Beta Testing SoapBox on MSN, Bill Gates Sultan of Software
October 9th, 2006
Written By: Adam Sussman
I was invited to beta test SoapBox, a video sharing site developed by Microsoft with the hopes of competing against YouTube.
While browsing SoapBox’s small selection of videos I found they offer some excellent interviews and old archived footage of Microsoft. Go figure! I came across the “Biography: Bill Gates – Sultan of Software” which discusses Bill Gates’ from his childhood to where the video left off, Microsoft the mid 1990’s.
I actually saw a similar version of this video back when it first appeared on TV when I was in my first year of college. I remember after watching the video the feeling I had about Microsoft and of Seattle. I felt strongly that Microsoft was the place to be and that I wanted to work for them.
So with very little money and no place to live I tossed all my stuff into my car and made the drive from Los Angeles to Seattle. I lived in a motel for a while till I could afford an apartment and I just worked my way up till I got offered an entry level job with Microsoft. It took about 4 months or so to get my first job offer with them.
With all the talks going on in the news today about Google’s acquisition of YouTube, I found it was quite reminiscent watching this old video of Bill Gates.
So much has changed since the mid 90’s and it’s really hard to believe where things were. I hear countless times from people who talk of how Bill Gates as a lucky man, a man who was at the right place at the right time.
Well if you are one of the growing numbers of people who feel Gates rise to the top was luck, I would say read the book Hard Drive. You will see that he did more for the computer industry before the age of 30 then most of us combined will do our whole lives.
Video: Biography: Bill Gates - Sultan of Software
October 11th, 2006 01:49
Uh, Microsoft starting a video sharing site -
What do they intend with it -> Selling it to Google??
October 11th, 2006 10:03
Interesting piece of Shandyking history. I admire the blind recklessness
How long did you work at MSFT?
April 24th, 2008 22:29
i think the first one of every new technology is commonly in front of others. youtube is so famous now.
July 5th, 2008 15:54
Can’t wait for this “Soapbox” to come out. WOnder how it will compare to youtube.
July 14th, 2008 13:36
I wonder when SoapBox comes out. I bet it will be a big thing.