Bill Gates
 

Having just watched another quality programme :erm: it is reported that Billy Boy is worth 46 billion pounds. I can't get my head round how much one billion is, is it a million million or a thousand million??? Any brainy folk out there who can enlighten me :shrug:

Re: Bill Gates
 

It's the US/International billion, 1x10^9
1,000,000,000
1,000 million
So not as big as the good ol' British Billion (million x million)

Re: Bill Gates
 

He gets something like $12 billion dollers every 12 seconds im lead to believe, from every M$ product sold.

Re: Bill Gates
 

I think that if it is an english Billion they are referring to, it is /was (it may have changed) a million million.

If it was an American Billion, it would be 1 thousand million.

Either way, a hell of a lot of money.

Edit: Xaccers beat me...

Re: Bill Gates
 

As Xaccers had already stated, it depends where you are;)
http://dictionary.reference.com/search?r=2&q=billion
Still hasn't bought him a decent haircut though :rofl:
https://www.cableforum.co.uk/images/...2005/01/14.jpg

Re: Bill Gates
 

Wonder if he needs a PA, bet he's great for a Christmas bonus ;)

Re: Bill Gates
 

Man .. was your hair any better in the 70's/80's? ;)

Re: Bill Gates
 

In most places its the american method which is used which is multiples of ten to the power of three. i.e 1 times ten to the three is a thousand, a million is 1 times ten to the 6 (1,000,000) and a billion is 1 times ten to the 9 (1,000,000,000).

Thats the engineering way these days.

Re: Bill Gates
 

Yes :naughty: Since I was just a squib in the 70's I had very little hair anyway, bit like now really :rofl:

Re: Bill Gates
 

Thing is having just seen him on this programme I swear he's got the same specs and hairdo :shrug:

Re: Bill Gates
 

Technically it is a million million in Britain - but most people now think of it as 1,000 million.

I think in accounting it is always 1,000 million (i.e. when the chancellor talks about two billion pounds, he means 2,000 million pounds).

Re: Bill Gates
 

think he is better as a borg

Re: Bill Gates
 

No, technically it is 1,000 million. I don't recall learning anything else ever. You Brits are just strange. :p

Re: Bill Gates
 

It's because yanks find things like one hundred thousand million dollars too complicated so they call it one hundred billion dollars (little finger in corner of mouth).
I mean this is the country where they can't even cope with a gear stick and clutch :rofl:
You can't expect them to be good at maths.

Re: Bill Gates
 

I don't think we find things such as one hundred thousand million dollars to complicated. Look at our deficit... :D

Re: Bill Gates
 

Maybe that's the problem?
Someone told Dubya it's four hundred thousand million and he didn't realise that was four hundred billion (to you lot) so he doesn't realise how bad it is? :rofl:

Notice you didn't deny you find gears and clutches complicated :D (sorry couldn't resist)

Re: Bill Gates
 

I drive a standard. Most people prefer driving automatic, or just don't care. You guys probably drive stick because cars are so expensive over there. All the luxury cars have automatic transmission anyways.

Re: Bill Gates
 

I actually find automatics really really annoying.
Maybe it's a control thing, or just the great feeling I get from dropping down from sixth to fifth and leaving the bmw on my tail for dust :)

Luxury cars have an international market, which means selling to the US.
If they were manual, then that would reduce the american market, so it makes more business sense to have auto as default.

Re: Bill Gates
 

So only Americans can afford luxury cars?


While I like driving standard, I do find the performance and the sense of a computer calculating optimal efficiency appealing. When I floored the Corvette, the computer automatically took the cue and dropped two gears down in microseconds, far faster than you could have done it by hand.

Re: Bill Gates
 

OK, let me explain it simply.
The US is the biggest wedge of the luxury car market, and the luxury car market is nowhere near as big as the non-luxury car markey.
Now, the car manufacturers could build automatics specifically for the US market and manual for the rest, increasing production costs.
Or, they could use a bit of business sense and make automatics as default and save the production costs.


