Created: 06/25/2008
Video description: As the reigning king of computing prepares to step down, we look back on his greatest moments.
CNET Top 5: Moments in Bill Gates' career Video Transcript
Welcome to CNET Top 5, where each time we meet we count down another
hot CNET list. I'm Tom Merritt.
Bill Gates is stepping down from Microsoft. Oh he'll still be working.
The man never stops. But he will no longer be putting in 100-hour
weeks.
Love him or hate him, he has changed the world in which you live.
So, let's count down the Top 5 Bill Gates moments.
At No. 5, Bill lies to Altair. MITS, the makers of the Altair 8800,
caught the eyes of young Bill Gates and Paul Allen in 1975. Gates had
the chutzpah to call MITS president Ed Roberts and sell him on the
BASIC program he and Allen had written for the Altair. Roberts was
sold--and Allen and Gates started writing code. 'Cause they didn't
have a BASIC program for Altair. However, 8 weeks later they did.
Coming in at No. 4, Bill is busted in New Mexico. Bill started
receiving royalties from BASIC, enough that he could afford a Porsche
911 that he drove too fast. And hence one of the most famous Bill Gates
pics on the Web. Giving nerds the world over hope that they too could
get a Porsche and get arrested--someday.
No. 3 is not as--dignified-?Bill gets pied. Admittedly, it wasn't a
good day for Bill and he probably does not remember it fondly. But you
have to realize you've become pretty important in the world when
Belgians take the time to hit you in the face with a pie on worldwide
television. I'm just sayin'
Sliding in at No. 2.
Bill copyrights DOS. Microsoft acquired and adapted 86-DOS for IBM and
named it PC-DOS. IBM got it for a onetime fee of $80,000. But in a move
reminiscent of George Lucas getting merchandising rights for Star Wars,
Gates kept the copyright for DOS. When IBM clones hit the markets,
Microsoft's future was made.
Before we get to No. 1, let's check in on the back five of the best
moments. Bill Gates denies he EVER said 640K oughtta be enough for
anybody. And there's no evidence to contradict him.
All right. Let's get to our No. 1. What we consider the best Bill
gates moment in a career FULL of big moments.
At No. 1, It's....
Windows 95. We struggled with this one. Should it be Windows 1.0?
Windows 3? No. Windows 95 put Microsoft over the top. It's estimated
they spent $300 million launching it too. They licensed the Rolling
Stones "Start Me Up." They bathed the Empire State Building in
Microsoft Colors. It was Bill's shining moment. Windows has absolutely
dominated the desktop ever since. That's Bill Gates legacy.
Well That's it for this edition of CNET Top 5. Mr. Gates--Thanks for
your positive contributions, and we're glad you'll keep them coming
with the Bill and Melinda Gates foundation. Best of luck to you.
I'm Tom Merritt. See you next time.
CNET Top 5: Moments in Bill Gates' career

As the reigning king of computing prepares to step down, we look back on his greatest moments.