I thought I would learn faster, and its a very complicated company. Th — Microsoft

"I think most people either forget or dont know that Microsoft only hires people with I.Q.s well over 130."

"Dont bother trying to create a better commercial desktop OS -- it doesnt matter how hard you try, how many engineers you throw at the problem, how much money you spend, or how many years you put into it. Microsoft owns that space and, worse, the public is totally complicit with that fact. People will not stop using Windows. It is a losing battle."

"What is different about Microsoft is its distance from Silicon Valley. Rather than trading jobs for a better deal down the block, employees tend to stay put. With only a 7 percent turnover rate, Microsoft will hire 3,000 recruits this year. The insularity helps to reinforce a monolithic culture in which employees cultivate an almost fanatical devotion to their work and to Mr. Gates, whose combative cross-examinations on minute details are as legendary as his accessibility by E-mail to the lowliest employee. ("Even reasonably cynical people get starry-eyed over Bill," observed one of Microsofts newer managers.)"

"One of the most painful things in our culture is to watch other people repeat earlier mistakes. Were not fond of Bill Gates, but it still hurts to see Microsoft struggle with problems that IBM solved in the 1960s."

"We provide customer data only when we receive a legally binding order or subpoena to do so, and never on a voluntary basis. In addition we only ever comply with orders for requests about specific accounts or identifiers. If the government has a broader voluntary national security program to gather customer data, we dont participate in it."

"Where do you want to go today?"