leleram
4th April 2006, 04:48 PM
1. "Computers, in the future, may weigh no more than 1.5 tons." --Popular Mechanics, forecasting the relentless march of science, 1949.
2. "I think there is a world market for, maybe, five computers." --Thomas Watson, chairman of IBM, 1943.
3. "I have traveled the length and breadth of this country, and talked with the best people, and I can assure you that data processing is a fad that won't last out the year." --The editor in charge of business books for Prentice Hall, 1957.
4. "But what ...is it good for?" --Engineer at the Advanced Computing Systems Division of IBM, 1968, commenting on the microchip.
5. "There is no reason anyone would want a computer in their home." --Ken Olson, president, chairman and founder of Digital Equipment Corp., 1977.
6. "This 'telephone' has too many shortcomings to be seriously considered as a means of communication. The device is, inherently, of no value." --Western Union internal memo, 1876.
7. "The wireless music box has no imaginable commercial value. Who would pay for a message sent to nobody in particular?" --David Sarnoff's associates in response to his urgings for investment in the radio in the 1920s.
8. "The concept is interesting and well-formed. But, in order to earn better than a 'C,' the idea must be feasible." --A Yale Univ. management professor in response to Fred Smith's paper proposing reliable overnight delivery service. (Smith went on to found Federal Express Corp.)
9. "Who wants to hear actors talk?" --H.M. Warner, Warner Brothers, 1927
10. "I'm just glad it will be Clark Gable who is falling on his face and not Gary Cooper." -- Gary Cooper on his decision not to take the leading role in Gone With The Wind.
11. "A cookie store is a bad idea. Besides, the market research reports say America likes crispy cookies, not soft and chewy cookies like you make." --Response to Debbi Fields' idea of starting Mrs. Fields' Cookies.
12. "We don't like their sound and guitar music is on the way out." --Decca Recording Co. rejecting the Beatles, 1962.
14. "Stocks have reached what looks like a permanently high plateau." --Irving Fisher, Professor of Economics, Yale University, 1929.
15. "Airplanes are interesting toys, but of no military value." --Marechal Ferdinand Foch, Professor of Strategy, Ecole Superieure de Guerre.
(You'll often see "'64K ought to be enough memory for anybody.' --Bill Gates, 1981" on this list, but there is no evidence that he actually said it. Nice try, revisionists!)
2. "I think there is a world market for, maybe, five computers." --Thomas Watson, chairman of IBM, 1943.
3. "I have traveled the length and breadth of this country, and talked with the best people, and I can assure you that data processing is a fad that won't last out the year." --The editor in charge of business books for Prentice Hall, 1957.
4. "But what ...is it good for?" --Engineer at the Advanced Computing Systems Division of IBM, 1968, commenting on the microchip.
5. "There is no reason anyone would want a computer in their home." --Ken Olson, president, chairman and founder of Digital Equipment Corp., 1977.
6. "This 'telephone' has too many shortcomings to be seriously considered as a means of communication. The device is, inherently, of no value." --Western Union internal memo, 1876.
7. "The wireless music box has no imaginable commercial value. Who would pay for a message sent to nobody in particular?" --David Sarnoff's associates in response to his urgings for investment in the radio in the 1920s.
8. "The concept is interesting and well-formed. But, in order to earn better than a 'C,' the idea must be feasible." --A Yale Univ. management professor in response to Fred Smith's paper proposing reliable overnight delivery service. (Smith went on to found Federal Express Corp.)
9. "Who wants to hear actors talk?" --H.M. Warner, Warner Brothers, 1927
10. "I'm just glad it will be Clark Gable who is falling on his face and not Gary Cooper." -- Gary Cooper on his decision not to take the leading role in Gone With The Wind.
11. "A cookie store is a bad idea. Besides, the market research reports say America likes crispy cookies, not soft and chewy cookies like you make." --Response to Debbi Fields' idea of starting Mrs. Fields' Cookies.
12. "We don't like their sound and guitar music is on the way out." --Decca Recording Co. rejecting the Beatles, 1962.
14. "Stocks have reached what looks like a permanently high plateau." --Irving Fisher, Professor of Economics, Yale University, 1929.
15. "Airplanes are interesting toys, but of no military value." --Marechal Ferdinand Foch, Professor of Strategy, Ecole Superieure de Guerre.
(You'll often see "'64K ought to be enough memory for anybody.' --Bill Gates, 1981" on this list, but there is no evidence that he actually said it. Nice try, revisionists!)