Bill Gates: Steve Jobs Is 'Fantastic,' 'Saved The Company' (VIDEO)

During CNBC's TV special featuring Warren Buffett and Bill Gates, Microsoft's Gates had warm words for Apple CEO Steve Jobs.

According to CNBC, a Columbia Executive Business School student asked this question:

If you could just comment and tell us what your thoughts are on the job Steve Jobs has done as the CEO of Apple? (Audience laughs as Gates smiles.)

Gates' response, CNBC reports:

GATES: Well, he's done a fantastic job. Apple is in a bit of a different business where they make hardware and software together. But when Steve was coming back to Apple, which was actually through an acquisition of NeXT that he ran, Apple was in very tough shape.

In fact, most likely it wasn't going to survive. And he brought in a team, he brought in inspiration about great products and design that's made Apple back into being an incredible force in doing good things. And it's great to have competitors like that. We write software for Apple, Microsoft does. They compete with Apple. But he, of all the leaders in the industry that I've worked with, he showed more inspiration and he saved the company.

Watch Gates' answer in the video clip below.

WATCH:

Comments

[PenguinLinux]

Forget Mac and Jobs, Bill and Windows, it's all about the penguin. Use Linux.

[Knute5]

Bill has definitely mellowed since he left the full-time running of the company.

[Balzac]

Gates should be acknowledged himself. Before and after Microsoft's huge success with proprietary software, the reign of software supremacy belongs to free, open, academic-licensed software. Microsoft can and will adapt, but the tired and archaic licenses have passed their peak and are well along into their decline.

I may create a software license of my own pretty soon. My license will function mostly as a flag for interpreters, a trade-mark, and as a curious, personally-engaging license. When people see my "license" I want them to realize the software is a game for them to play with, nothing more.

[nik101]

Haircut aside, home computers will consolidate in the next few years with one operating system. It's all about speed, memory and graphic abilities. The hardware is a marketing side show except for the need for sustainability, which Apple is on the forefront with its uni-body design.

[alexolife]

Hm, that doesn't make much sense to me. Speed, memory and graphic ability are ALL essentially hardware issues, and have remained roughly equivalent in home computers ever since there was a market, regardless of what operating systems people choose.

For a lot of users (like myself), certain specific software (FL Studio 9 for me) is the first priority, and the OS that supports it (Windows for me) is the OS of choice.

There's a pretty competitive PC market at the moment in both software and hardware. Why would everybody consolidate, especially when Linux users are doing everything for free already?

[Bitsko]

Don't you just love when rich folks apt each other on the back?

[ZimboDude]

I have a PC and have NEVER had any problems with it. At work we have Mac's and they crash all the time and I have to "relaunch" several times. It's annoying to have to restart your program and analysis several times a day. I dont hate Apple. I think the iPod and iPhone are revolutionary...and Zune sucks but when it comes to PC vs. Mac I choose PC.

[Alexander-Y]

Yeah, god forbid Microsoft having to comply with anti-trust laws.

[notb observer]

I've been a die hard fan since my first Mac back in 1991. I've owned 5 of them in that time, as well as a couple of iPods. One thing I am worried about is that as Macs become more common and popular, the threat of viruses will increase. There is nothing different in terms of vulnerability between any OS except the number of hackers interested in creating mayhem.
I'm happy to pay more for my Mac if it buys me the best OS and hardware in the world, as well as the protection of being a small fish in a large pond :)

[Palemoon]

I wonder if Bill's big investment into Apple in 1996 had anything to do with Apples turnaround? As a shareholder of the company, I'm sure he knows if Steve is doing a good job or not. ;o)

[HekmabaJuzimakz]

Microsoft and Apple will merge. Windows 8 will be Mac-compatible.
All PCs will be Macs.
It's coming.

[Palemoon]

You may very well be right.

[Pompidio]

Um, no, though it's fun to think about it. Let me introduce you to a little concept I call "antitrust." The DoJ (and Ms. Kroes across the Atlantic) would have kittens if such a thing were contemplated...

[Harvee Wallbanger]

Let's just hope its more Mac than MS - LOL.

Myself, I was a big UNIX guru way before Windows was even a viable DOS switcher. Had UNIX or SunOS or Solaris or any of those put some effort into marketing and making things simpler to administer, as well as ruducing the cost significantly, I think UNIX would have ruled.

[KeysE2S]

Why? Macs can already run Windows.

[Axekick]

Windows controls 93 percent of the OS market is why.

[talkingdog]

B.G, for Pres.

[indigo1]

I love my mac and iphone! I brought my first Mac five years ago, and I have never had a crash, virus or any problems. In fact it's running at the same speed as the day I took it out of the box. I will never buy a PC again and I dread using them at work because they always have problems. My sister has complained that Macs are just too expensive but she has replaced her PC three times in the last six years. I guess you can pay now or you'll end up paying for them later.

Apple is obviously doing something right.

[ConservativeFrank]

Microsoft needs apple to push them to make awesome software like 7 which is great by the way. :D

[lwaldmann]

When I have an opportunity to see Jobs speak I like him, in my Gutt. When I see Gates speak I like him in my Gutt. When Barak speaks I like him in my Gutt. As you can tell I depend on my Gutt, it tells me whether or not I am hearing Bullshit or a sincere comment. Both men, all three men, have added a great strength to this country. I just wish there where more Jim Webbs and the like to take their place in Washington. The calling of Public Service, should be held in the highest esteem. Regretably today it is controlled by a pack of wolves.

Lary Waldman

[WebCommoner]

I couldn't care less about his software, but Bill Gates is a standup guy.

[longfeltwant]

Sometimes he is, sometimes he isn't. A lot of people act more virtuous in public, or later in their life.

[WebCommoner]

He and his wife are generous philanthropists. I give him some credit for that.

[xstevejx]

Personally, he is; professionally, he's he's viciously cutthroat (at least by backing all of Microsoft's anti-competitive behaviors). With Apple/Jobs, though, he has a mixed interest...yes, he doesn't want Apple hurting Microsoft's business much, but he's also friends w/ Steve Jobs and was a big backer of the Mac when it was first introduced.