Yes, Gates And Jobs Are Human

This has not stopped him, by the way, from installing a Linux distribution on the AMD system he has at home. Nor does he mention that those interviews were many years ago now, since Gates doesn't seem to rate CRNas high on his list of desired media outlets as he once did.

And gee, Dad, the Microsoft intern whose blog I share here sure has one up on me. I love this entry about his dinner at the Gates estate in Washington, especially about watching the Microsoft chairman's interaction with his daughter. It's enough to make you feel warm and fuzzy. (And no, I don't type this cynically.)

Frankly, the Dad thing is kind of embarrassing. Especially since the No. 1 person on my interview wish list, after Paul McCartney, is Apple founder CEO Steve Jobs. Actually, I have spoken with Jobs one-on-one, but only in his guise as the founder and CEO of Next Computer. I'm not sure if that counts. Imagine my dismay, then, to hear this morning that the industry's most charismatic speaker is ailing . I wish him a speedy recovery, because, quite frankly, there isn't another executive in the high-tech industry right now who has the same sort of onstage charisma and strength of conviction as he.

The fanatical following inspired by Linus Torvalds is close, but he's too modest to let it go to his head. I kind of wish he would. It would make the Linux movement even more interesting.

CRN is dedicated, of course, not just to watching the CEO-level leaders out there in high-tech land. We obsess about those leading the channel movements at their respective companies. That's why we've inaugurated a new monthly feature to supplement our annual Channel Chiefs ranking. Read about why our first pick is Allyson Seelinger; feel free to vote yourself; and e-mail me at [email protected] with your suggestions for the next one.