One thing we have got to change in our strategy - allowing Office documents to be rendered very well by other peoples browsers is one of the most destructive things we could do to the company. We have to stop putting any effort into this and make sure that Office documents very well depends on PROPRIETARY IE capabilities.
About this quote
- What does it mean?
- Rendering Office docs in other browsers harms the company; proprietary capabilities should be enforced.
- In plain terms
- Don't let other browsers render Office docs well; keep it proprietary.
- What can you take from it?
- Proprietary features can be a competitive moat.
Where it applies
Putting it to work
Questions to consider
- Is openness or control better for business?
Another view
Open compatibility often drives adoption.
More from Bill Gates
I'm a big believer that as much as possible, and there's obviously political limitations, freedom of migration is a good thing.
Permalink to quote #31 There are people who don't like capitalism, and people who don't like PCs. But there's no one who likes the PC who doesn't like Microsoft.[3]
Permalink to quote #33 Stolen's a strong word. It's copyrighted content that the owner wasn't paid for. So yes.
Permalink to quote #30
Related quotes
Remember, just because Microsoft can do something, doesn't mean you can. Microsoft makes their own gravity. Normal rules don't apply to them.
Joel SpolskyJoel Spolsky quote #1 If I'd asked people what they wanted, they would have asked for a better horse.
Henry FordHenry Ford quote #31 1. Never give anything away for nothing. 2. Never give more than you have to (always catch the buyer hungry and always make him wait). 3. Always take back ever…
William S. BurroughsWilliam S. Burroughs quote #1