Bill Gates' predictions for 2006

Let's dig up all of the failed predictions for 2006

[inbound]

If you would like a laugh then try this

[news.bbc.co.uk...]

I like the promise of a spam-free world, only problem is that Mr Gates only has a few weeks to deliver on time.

Also, the assertion that Microsoft will overtake Google 'soon' and that they had a better search product for 80% of queries!

I'd love to see more spectacularly optimistic predictions that were made (by anyone) and have failed to materialise in time for 2006 arriving.

[Receptional]

Wow,he has missed a bit wildly there.

I predicted that Google would launch an online operating system in 2005... But inffact in was Microsoft. So I sort of messed up there, but what I see now is that Google is slowly (no... rapidly) eliminating the need for an operating syste altogethr. Now who saw That coming?

Dixon.

[BillyS]

I heard about his idea to eliminate spam. It's really a very good idea - kind of a post office approach, but you only pay if the receipient wants you to pay. Sending a million emails (spam) then becomes a pretty expensive way to do business.

Quite frankly, it seems that spam detection methods will be the norm for a bit longer.

I think the fact he admitted they made an error is pretty big (underestimating Google). Google's got a pretty big lead, it will be interesting to see if anyone will catch them - even in the short term (1 - 2 years). Personally, I doubt it. If anyone stands a chance, it might be Yahoo!

[followgreg]

>>Billys: IMO Yahoo is not the one to catch up with Google, the way they rank websites seems totally obsolete and the more they update the more they seem to loose ground on Google and MSN.

[afterburner]

speaking of stopping spam from showing up in MSN search results, I have reported a few domains recently to msn at this location:
[support.msn.com...]

The problem is that they don`t do anything about it. The results are still there, they have been there for months now and I reported it months back. Here is the response I got back from MSN.

"
Thank you for writing to MSN Search Technical Support.

This is Arlene and I am sorry to hear that you are having issues with the sites that are spamming the MSN Search results.

We do not automatically remove documents from our database because they offend someone. The database is a reflection of the content of the Internet and is built from billions of documents on millions of web sites around the world. Some of those documents will be personally, politically, or morally objectionable to some people, but others may find those same documents interesting and useful. We want the search database to represent the content of the web in as accurate and usable a form as possible.

However, the results that caused your concern which are returned for your search at "http://search.msn.com/results.aspx?q=I took out search query" appear to be using SPAM techniques. We are investigating this issue as SPAM and will take the appropriate actions if our investigation determines that these are SPAM sites.

MSN Search has comprehensive online help available to you. For more information about features, functions, and issues, click the "Help" link at the top of any MSN Search page.

You are valuable at MSN and we look forward to providing you with consistent and effective service. If you have other concerns, please feel free to write back.

Sincerely,

Arlene
MSN Search Technical Support"

[tomda]

I like the promise of a spam-free world, only problem is that Mr Gates only has a few weeks to deliver on time.

I prefer a TB-free world than a spam-free world, and on this issue Bill has done a lot last week!
Thanks Bill.