Y2K Bug Won't Be As Bad As Feared - Gates

BOGOTA (Reuters) - For most people, the millennium bug should prove to be no more than ``a minor inconvenience,'' according to Microsoft Corp. (Nasdaq:MSFT - news) Chairman Bill Gates.

Some industry experts have made dire predictions about Y2K, or the problems that will erupt if computer systems are unable to read the year 2000 correctly.

But Gates, in an interview published Monday in Colombia's weekly news magazine Semana, said, ``It won't be as catastrophic as some people suggest.''

He acknowledged that people in some countries were likely to suffer more of an impact than others, since the state of readiness and information technology were far from uniform worldwide.

But Gates, who stressed that many of Microsoft's own products offer a solution to the problem of how older computers keep track of years, played down any cataclysmic threat.

``Some countries will have more problems than others with the arrival of the year 2000, but for most of us it will only be a minor inconvenience,'' he said.

``The most important thing is that people in the area of information technology ... should remember that there's still time to solve the problem,'' Gates was quoted as saying.

``But the time to start -- if you haven't already done so -- is now.''

-- Norm (nwo@hotmail.com), April 13, 1999

Answers

I think Mr. Bill is right about the computers...

...but I think Mr. Bill is failing to site how fragile the world is right now (regarding political, military and economic issues).

-- Anonymous99 (Anonymous99@Anonymous99.xxx), April 13, 1999.

Gates says: "For most of us it will only be a minor inconvenience."

By "us" does he mean "fellow zillionaires with mansions the size of small countries"?

-- rick blaine (y2kazoo@hotmail.com), April 13, 1999.

Is this the same Mr. Bill whose Windows 95 Y2k upgrades keep crashing my friends 2 year old computer? The same Mr. Bill whose Windows 98 is so darned buggy? Hmmmmm.....oh me of little faith.

-- Kristi (securx@Succeed.Net), April 13, 1999.

My Word 97 is such a pain, that I quit a course I was taking because of its bi-polar ups and downs and general uselessness. And I'm, getting rid of the damn thing and sending it to Billy Boy for his birthday.

-- gilda jessie (jess@listbot.com), April 13, 1999.

Hey Kristi! I think that's the same guy who's Windows 99 isn't coming out til 2000. Or was that 2001? 2002? 2010?

-- sue (deco100@aol.com), April 13, 1999.

But all those customer support calls will only be a "minor inconvenience" to Microsoft. Won't hardly affect Billy's net worth... Oh, I'm sorry, you meant the customers? Well, it will be a "damned inconvenience to them".

-- Brooks (brooksbie@hotmail.com), April 13, 1999.

Gee. . .is that why we need this?

Microsoft Year 2000 Product Analyzer http://www.microsoft.com/technet/year2k/pca/pca.htm

-- FM (vidprof@aol.com), April 13, 1999.

The most important thing is that people in the area of information technology ... should remember that there's still time to solve the problem,''

lol, Yes, there is all the time in the world. It can be fixed by 2020 sure, but there is an unmoveable deadline that will spew consequences!

Mr. K
***looking at more "non-commital" statements from "experts"***

-- Mr. Kennedy (here@work.now), April 13, 1999.

Bill is so full of it. His company seems to be behind in its efforts. In six separate points in this SEC report (my highlights) below Microsoft mentions they are "assessing" and "classifying" their compliance. Of course do we hear "Bill Gates will fix it" anymore? They will be lucky to fix their own problems.

By the way Microsoft lawyers would go through this document and spot concentrations of negitive info one would think? And why have the press not picked up on this????

And aren't businesses suposed to be finnished and not just starting and this point???

http:// sec.yahoo.com/e/l/m/msft.html

---

February 12, 1999

MICROSOFT CORP (MSFT)
Quarterly Report (SEC form 10-Q)

Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations

Year 2000
 

snip

The Company is ***continuing to test its products and classify*** its tested products into the following categories of compliance: "compliant," "compliant with minor issues," and "not compliant." Most of the products tested are either "compliant" or "compliant with minor issues," as defined. Microsoft's policy is to make future and current versions of its core products Year 2000 "compliant," although the status of certain current versions will remain at "compliant with minor issues." For non-compliant products, Microsoft is providing recommendations as to how an organization may address possible Year 2000 issues regarding that product. Microsoft is issuing software updates (at no additional charge) for most, but not all, known issues. Not all products will be tested.

