--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: So the vision of Microsoft is pretty…" description: "\"So the vision of Microsoft is pretty simple. It changed a couple years ago. For the first 25 years of the company, it was a personal computer on every ..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/83a/bill-gates-137_dreams_so-the-vision-of-microsoft-is-pretty-sim_2490290.jpg" --- # So the vision of Microsoft is pretty simple. It changed a… ![“So the vision of Microsoft is pretty simple. It changed a couple years ago. For the first 25 years of the company, it was a personal computer on every desk and in every home. And it was a very good vision; very rare for a company to be able to stick with something like that for 25 years. The…” quote by Bill Gates](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/83a/bill-gates-137_dreams_so-the-vision-of-microsoft-is-pretty-sim_2490290.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/83a/bill-gates-137_dreams_so-the-vision-of-microsoft-is-pretty-sim_2490290.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/83a/bill-gates-137_dreams_so-the-vision-of-microsoft-is-pretty-sim_2490290.jpg) > “So the vision of Microsoft is pretty simple. It changed a couple years ago. For the first 25 years of the company, it was a personal computer on every desk and in every home. And it was a very good vision; very rare for a company to be able to stick with something like that for 25 years. The reason we changed it was simply that it became acceptable. . . . And so as we stepped back and looked at what we were trying to do with the programming model, turning the Internet into the fabric for distributed computing, getting your information to replicate in a very invisible way so that it was available to you everywhere, thinking of this programming model spanning all the different devices, we changed to the mission statement we have now, which is empowering people through great software anytime, any place and on any device.” [Bill Gates](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bill-gates/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Microsoft shifted from a hardware‑centric vision to a software‑first, device‑agnostic mission to empower users everywhere. **In simple terms:** From PCs to cloud software for all devices. Key Takeaway Focus on universal, empowering software. Themes technology empowerment software cloud device innovation Mood optimistic strategic Type mission strategic inspirational When to use this quote - Product development - enterprise IT - education - remote work - digital inclusion Key Concepts Digital transformation platform strategy user centricity Questions to Reflect On - How does device‑agnostic software affect user experience? - What risks arise from focusing solely on software? A Different Perspective The shift may overlook hardware integration challenges and market saturation. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Changed Mission](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/changed-mission-957905/) [Changed Simply](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/changed-simply-659064/) [Dreams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/dreams/) [Internet](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/internet/) [Mission statement](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/mission-statement/) [Programming](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/programming/) [Programming Model](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/programming-model-957904/) [Simple Changed](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/simple-changed-957906/) [Technology](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/technology/) [Vision Microsoft](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/vision-microsoft-957903/) [Years ago](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/years-ago/) ## Related quotes > [God made man simple, but how he changed and got complicated is hard to say.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/johann-wolfgang-von-goethe/god-made-man-simple-but-how-he-changed-and-got-complicated-is-hard-to/) [Johann Wolfgang von Goethe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/johann-wolfgang-von-goethe/) > [Your choice of programming model also is your choice of programming model, so to speak.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anders-hejlsberg/your-choice-of-programming-model-also-is-your-choice-of-programming/) [Anders Hejlsberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anders-hejlsberg/) > [WhEn SOmE-oNe sAy's tHAt u hAve chAngEd...iT siMplY mEan's tHAt u hAve stOopEd liVing ur lIfE thEir wAy...!!!!!!!!!!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/talha-siddiqui/when-some-one-say-s-that-u-have-changed-it-simply-mean-s-that-u-have/) [Talha Siddiqui](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/talha-siddiqui/) > [When someone tells you, "You've changed," it might simply be because you've stopped living your life their way.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-spence/when-someone-tells-you-you-ve-changed-it-might-simply-be-because-you/) [John Spence](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-spence/) > [If someone says you have changed it simply means you have stopped living your life their way](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/collins-adoma-asante/if-someone-says-you-have-changed-it-simply-means-you-have-stopped/) [Collins Adoma Asante](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/collins-adoma-asante/) > [When someone says you've changed , that simply means you've stopped living your Life their way.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/when-someone-says-you-ve-changed-that-simply-means-you-ve-stopped/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [When someone says, You've Changed, It simply means you've stopped living your life their way.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/when-someone-says-you-ve-changed-it-simply-means-you-ve-stopped/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [That's in the mission statement when you're part of 'Trek.' It's our job to try to be bold and push forward. You have to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/justin-lin/that-s-in-the-mission-statement-when-you-re-part-of-trek-it-s-our-job/) [Justin Lin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/justin-lin/) > [I never start anything with a really overt, political, or even exactly artistic mission statement.