6 ms·

I enjoy the quote referencing Gary Kildall: Gary Kildall's ambition was limited, something that is not supposed to be a factor in American business. If you hop

I enjoy the quote referencing Gary Kildall: Gary Kildall's ambition was limited, something that is not supposed to be a factor in American business. If you hope for a thousand and get a million, you are still expected to want more, but he didn't. I would very much liked to have known Gary Kildall. Everything I've read about him gives me the impression he'd be an immensely interesting person to know. The persona that comes across in his co-hosting of the Computer Chronicles show (something, to itself, that you should look up if you're not familiar) is one of great technical competence combined with a gentle humbleness. (Edit: If you're into learning more about Kildall there's a good prior discussion of an unpublished biography on HN: https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=12220091 https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=12220091)

jdsully 8y ago
I don’t think it’s true he had limited ambition. His later turn to alcoholism which lead to his death in a bar fight was a direct result of losing to DOS. That’s not the reaction one has if they were content with their accomplishments.
- EvanAnderson 8y ago
  I don't get the sense that the true details of the latter part of his life are publicly known, and perhaps aren't even documented. That makes me somewhat uncomfortable to speculate about it. It fits my view of his character and public persona that being known as "the guy who lost to DOS" (or "the guy who went flying and blew off IBM"), rather than the actual "loss" itself, would be the biggest source of discontent for him. (For too many people that's all of Kildall's legacy, and that makes me very sad.)
  - jdsully 8y ago
    I read a lot into the fact that the half released auto biography ends where the IBM PC is released. His family saying they censored it because it doesn’t reflect his true self. FWIW I’ve researched this time period extensively and I think Gary was much kinder than Bill and a great guy. But I don’t think it’s accurate to say he wasn’t ambitious. And certainly inaccurate to say that he was content having had a good run and not winning.

jdsully 8y ago

I don’t think it’s true he had limited ambition. His later turn to alcoholism which lead to his death in a bar fight was a direct result of losing to DOS. That’s not the reaction one has if they were content with their accomplishments.

EvanAnderson 8y ago
I don't get the sense that the true details of the latter part of his life are publicly known, and perhaps aren't even documented. That makes me somewhat uncomfortable to speculate about it. It fits my view of his character and public persona that being known as "the guy who lost to DOS" (or "the guy who went flying and blew off IBM"), rather than the actual "loss" itself, would be the biggest source of discontent for him. (For too many people that's all of Kildall's legacy, and that makes me very sad.)
- jdsully 8y ago
  I read a lot into the fact that the half released auto biography ends where the IBM PC is released. His family saying they censored it because it doesn’t reflect his true self. FWIW I’ve researched this time period extensively and I think Gary was much kinder than Bill and a great guy. But I don’t think it’s accurate to say he wasn’t ambitious. And certainly inaccurate to say that he was content having had a good run and not winning.