Information on the Company's web site is provided to customers for the sole purpose of assisting in planning for the transition to the Year 2000. Such information is the most currently available concerning the behavior of the Company's products and is provided "as is" without warranty of any kind. However, variability of definitions of "compliance" with the Year 2000 and of different combinations of software, firmware, and hardware will likely lead to lawsuits against the Company. The outcome of such lawsuits and the impact on the Company are not estimable at this time.

The Year 2000 issue also affects the Company's internal systems, including information technology (IT) and non-IT systems. Microsoft is *** assessing the readiness ***** of its systems for handling the Year 2000, and has ***started the remediation and certification process***. Contingency plans are being developed in parallel with the testing and remediation efforts.

Microsoft is ****evaluating its third-party distribution*** and supply chain to understand their ability to continue providing services and products through the change to the year 2000. Microsoft is monitoring and working directly with key vendors, product manufacturers, distributors, and direct resellers to avoid any business interruptions in the year 2000. For critical third parties with known issues, contingency plans will be developed.

The Company is also ***reviewing its facilities and infrastructure** **. Remediation efforts are under way and certain contingency plans are in development.

While Year 2000 issues present a potential risk to Microsoft's internal systems, distribution and supply chain, and facilities, the Company is minimizing risk with a worldwide effort. Microsoft is ****performing an extensive assessment**** and is in the process of testing and remediating mission critical components. The current plan is to have the majority of these components resolved by June 1999, with the remaining components resolved by September 1999. Management currently believes that all critical systems will be ready by the Year 2000 and that the cost to address the issues is not material.

Resolving Year 2000 issues is a worldwide phenomenon that will likely absorb a substantial portion of IT budgets and attention in the near term. Certain industry analysts believe the Year 2000 issue will accelerate the trend toward distributed PC-based systems from mainframe systems. Others believe a majority of IT financial resources will be devoted to fixing older mainframe software in lieu of funding purchases of PC software or transitions to systems based on software such as that sold by Microsoft. The impact of the Year 2000 on future Microsoft revenue is difficult to discern but is a risk to be considered in evaluating future growth of the Company.

---

-- Brian (imager@ampsc.com), April 13, 1999.

Gee, Norm, thanks for giving us the best evidence yet that Y2K is going to be a catastrophe...

DT

-- Doubting Thomas (laughingmy@ssoff.com), April 13, 1999.

Granted, this may be rumor, but I heard he just bought an island.

Wonder if it comes with a compliant fortress? (He'll need the ability to stave off angry customers).

Diane (Mac's may yet rule)

-- Diane J. Squire (sacredspaces@yahoo.com), April 13, 1999.

When the old warm and brown hits the fan, the powers-that-be are going to look for a fall guy. I can think of no one who deserves it more than Mr. Bill(ionaire). I hope that his namesake in the White House (now known as the whorehouse), joins him to accept the award.

At a meeting that Microsoft hosted for the CEOs of many of the largest corporations in early 1997, the Great Nerd told them not to worry about Y2K. Just convert to PC-based systems like Windows NT. Hmmm, now if he can only get it to be compliant!

-- Involuntary Bill (Gates) Payer (bill@payer.com), April 14, 1999.

Diane, my next one will be a Mac.

-- gilda jessie (jess@listbot.com), April 14, 1999.

Y2K Won't Be As Bad As Feared ....

.... no but Windows 2000 will be WORSE than feared.

-- BigDog (BigDog@duffer.com), April 14, 1999.

Diane,

MAC would rule if it wouldnt be so clunky and user-UNfriendly. Wife bought an iMAC...whata piece of junk she sold it after 1 month totally frustrated with the performance and the mediocre software available for it. I guess once you hooked on the comfort of WIN98 (yes even with bugs) its hard to get used to an inferior GUI.

I do not at all want to start a war over MAC vs.MS but just my 2c worth. rickjohn

-- rickjohn (rickjohn1@yahoo.com), April 14, 1999.

Bill Gates, February 1, 1999, Davos, Switzerland Economic Conference:

"We may see 12 months where people are distracted getting their things ready. But I agree with the general sentiment here, that of the range that people have thought about in terms of the problems that will occur, it will be below the middle of the panic that some people have suggested."

Man. What a clear thinker. Too bad his tongue gets in the way.

-- a (a@a.a), April 14, 1999.