Reviewing a software product with Bill is the stuff of legend at Microsoft. In his comical 1994 novel, Microserfs, Douglas Coupland wrote a humorous sketch of Bill’s influence on a Microsoft programmer. A developer named Michael locks himself in his office at 11 a.m. after getting a flame mail from Bill who had reviewed some of his code. No one on his floor had ever been flamed by Bill personally. “The episode was tinged with glamour and we were somewhat jealous.” By 2:30 a.m., concerned about Michael, his team goes to the twenty-four-hour Safeway for “flat” food that can be slipped underneath
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