Customer Reviews

Barbarians Led by Bill Gates

5 star:		(13)
4 star:		(11)
3 star:		(15)
2 star:		(10)
1 star:		(13)

 

 

This book will have an impact on the case against Microsoft, since Eller was in charge of an effort to squeeze a start-up Pen Computing firm. In this particular case the book describes very openly the Microsoft practice to fabricate fake product demos in order to create the impression that they would be able to come up with comparable competitive products any time soon. This vaporware approach together with the ruthless marketing methods described in this book gives an interesting insight into how this industry works.

It is notable that the reviewer here either tend to hate or love this book. It makes me wonder how many MS employees reviewed this book ;-)

In combination with the sarcastic anecdotes I consider it a highly entertaining book.

Really cool description about how Microsoft(MS) does biz. Author tracks MSs story right from the beginning of time when MS was trading as a penny stock. He pretty humorously points out a lot of flaws (who doesn't) in MSs biz model and how luck favored MS all the time.. and how MS is becoming corrpupt slowly... may be due to its success

The acronyms that prevail in MSs biz environment has been very funnily described. I could not control my laughter when he says that the marketing people are better equipped in sucking upto IBM.

Looks like the author ended up working in the unsuccessful pen computing project and ended up losing his importance and power in MS. This has been reflected through out the book but for a few chapters. So, the moral of the story is: "If you are in IT field watch out what you are doing, you better bet on the right horse" Kinda hard to do, but atleast you should put an effort.

Overall, it is a really funny book on technology and has been published at the right time. Overall its a great book and would make a good coffee table book as long as MS/DOJ was goes on..

Uncle Bill should read this...

It's always good to have an "insider's view" book. At the same time, when this guy is an ex-employee, you should always ask yourself: why did he leave, and what does he have to gain from writing a book like this?

The authors are evidently very anti-Microsoft, yet at the same time their stories come across not so much as how stupid Microsoft is, but how mismanaged and lucky Gates & Company have been, which is closer to the truth than many people think. Some other books describe Gates and his employees as evil, but this book would characterize them as rather incompetent. It offers a detailed look into how Microsoft committed so many business goofs and yet every time it would come out the winner. After reading it you may even feel sorry for Bill Gates for having to fight so many enemies on so many fronts, some internal.

A book worth reading.

This book is easily read in one or two sittings. Highly readable, not dry or boring at all, even though the authors do have an axe to grind. Anyone who has an interest in the history of the computer industry will find it very entertaining. If you liked "Fire in the Valley," as I did, this is a supplement to that book with a focus on Gates and Microsoft. At the price of $4.99 (as of 7-05-2001) you can't beat it for some light summer reading!

Despite what many people have said about this book, I found it very intriguing to have learned many problems that Microsoft faced before becoming the name it is today. Who knew that they had many internal problems with programmers from IBM. No one really. This book spills the beans on how Microsoft and luck made them the giant company they are today. This book will inform the reader on many unknowns about Microsoft that I'm positive no one ever knew.

This is an interesting little trip through the world of Microsoft from the inside. Unfortunately aside from a few chuckles there isn't a whole lot present that was unexpected. The predictable 3-E's (embrace, extend, extinguish) approach to competition makes an appearance. Probably the highlight of the book is the guy taking action after deciding no more insanity. Not really worth multiple reads unless you're researching Microsoft. Get it from the library if you need to know what happens.

Along with the "Vault Reports Guide" on Microsoft, which is full of quotes from Microsoft insiders, I thought "Barbarians" was one of the best insider views of the Microsoft corp.

A bit of a disclaimer--I worked at Microsoft from 1986 through 1992, with some of the same people Mr. Eller worked with (though in different groups). This is an interesting view of what it was like to work at Microsoft and how the company operates. Even if you worked there, there are stories and situations that didn't make it to the company grapevine. Still, Mr. Eller's interactions with some Microsoft executives doesn't jibe with my experiences. I don't have the same memories of Ballmer, Myhrvold, and Slyngstad as he does. It WAS incredibly competitive, it WAS high-pressure, but it was also the most rewarding and fun place I've ever worked at. It is interesting to read about the behind the scenes decisions and personalities. The book falters a bit when it describes Microsoft after 1995, and the third-person narrative is clunky. Still, if you can acknowledge and accept the biases of the authors, it does tell an interesting story. Unfortunately, the real story of what it was like to work on campus at Microsoft isn't written yet.

Its a good thing that Marlin Eller made millions at Microsoft, because he certainly couldn't make a living as a writer. Fortunately, what the book lacks in writing style, it more than makes up with informative content. The inside stories on Gates, Ballmer, and Myhrvold are worth the price of the book alone. If we are to believe the authors, then Gates is a detached, profane, bully, Ballmer is a cheerleader turned cult leader, and Myhrvold has no grasp of reality. I especially liked the anecdote about how Dave Weise single-handedly snatched Microsoft from the jaws of obscurity by reviving Windows 3.0. At the end of the book I was left wondering whether Eller was bashing Microsoft because he was an innocent witness, a disgruntled employee, or protecting the value of his Microsoft stock options (which are threatened by the DoJ).

I think the content of the book is very much focused on the title: Barbarians Led by Bill Gates. Bill Gates is by far the smartest leader in business world. It is true he did not know very much what is going on in the company in details and some successful projects came by 'accident'. But he has acquired the best brains in the computer field and that is why he and Microsoft succeeded.