It's what mobile phone/PDA manufacturers wish they could do.
At the moment, the US market is more interested in PDA's, the European more for phones.
Consiquently, in europe people are more keen on a phone with some PDA functions, and in the US people are more keen on a PDA with some phone functions.
So, Nokia wants to build a device to sell to both markets, problem is, both markets are different, so Nokia would have to develop two seperate devices and sell them to their respective markets, or risk producing a hybrid on the two market's needs which neither market really takes up.
If the majority of the market wanted a PDA with some phone functions, Nokia could just produce one saving the extra development costs.

Re: Bill Gates
 

I thought this was more a historic thing. The Europeans did not adopt to them as fuel was more expensive and they were less economical. They only had 3 gears, too.

Nowadays they are more economical, have an equivilant number of gears, smoother shift, computer control, but its a change in mindset, and when they are still often a cost option on what is an expensive purchase you might as well press a clutch.

A good auto box makes for faster driving than a manual box (not faster 0-60) but point to point. The police high speed patrol cars are all auto, its a safety benefit as the driver should not need to be thinking about what gear they are in but just the pursuit and their surroundings. At the premium end of the market they are a prerequisite in both markets, a Merc or Jag with a stick will be about £1-2k cheaper second hand (as with missing leather seats - that'll teach 'em to park in Liverpool).

Re: Bill Gates
 

Well the BMW auto I drove had terrible lag when you put your foot down.
The worst auto I ever had the mispleasure of driving was an astra, would get to about 67mph, then decide to change up gear, which caused the revs to drop, so the car would slow, then the gearbox would change down, revs go up, speed back to 67mph, and unless I went downhill I'd be bouncing between the two top gears and not be able to reach 70!

Re: Bill Gates
 

Even in Sports mode?

What engine did the Astra have, sounds like it was not powerful / torquey enough for an auto box.

The last one I drove (properly) was my Dads BX1.9i Light car, powerful 'nuff engine, that could be driven fast, overtaking was great. Probably not as good as the 9-3 I drive now.

Re: Bill Gates
 

Didnt know Bill gates was a car model ;) :notopic:

Re: Bill Gates
 

Yup even in sports mode.
I'd put my foot down, and wait, and wait, and whooooosh it would fly, but it just seemed to take an age.
I owned a Xantia 1.9TD so I was used to pretty instant oomph when I put my foot down.

I think the astra had a 1.4 or 1.6, waaaaaay too underpowered.
It was back when I had a company car and if I was unlucky the auto was the only courtesy car they had. In the end I'd ask for their combi van as it had better performance!

Re: Bill Gates
 

I have no idea what an astra is. Anyways, why would you want to "accelerate" with a 1.4 or 1.6? That isn't even an engine. My lawnmower has a bigger engine.

With the Corvette it was different. :D You floor it, and it immediately flipped two gears down, revs at 6,000, going from 120 km/h to 190 km/h in a blink of an eye. :D Maybe BMW should learn from the Americans. :D

Re: Bill Gates
 

The astra (made by a company owned by GM) was what I expected, underpowered and pants.
The BMW was the suprise.

Re: Bill Gates
 

We don't have Vauxhill here. They make underpowered, dinky cars. No wonder you guys laughed at me when I said I have a GM credit card. Our GM has Chevrolet, Oldsmobile, and other companies.

Re: Bill Gates
 

'bout the same size as a Chrysler Neon. What we in blighty would call a small family car and you would call a compact car!

Re: Bill Gates
 

Chrysler Neons have 2.0L engines, right?

Re: Bill Gates
 

:rolleyes:

Astra can have 2.2i 16v twin-cam engines

Courtesy cars, generally being entry level spec have entry level engines

Re: Bill Gates
 

You see, there's the difference, your 1.6 engines are used for lawnmowers because when it comes to effieciency the Americans have absolutely no clue, a good fuel injected 1.6 engine over here would out acclerate and outpace and be a lot cheaper to run than one of your silly, environment destroying 6 litre pointless behemoths.

