When I was young, I was obsessed with some things that other children weren’t obsessed over. While the other first graders at my school constantly collected Pokemon trading cards, I was interested in other things: computers, technology, and more specifically – Bill Gates.
It’s kind of funny to look back, now that I’m thirteen, and see how absolutely hilarious my obsession was. But it was true – from kindergarten, I went in love with Bill Gates, because from a little child who wants to get rich, Bill Gates was the kind of guy to idolize.
At a very small age, my parents had familiarized me with him. He dropped out of college, started his own company, and now – as a result – he was rich. It was all I needed to know. I didn’t even know his English name, simply literally sounding out the Chinese “pronunciation” of the name, “Bero Getts.”
I wrote articles about good ol’ Bero, with information that I knew (and made up), and made it a point to tell everyone I knew about him. I became known as the dorky “Gates” guy, for being so crazy about some random guy out in the world. I printed out a picture of him and stuck it on my wall. I was going to be like him some day, I told myself.
In second grade, I found out that Gates worked for Microsoft, and my craze shifted from Gates-centric to being fanatical about Microsoft. I printed out the Microsoft logo and hung it up all over my room. I printed mini Microsoft stickers using letter address stickers and stuck them onto my bed railing (forever irremovable, and still there to this day). With the leftover stickers I didn’t use, I frequently stuck them in the packaging of birthday presents for friends as a little surprise.
It was like this for a very long time. When I got my first computer, I resisted changing the wallpaper to any other. I branded my computer enthusiastically with Microsoft logos. When my dad went to the Microsoft company campus in Redmond on a company trip, he got me two things: a postcard from the visitor center, and a t-shirt that said “I’m a Microsoft kid.” I loved both.
It didn’t change for a long time. I was always the “Microsoft kid”. The one that was crazy about computers. The Bill Gates boy, the Windows tot, the techie. Yeah. That one.
In between third and fourth grade in elementary school, I read an article called “Microsoft vs. Google: the Faceoff”. It was an opinion article on the company structures, the philanthropic divisions of both, and information on working at both. When I finished reading it, I had a different view on Microsoft.
Particularly, it wasn’t all really the article’s fault for my sudden change of heart. In the last year, I had watched Microsoft get beat in many areas: the music market by Apple, the search market by Google – even Macs had gained more market saturation. It was a sad year for Microsoft, and the one that I suddenly became in love with Google.
For one, Google was just so much more interesting. While Microsoft’s slogan was “Your potential. Our Passion”, a very business-like phrase that was supposed to stand for integrity, Google’s infamous “Don’t be evil” slogan hit home for me. It was so much more real than that of Microsoft’s promises. Google also donated to philanthropic causes, helping with crisis.
It also had an amazing work environment – free food at some of the best restaurants around right on their company campus, freestyle workplaces, complete with slides, decorated offices, and places for employees to express themselves, and on-site medical care, massaging services, haircuts, and beauty salons. Google’s campus at Mountain View was also one of the best in the world, offering running and biking trails, free Internet, and beautiful views.
And so began my change towards the Internet. Whereas before I was simply a computer fanatic, delving deep into the Windows operating system and understanding applications like no other, it was Google that led me into the online market, Google that brought me to web design and coding – Google that changed my life.
And in my pre-teen years, I decided I wasn’t going to be crazy about Microsoft and Google anymore. They were great companies and had influenced me in ways I didn’t think were possible. But in many ways, company life is boring. Google tries to change it up, and I appreciate that. I still hope to get a job at one of these corporate giants, but more than ever, I want to start my own company now. I want to experience what Sergey Brin and Bill Gates felt when they started Google and Microsoft.
I want to look at these two companies as inspiration and to learn from them. More than ever, Microsoft is making a comeback, with new operating systems and new technology. Google continues to move forward, just like I want to. I want to start my own company with these two as mentors. I want to change the world with my company, helping people. I respect both company’s ideals, as well as new ones I myself have created.
Seven years ago, I was a Microsoft kid. Four years ago, I was a Google boy. But today… today I am independent, different, innovative, and special in my own way.
