Bill Gates Letter to Hobbyists
Bill Gates’ letter to hobbyists indeed reveals the strategy that Microsoft uses in modern personal computing to assure its pervasiveness. Fundamentally, the letter shows that Microsoft works towards introducing new products that meet an unmet need besides improving the existing software to take the experience of the hobbyists to the next level. Consequently, the prominence of Microsoft surges wide and far. The letter indicates that, about one year ago, Bill Gates engaged a combined effort with Monte Davidoff and Paul Allen to develop Altair Basic (Gates, 1976). Later on, the three improved the initial product by adding new features. Consequently, the team was able to introduce 4K, 8K, ROM, EXTENDED, and DISK BASIC (Gates, 1976). As a result, hundreds of people expressed their pressure with BASIC. This clearly shows that Microsoft’s strategy (that of introducing and improving products, was capable of influencing massive followership.
Other than the strategy, Bill Gates’ letter also reveals a pertinent issue, which is still debated in modern times in terms of internet and computing privacy and freedom. The primary problem mentioned is whether or not sharing of software or reselling it is appropriate. This trend, as the letter seems to illustrate, equates effectively to piracy. The standpoint taken in the letter is that sharing or reselling software has adverse effects on those who write the programs as it denies them royalties (Gates, 1976). Bill Gates also perceives that those sharing the software also lose out. Notably, they cannot report the problems they experience while using the software. Besides, as relayed in the letter, these people risk being thrown out of any club meeting (hobbyist meetings) they show up.