May 23, 2005 9:00 PM PDT

Your chance to meet Bill Gates

You could meet the chairman of Microsoft, but you'll have to profess a passion for Windows first. Microsoft is looking for true stories about people using Windows computers to pursue a passion or hobby. The company plans to use them in a marketing blitz tied to the 20th anniversary of Windows' debut. To entice essay submissions, Microsoft is offering a number of prizes, including the chance to meet Gates in Seattle and appear in the ad campaign. Other prizes include an overseas trip with National Geographic Expedition, VIP access to a major movie premiere and a home makeover with an HGTV designer.

Essays must be 300 words or less. Extra points are given to essays that demonstrate the positive impact Windows has made on someone's life. Microsoft will select winners in five categories: culture and community, music, memories, home and lifestyle, and sports and games. To win, you must be at least 13 years old, live in the United States, and enter by Sept. 30. Microsoft plans to select winners in October.

15 comments

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hahahahahahaha
They need to offer me more than that to get me to lie like that!

Just buy a Mac and be done with it!
Posted by kinte--2008 (5 comments )
Reply Link Flag
hmm...ya...he wil do for u...by help...dont have the rights to by anything...give the gear to rules...u did only...haa haa chat
Posted by bbbbson (3 comments )
Link Flag
hahahahahahaha
They need to offer me more than that to get me to lie like that!

Just buy a Mac and be done with it!
Posted by kinte--2008 (5 comments )
Reply Link Flag
They're taking Apple's route
That's the exact same way Apple got people for their switch ad
campaign.
Posted by NeverFade (320 comments )
Reply Link Flag
They're taking Apple's route
That's the exact same way Apple got people for their switch ad
campaign.
Posted by NeverFade (320 comments )
Reply Link Flag
My submission for the contest
My first experience with Windows was back when you had to
stick a true floppy in to boot it up. Those were the ones that
were about 6" cardboard floppies and ran on the machines that
Bill Gates said "256k should be enough memory for any
computer." I went on to teach computer and internet technology
to fortune 500 companies and traveled the world to do it. It is
safe to say that I am very familiar with all flavors of Windows and
am considered expert level as botha user and educator. In all
these years I am amazed that with each generation of Windows it
still sucks.

Meeting Bill Gates would be such an amazing experience for me.
Anyone who can pull off such a temendous scam as to convince
anyone that Windows is even usable has to be one of the
greatest con artists of all time. To this day I am amazed by his
ability to pass of such an insecure pile of rubbish code to the
point that some of his users even are deluded enough to think
that Windows is actually competetive with the other operating
systems. Bill Gates has to be one of the true genious liars of all
time. Even today he has the press (including Cnet, especially
cnet) arguing that vaporware that may or may not come out in
two years is going to be competitive with Tiger that is already
out. In computer years (kind of like dog years) that is like driving
a 1956 Chevy against a new Ferrari while telling everyone that
the new Chevy is going to blow it away. Amazing!

Do you think I might win?
Posted by (19 comments )
Reply Link Flag
I'm thinking no
Your chances of meeting Bill Gates are most likely gone however I liked what You wrote so I'll meet ya, i might not have 300 billion dollars( hell I doubt I have 300 dollars!) and i cant plaster your face all over the world in some desperate attempt at gaining back some of the users he has lost to Linux ***TUX RULES!!*** but I can offer you a beer and the chance to continue living a good life and feel safe with the knowledge that when you die and meet your maker you were never the posterboy for the antichrist.
Posted by (2 comments )
Link Flag
My submission for the contest
My first experience with Windows was back when you had to
stick a true floppy in to boot it up. Those were the ones that
were about 6" cardboard floppies and ran on the machines that
Bill Gates said "256k should be enough memory for any
computer." I went on to teach computer and internet technology
to fortune 500 companies and traveled the world to do it. It is
safe to say that I am very familiar with all flavors of Windows and
am considered expert level as botha user and educator. In all
these years I am amazed that with each generation of Windows it
still sucks.