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lena-dunham/i-never-start-anything-with-a-really-overt-political-or-even-exactly/) [Lena Dunham](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lena-dunham/) > [Every cabinet minister gets a mission statement from the Prime Minister.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brian-mulroney/every-cabinet-minister-gets-a-mission-statement-from-the-prime/) [Brian Mulroney](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brian-mulroney/) > [“Without a vision and a mission, your company can be termed as a ‘Bull’ set free in the busy streets of the corporate world”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henrietta-newton-martin-author-industrial-relations-today-2/without-a-vision-and-a-mission-your-company-can-be-termed-as-a-bull/) [Henrietta Newton Martin Author Industrial Relations Today](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henrietta-newton-martin-author-industrial-relations-today-2/) > [The mission statement was ordered, and it sent the 800th MP Brigade, effective the first of July, up to Baghdad. I joined my brigade…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/janis-karpinski/the-mission-statement-was-ordered-and-it-sent-the-800th-mp-brigade/) [Janis Karpinski](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/janis-karpinski/) > [Well, the mission statement of Heart of David is that we're a ministry of evangelism and encouragement. Evangelism meaning that I evangelize I travel…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ted-dibiase-sr/well-the-mission-statement-of-heart-of-david-is-that-we-re-a-ministry/) [Ted DiBiase Sr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ted-dibiase-sr/) > [“A visionary company is one which is seen growing in a consistent pattern by being goal oriented driven by a vision and a mission”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henrietta-newton-martin-author-industrial-relations-today/a-visionary-company-is-one-which-is-seen-growing-in-a-consistent/) [Henrietta Newton Martin- Author Industrial Relations Today](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henrietta-newton-martin-author-industrial-relations-today/) > [Some have said I focus on marginalized communities, but it's not like that was my mission statement. I've just told stories that interest me,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sean-baker/some-have-said-i-focus-on-marginalized-communities-but-it-s-not-like/) [Sean Baker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sean-baker/) ## More by Bill Gates > [If you’re a person struggling to eat and stay healthy you might have heard about Michael Jordan or Muhammad Ali, but you’ll never have…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bill-gates/if-you-re-a-person-struggling-to-eat-and-stay-healthy-you-might-have/) [Bill Gates](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bill-gates/) > [I really had a lot of dreams when I was a kid, and I think a great deal of that grew out of the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bill-gates/i-really-had-a-lot-of-dreams-when-i-was-a-kid-and-i-think-a-great/) [Bill Gates](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bill-gates/) > [Understanding science and pushing the boundaries of science is what makes me immensely satisfied.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bill-gates/understanding-science-and-pushing-the-boundaries-of-science-is-what/) [Bill Gates](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bill-gates/) > [We're focused on providing innovations in software, driving the continuous improvement for a much better experience, and there's a lot going on here that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bill-gates/we-re-focused-on-providing-innovations-in-software-driving-the/) [Bill Gates](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bill-gates/) > [Paper is no longer a big part of my day. 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They need to get cheaper.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bill-gates/the-machines-need-to-get-faster-they-need-to-get-cheaper/) [Bill Gates](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bill-gates/) > [Like many others, I have deep misgivings about the state of education in the United States. Too many of our students fail to graduate…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bill-gates/like-many-others-i-have-deep-misgivings-about-the-state-of-education/) [Bill Gates](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bill-gates/) > [Over time, yes, countries will need to look at specific GMO products like they look at drugs today, where they don't approve them all.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bill-gates/over-time-yes-countries-will-need-to-look-at-specific-gmo-products/) [Bill Gates](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bill-gates/) > [Competition is always a fantastic thing, and the computer industry is intensely competitive.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bill-gates/competition-is-always-a-fantastic-thing-and-the-computer-industry-is/) [Bill Gates](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bill-gates/) > [I don't think there's anything unique about human intellience. All the nuerons in the brain that make up perceptions and emotions operate in a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bill-gates/i-don-t-think-there-s-anything-unique-about-human-intellience-all-the/) [Bill Gates](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bill-gates/) > [At every juncture, advanced tools have been the key to a new wave of applications, and each wave of applications has been key to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bill-gates/at-every-juncture-advanced-tools-have-been-the-key-to-a-new-wave-of/) [Bill Gates](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bill-gates/) > [Software is more important than hardware.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bill-gates/software-is-more-important-than-hardware/) [Bill Gates](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bill-gates/) > [Talking to mothers, always brings it home because they're so anxious to do everything they can for their kids and so tragic for them.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bill-gates/talking-to-mothers-always-brings-it-home-because-they-re-so-anxious/) [Bill Gates](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bill-gates/) [Explore all 1,165 Bill Gates quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bill-gates/) ## More Dreams quotes > [“Cine a ucis stelele? Cine a surpat drumul spre viitor al celor din morminte?”