Steve Ballmer

They have 49 years of history making software for consumers and enterprises, making hardware, gaming systems, gaming studios, Windows apps, iPad apps, Mac apps, operating systems, mobile operating systems, MP3 players, search engines, cloud computing services on cloud computing, programming languages, development environments, the list goes on. But it did not start out that way.

Today, we will tell the story of the desktop software company. Before the enterprise, before IT, before the internet, before being a trusted partner to governments around the free world, and really, before people even knew what to do with personal computers, this is the story of a bunch of ragtag geniuses in their 20s pushing what was possible. Welcome to Microsoft, the PC era.

Today, we will tell the story of the desktop software company. Before the enterprise, before IT, before the internet, before being a trusted partner to governments around the free world, and really, before people even knew what to do with personal computers, this is the story of a bunch of ragtag geniuses in their 20s pushing what was possible. Welcome to Microsoft, the PC era.

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Well, listeners, if you want to know every time an episode drops, you can get hints at the next topic and follow up. You can sign up at acquired.fm slash email. Come talk about this episode with the community at acquired.fm slash slack.

If you want more from David and I, you should check out our second show, ACQ2, where we interview founders, investors, and experts, often as a deeper dive into topics we cover on the main show. And before we dive in, we want to briefly thank our presenting sponsor, JPMorgan Payments.

If you want more from David and I, you should check out our second show, ACQ2, where we interview founders, investors, and experts, often as a deeper dive into topics we cover on the main show. And before we dive in, we want to briefly thank our presenting sponsor, JPMorgan Payments.

So with that, this show is not investment advice. David and I may have investments in the companies we discuss, and likely all of you if you hold any index funds. And this show is for informational and entertainment purposes only. David, where on earth do we start the Microsoft story?

So with that, this show is not investment advice. David and I may have investments in the companies we discuss, and likely all of you if you hold any index funds. And this show is for informational and entertainment purposes only. David, where on earth do we start the Microsoft story?

New York Times, Hermes, where it was sort of passed to the son-in-law to continue to run the business. That was not the case with Mary Maxwell.

New York Times, Hermes, where it was sort of passed to the son-in-law to continue to run the business. That was not the case with Mary Maxwell.

That's right. Part of the AT&T breakup.

That's right. Part of the AT&T breakup.

Absolutely. And Bill Gates Sr. was the prominent attorney in the region. And so it's quite the power couple.

Absolutely. And Bill Gates Sr. was the prominent attorney in the region. And so it's quite the power couple.

Of course. Bill Gates Sr., we should say, too, basically galvanized the entrepreneurial community in Seattle. He started the Tech Alliance. He was a huge angel investor. He really did organize, you know, angel investors, people who want to put high-risk capital to work into startups.

Of course. Bill Gates Sr., we should say, too, basically galvanized the entrepreneurial community in Seattle. He started the Tech Alliance. He was a huge angel investor. He really did organize, you know, angel investors, people who want to put high-risk capital to work into startups.

And, you know, his heart was there, obviously, through his law practice long before Bill Gates III became the prodigy he became.

And, you know, his heart was there, obviously, through his law practice long before Bill Gates III became the prodigy he became.

I mean, at age 13, with his best friend, who we will talk about very soon, he brought up the idea, I wonder what company I will be the CEO of when I grow up. What industry will I go after? What problems will I tackle? It wasn't a question of if, but which.