Mr. Gates was only and only meant to promote the business of microsoft. These are the reasons why: (1) The first and the foremost reason to grant huge amounts to government causes was to pave way for his company to get easy clearances from the government departments. In the wake of global competiton in the software products in india amidst the companies Sun, Oracle, IBM etc, Microsoft would have a distinct advantage over its rivals in getting clearances from the government. (2) Secondly, govt. departments themselves are a huge market for Microsoft. By generously donating money, Bill Gates has made it extremely difficult for Govts to refuse Microsoft products. (3) Thirdly, Microsoft wants to establish its presence and does not want Linux to eat into its share of operating systems. By getting so much publicity in the Indian as well foreign media, Mr Gates has very well achieved his objective. Hats off to you Mr. Gates...!! You have shown it to the world that you are the leader and indeed "There can't be two Microsofts" as "There can't be two Bill Gates..!" Enjoy the Indian Inc.....
Fri Nov 15 17:42:25 2002
Name:VANDANA NAIR
Email:nairvandana@rediffmail.com
Your Views:i believe it is a combination of generosity and business. business with a generous mind. but it is in our govt hands to make optimum use of this large sum. but as it is said nobody knows where are this big contributions going.. hope this time it works well
Fri Nov 15 17:42:39 2002
Name:jayanth.r
Email:rj_1in@rediffmail.com
Your Views:It definitely was about his business interest.getting back to his previous visit to india he never gave his time to bangalore(which is his prime business concern here)now he is also planning to set up his office(asia centre)in a vast 15 acre plot in the electronic city - b'lore. It is just the strengthening of his base in asia keeping us (indians) as his confidantaries. jayanth/- (B.E. student)
Fri Nov 15 17:44:19 2002
Name:Anil Ruparelia
Email:AnilRprl@aol.com
Your Views:Bill Gates contribution of $100 million us dollars is a single largest by any private company.It is for a good cause even though some people think it is a ploy by us pharmacuitical companies to gain excess to Indian markets.
Fri Nov 15 17:44:28 2002
Name:BIJU
Email:VALAYANGADAN@HOTMAIL.COM
Your Views:INDIA, BY THE END OF THIS DECADE CAN BE THE NO.1 MARKET FOR THE IT RELATED SERVICES. SO, MR.GATES MUST HAVE AN EYE ON HIS BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT IN OUR COUNTRY. BY DONATING A HUGE AMOUNT, LIKE THIS, CAN ATTRACT EVEN THE MIDDLE CLASS PEOPLE IN OUR COUNTRY.
Fri Nov 15 17:45:43 2002
Name:Nitin
Email:nitinkaura@yahoo.com
Your Views:i dont understand the hue and cry about Bill Gates promoting Windows over Linux....We must understand that he is a businessman - the best of his kind - and business is paramount on his mind. What i feel really woeful is the attitude of us Indians....first we want the world to recognize our contributions .....and when somebody does that...we try and find negatives bout the whole issue.... I think its high time we leverage on our strengths and target more people like Bill Gates to appreciate our contribution and give back in kind !!!!! which is more or less what he is doing - irrespective of his motives.
Fri Nov 15 17:45:46 2002
Name:finoj
Email:finoj@rediffmail.com
Your Views:i think Bill Gates came to India purely for popularising the microdoft brand softwares & thats his hidden agenda!!
Fri Nov 15 17:45:46 2002
Name:raje
Email:raj_srivastva@delhi.tcs.co.in
Your Views:Bill Gates have clarity to see the future. He has grown above the small issues and can evaluate the current to extrapolate it and prsdict the future trends. Keeping in mind the limitation of education and media reach to the common person, AIDS is and can be the largest and biggest killer in near future, paralysing the whole society. Think of it, a simple blood transfusion can become a nightmare for a common person as not being sure of the effectiveness of the control mechanism while taking it from the donor. People are struggling to arrange for two meals and will be ready to kill if not being able to cure themselves or their kids. As for being the tech hub, he acknowledges the capability of small percentage of our society who are educated and always strive for better things in life. With the current changing trend, where more and more MNCs are outsourcing their requirement to cheaper but quality conscious part of the world, Indians who always wanted to be in India and earn their living comfortably amongst their Friends and family and India with its vast pool of talent and technicaly educated lot, is idealy poised to take the biggest piece of the pie.
Fri Nov 15 17:46:20 2002
Name:K Ray
Email:kalarab@rediffmail.com
Your Views:I don't think Bill Gates has EVER done ANYTHING sans his business interest. This India trip is an integral part of that. He has made ENOUGH money and earned enough fame as a businessman. Now he wants to BUY some name as a philanthropist ! But personally I see nothing wrong with his attitude.
Fri Nov 15 17:46:24 2002
Name:Sudhanshu gupta
Email:guptasudhanshu@yahoo.com
Your Views:A successful businessman is he who uses every tactic under the sun.
Fri Nov 15 17:46:38 2002
Name:Senthil kumar N
Email:chemnsk@hotmail.com
Your Views:Bill Gates's visit to india is more of generosity than business.All people with money and power donot donate asmuch towards the public.But Gates do much to the world community besides his buisness.We should thank him for his generosity.
Fri Nov 15 17:48:03 2002
Name:Shaji Kalidasan
Email:shajiindia@yahoo.com
Your Views:To hold developers from migrating to Linux as India will soon become the World's largest pool of developers and so can decide the destiny of OS and Programming languages which indeed sets trend to other developers worldwide. Moreover the Microsoft's .NET strategy isn't picking up as expected even MS has released its next generation Tablet PC. Primarily MS wants to boost its .NET Platform and to create awarness among Java developers. Finally to draw attention of top Indian business giants as they are massively planning to invest in Telecom and other related areas. As we always know "Early catches its prey". In this decade India and China together can dominate the IT market as other potential players have already saturated.
Fri Nov 15 17:49:56 2002
Name:Rajesh Panchal
Email:rpanchal@lear.com
Your Views:I can understand the trend from MS Windows to Linux, but that does not have much connection with Bills visit I think. A visit by Bill does not make sense just to promote the MS products. That has to come through technology, quality ,reliability and services appart from the other things. So Bills visit was for compacting AIDS. Last not to the least ' he has lot's of money which he can spend for any thing he like'.
Fri Nov 15 17:50:49 2002
Name:kishore abid
Email:ABRUS@ENGINEER.COM
Your Views:I THINK THAT THE MICROSOFT CHAIRMAN IS CORRECT IN MAKING THE INCREASED BENEFITS FOR INDIA IN SOFTWARE AS WELL AS HUMANITARIAN AREAS.MICROSOFT CHAIRMAN'S AIM TO MARKET windows xp version of regional languages is towards this,to remove linux from whatever spheres it exist.To make a community of windows users and devolopers which will work towards a microsoft india and not toward a linux india.This is the strategy of microsoft.Being a computer engineer miself i prefer windows towards linux ,not because windows is better but because linux doesn't have any one to market it and because of it's difficult enviornement to program it.This with lots of trouble that comes with it makes linux more and more uneasy as compared to windows .But windows with a newer and more stronger interphase with it's highly graphical windows XP is making waves in india.Microsoft attempt towards providing more and more support for windows in india is towards this drive and i am sure that microsoft is here to stay in India for a long long time.The linux users group say that they are towards free software and free ideas but there selfishness in protecting the more and more usage of linux is THAT IS WRONG WITH LINUX
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