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ionel-teodoreanu/cine-a-ucis-stelele-cine-a-surpat-drumul-spre-viitor-al-celor-din/) [Ionel Teodoreanu](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ionel-teodoreanu/) > [“Once we become sensitive to dreams, we discover that every dynamic in a dream is manifesting itself in some way in our practical lives”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-a-johnson/once-we-become-sensitive-to-dreams-we-discover-that-every-dynamic-in/) [Robert A. Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-a-johnson/) > [“Now you’re wet. You’re so wet you’re leaking down your ass. You’re soaking my pillow. I don’t think I’m ever washing it. I want…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/susan-stoker/now-you-re-wet-you-re-so-wet-you-re-leaking-down-your-ass-you-re/) [Susan Stoker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/susan-stoker/) > [“Not that it matters, when you dream, there's no outside or in. Your mind is an unimaginable bloom. A willow catkin as big as…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rich-shapero/not-that-it-matters-when-you-dream-there-s-no-outside-or-in-your-mind/) [Rich Shapero](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rich-shapero/) > [Sometimes we wish for the feel but we never understand that we have to give a lot to get the feel !](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-reynolds/sometimes-we-wish-for-the-feel-but-we-never-understand-that-we-have/) [Robert Reynolds](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-reynolds/) > [The vision of the left, full of envy and resentment, takes its worst toll on those at the bottom - whether black or white…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-sowell/the-vision-of-the-left-full-of-envy-and-resentment-takes-its-worst/) [Thomas Sowell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-sowell/) > [It’s so important to create in your own voice, to hold onto what makes you unique, and have faith in your vision.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-lasseter/it-s-so-important-to-create-in-your-own-voice-to-hold-onto-what-makes/) [John Lasseter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-lasseter/) > [“As dreams are the healing songs from the wilderness of our unconscious - So wild animals, wild plants, wild landscapes are the healing dreams…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dale-pendell/as-dreams-are-the-healing-songs-from-the-wilderness-of-our/) [Dale Pendell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dale-pendell/) > [Alone in a world, With millions of souls Walking in circles Trapped in their dreams unhealthy, unclean walking in circles, now do not disturb…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chester-bennington/alone-in-a-world-with-millions-of-souls-walking-in-circles-trapped-in/) [Chester Bennington](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chester-bennington/) > [“Doing the work to transform your dreams into reality is like walking across the earth. It can be that hard, and it can take…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dragos-bratasanu/doing-the-work-to-transform-your-dreams-into-reality-is-like-walking/) [Dragos Bratasanu](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dragos-bratasanu/) > [As far as Im concerned, I didnt dream - ever.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/theodore-sturgeon/as-far-as-im-concerned-i-didnt-dream-ever/) [Theodore Sturgeon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/theodore-sturgeon/) > [I guess, it's a father's dream for his daughter to be known around the world.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/liza-soberano/i-guess-it-s-a-father-s-dream-for-his-daughter-to-be-known-around-the/) [Liza Soberano](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/liza-soberano/) > [I am just enjoying the dream of being Milan coach at the age of 40.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gennaro-gattuso/i-am-just-enjoying-the-dream-of-being-milan-coach-at-the-age-of-40/) [Gennaro Gattuso](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gennaro-gattuso/) > [Sometimes life seems like a dream, especially when I look down and see that I forgot to put on my pants.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jack-handey/sometimes-life-seems-like-a-dream-especially-when-i-look-down-and-see/) [Jack Handey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jack-handey/) > [“I had a dream. I had an awesome dream.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/i-had-a-dream-i-had-an-awesome-dream/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) [Browse all 40,599 Dreams quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/dreams/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "So the vision of Microsoft is pretty simple. It changed a couple years ago. For the first 25 years of the company, it was a personal computer on every desk and in every home. And it was a very good vision; very rare for a company to be able to stick with something like that for 25 years. The reason we changed it was simply that it became acceptable. . . . And so as we stepped back and looked at what we were trying to do with the programming model, turning the Internet into the fabric for distributed computing, getting your information to replicate in a very invisible way so that it was available to you everywhere, thinking of this programming model spanning all the different devices, we changed to the mission statement we have now, which is empowering people through great software anytime, any place and on any device.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Bill Gates" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bill-gates/so-the-vision-of-microsoft-is-pretty-simple-it-changed-a-couple-years/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Dreams" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bill-gates/so-the-vision-of-microsoft-is-pretty-simple-it-changed-a-couple-years/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/83a/bill-gates-137_dreams_so-the-vision-of-microsoft-is-pretty-sim_2490290.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/83a/bill-gates-137_dreams_so-the-vision-of-microsoft-is-pretty-sim_2490290.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/83a/bill-gates-137_dreams_so-the-vision-of-microsoft-is-pretty-sim_2490290.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“So the vision of Microsoft is pretty simple. 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