Microsoft, Google, and "Bero Getts"
When I was young, I was obsessed with some things that other children weren’t obsessed over. While the other first graders at my school constantly collected Pokemon trading cards, I was interested in other things: computers, technology, and more specifically – Bill Gates.
It’s kind of funny to look back, now that I’m thirteen, and see how absolutely hilarious my obsession was. But it was true – from kindergarten, I went in love with Bill Gates, because from a little child who wants to get rich, Bill Gates was the kind of guy to idolize.
At a very small age, my parents had familiarized me with him. He dropped out of college, started his own company, and now – as a result – he was rich. It was all I needed to know. I didn’t even know his English name, simply literally sounding out the Chinese “pronunciation” of the name, “Bero Getts.”
I wrote articles about good ol’ Bero, with information that I knew (and made up), and made it a point to tell everyone I knew about him. I became known as the dorky “Gates” guy, for being so crazy about some random guy out in the world. I printed out a picture of him and stuck it on my wall. I was going to be like him some day, I told myself.
In second grade, I found out that Gates worked for Microsoft, and my craze shifted from Gates-centric to being fanatical about Microsoft. I printed out the Microsoft logo and hung it up all over my room. I printed mini Microsoft stickers using letter address stickers and stuck them onto my bed railing (forever irremovable, and still there to this day). With the leftover stickers I didn’t use, I frequently stuck them in the packaging of birthday presents for friends as a little surprise.
It was like this for a very long time. When I got my first computer, I resisted changing the wallpaper to any other. I branded my computer enthusiastically with Microsoft logos. When my dad went to the Microsoft company campus in Redmond on a company trip, he got me two things: a postcard from the visitor center, and a t-shirt that said “I’m a Microsoft kid.” I loved both.
It didn’t change for a long time. I was always the “Microsoft kid”. The one that was crazy about computers. The Bill Gates boy, the Windows tot, the techie. Yeah. That one.
In between third and fourth grade in elementary school, I read an article called “Microsoft vs. Google: the Faceoff”. It was an opinion article on the company structures, the philanthropic divisions of both, and information on working at both. When I finished reading it, I had a different view on Microsoft.
Particularly, it wasn’t all really the article’s fault for my sudden change of heart. In the last year, I had watched Microsoft get beat in many areas: the music market by Apple, the search market by Google – even Macs had gained more market saturation. It was a sad year for Microsoft, and the one that I suddenly became in love with Google.
For one, Google was just so much more interesting. While Microsoft’s slogan was “Your potential. Our Passion”, a very business-like phrase that was supposed to stand for integrity, Google’s infamous “Don’t be evil” slogan hit home for me. It was so much more real than that of Microsoft’s promises. Google also donated to philanthropic causes, helping with crisis.
It also had an amazing work environment – free food at some of the best restaurants around right on their company campus, freestyle workplaces, complete with slides, decorated offices, and places for employees to express themselves, and on-site medical care, massaging services, haircuts, and beauty salons. Google’s campus at Mountain View was also one of the best in the world, offering running and biking trails, free Internet, and beautiful views.
And so began my change towards the Internet. Whereas before I was simply a computer fanatic, delving deep into the Windows operating system and understanding applications like no other, it was Google that led me into the online market, Google that brought me to web design and coding – Google that changed my life.
And in my pre-teen years, I decided I wasn’t going to be crazy about Microsoft and Google anymore. They were great companies and had influenced me in ways I didn’t think were possible. But in many ways, company life is boring. Google tries to change it up, and I appreciate that. I still hope to get a job at one of these corporate giants, but more than ever, I want to start my own company now. I want to experience what Sergey Brin and Bill Gates felt when they started Google and Microsoft.
I want to look at these two companies as inspiration and to learn from them. More than ever, Microsoft is making a comeback, with new operating systems and new technology. Google continues to move forward, just like I want to. I want to start my own company with these two as mentors. I want to change the world with my company, helping people. I respect both company’s ideals, as well as new ones I myself have created.
Seven years ago, I was a Microsoft kid. Four years ago, I was a Google boy. But today… today I am independent, different, innovative, and special in my own way.