Meeting Bill Gates would be such an amazing experience for me.
Anyone who can pull off such a temendous scam as to convince
anyone that Windows is even usable has to be one of the
greatest con artists of all time. To this day I am amazed by his
ability to pass of such an insecure pile of rubbish code to the
point that some of his users even are deluded enough to think
that Windows is actually competetive with the other operating
systems. Bill Gates has to be one of the true genious liars of all
time. Even today he has the press (including Cnet, especially
cnet) arguing that vaporware that may or may not come out in
two years is going to be competitive with Tiger that is already
out. In computer years (kind of like dog years) that is like driving
a 1956 Chevy against a new Ferrari while telling everyone that
the new Chevy is going to blow it away. Amazing!

Do you think I might win?
Posted by (19 comments )
Reply Link Flag
I'm thinking no
Your chances of meeting Bill Gates are most likely gone however I liked what You wrote so I'll meet ya, i might not have 300 billion dollars( hell I doubt I have 300 dollars!) and i cant plaster your face all over the world in some desperate attempt at gaining back some of the users he has lost to Linux ***TUX RULES!!*** but I can offer you a beer and the chance to continue living a good life and feel safe with the knowledge that when you die and meet your maker you were never the posterboy for the antichrist.
Posted by (2 comments )
Link Flag
locked out by requirements of the site
Gee, I'm AMAZED at the requirements of the site:
what if I don't have all the gee-whiz hardware
and software, but I'm doing amazing things with my old computer that have a hugely positive impact for my community. Sorry, I'm locked out... that's amazing.... and egalitarian

Bill Gates won't meet any little people, people who make a difference with what little they have. He'll probably meet the i-pod crowd with their wireless pdas, cell-phones and hot gizmos.
message from
<a class="jive-link-external" href="http://www.startsomethingamazingawards.com/no-flash.html" target="_newWindow">http://www.startsomethingamazingawards.com/no-flash.html</a>

"You don't have the latest version of Macromedia Flash Player.

This web site makes use of Macromedia®FlashTM software. You have an old version of Macromedia Flash Player that cannot play the content we've created.

Why not download and install the latest version now? It will only take a moment."
Posted by (2 comments )
Reply Link Flag
locked out by requirements of the site
Gee, I'm AMAZED at the requirements of the site:
what if I don't have all the gee-whiz hardware
and software, but I'm doing amazing things with my old computer that have a hugely positive impact for my community. Sorry, I'm locked out... that's amazing.... and egalitarian

Bill Gates won't meet any little people, people who make a difference with what little they have. He'll probably meet the i-pod crowd with their wireless pdas, cell-phones and hot gizmos.
message from
<a class="jive-link-external" href="http://www.startsomethingamazingawards.com/no-flash.html" target="_newWindow">http://www.startsomethingamazingawards.com/no-flash.html</a>

"You don't have the latest version of Macromedia Flash Player.

This web site makes use of Macromedia®FlashTM software. You have an old version of Macromedia Flash Player that cannot play the content we've created.

Why not download and install the latest version now? It will only take a moment."
Posted by (2 comments )
Reply Link Flag
hai..my frnd...u mean me...he want to introduce the wish s cald...new mobiles...with unity s strength..sponsor...s billgates...he want to make by india...tat mean...sun pictures...kalanidhi maran...

pls help this povertian...he have to introduce with...great future...he dont have any money...now

tats y...he caling u...mean me...have to introduce ur soul...to this world...v have to protect this world

pls cal ur frnd...+9198944 09363 after 10 pm...pls...coz....its ur frnd's dad mobile...s tat.s y...plsssssss help this povertian...he have to introduce more to this world....
Posted by bbbbson (3 comments )
Reply Link Flag
rule the rule s a formula...from india...made by king maker...kamaraj....the indian...
Posted by bbbbson (3 comments )
Reply Link Flag
 

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