Re: Bill Gates
 

Then why don't you buy a 1.3 liter? Or better yet, a 50cc scooter?

It is simply my choice. I wouldn't buy a car with anything smaller than a 3L engine. I don't particularly care about all that efficiency.

Re: Bill Gates
 

I would like to take you up on that. You pick any 1.6 liter engine car, and I will pick a 5.7L Corvette Z06. I want you to prove that you can accelerate faster, and outpace the Corvette.

Re: Bill Gates
 

Thats right, your pollution is harming other people so what does it matter :rolleyes:

Re: Bill Gates
 

If you want to cry about pollution, please address the issues in China, Indonesia, and Brazil.

And how is my pollution "harming" other people? Please explain.

Re: Bill Gates
 

whats wrong with a 1.6 l car :mad: :mad: :mad: , maybe time for a spin off thread and let this get back to whatever it is supposed to be about :D :D :D

Re: Bill Gates
 

Yes, let's be stupid and pick a car with a starting price of over 50,000 dollars ... get real man. Pick what is considered a normal saloon car with a 4+ litre engine, example, I had a 4 litre Buick Le Sabre, it may well be able to tow a house but the acceleration and top speed were nothing compared to an Astra SRI I drove.

edit: And concerning your reply about looking elsewhere for the causes of pollution, perhaps as one of the worlds leading nations you should set an example instead of rejecting things like the Kyoto agreement and still insisting on mass producing oversized hunks of metal that probably deplete more fossil fuel for one, than 5 UK cars.

Re: Bill Gates
 

Jerrek, Pollution does not stay in one country. It may travel thousands of miles and affect the population of another country entirely. Admittedly when people in other countries are suffering from Asthma (and other breathing disorders that have been associated with traffic pollution), there is no way to say that the pollution was caused by any one person.


Anyway, what have cars got to do with Bill Gates?

Re: Bill Gates
 

What was the top speed?

Re: Bill Gates
 

The question about bill gates' worth was answered ages ago, and led us to the differences between the US and civilisation :pp

Re: Bill Gates
 

Honda CRX SiR, known to break 240kmh, 0 - 100kmh in 8 seconds .. all from a 1.6 engine.

WNA, the Buick wouldn't get past 90mph, let's just say the SRI screamed way past that.

And besides, a Lotus Carlton poo's on your corvette ;) (and still managed to keep an engine capacity of only 3.6 litres). 0-60mph in 5.2 seconds, top speed of over 187mph

Re: Bill Gates
 

And there are Millions, Billions, ooh is this back on topic :rolleyes:

Re: Bill Gates
 

Fair enough..

Re: Bill Gates
 

We'll pick a C4 from the 1980s. Lets spend say, $12,000.


Kyoto is a way of taking money from developed nations and giving it to third world countries. I'm not interested in such socialism. If Mexico, Indonesia, China, and India are exempt, then I don't see why we should join.


I don't think I've said anything to the contrary.

Please give me some facts of how the U.S.'s pollution has affected countries thousands of miles away.

That is not a 1.6L engine as your original bet.

Re: Bill Gates
 

I suppose the hole in the ozone layer around the poles is because penguins use deodorant
So if a bankrupt person can't pay back a loan, I guess the rich shouldn't either.

Re: Bill Gates
 

It was because every nation on this planet used CFCs. And, after founding conclusive proof, the United States phased it out. Unlike countries such as Indonesia, who still uses CFCs.

So please.

I don't understand what you're saying.

Re: Bill Gates
 

They were exempt because their economies couldn't handle the consequences. America's can.

If G W Bush was commited to the environment he would have proposed an alternative.
You asked for an example, I gave it to you. If you wish I will further research the issue.

Of the top of my head, the laws of diffusion means any carbon dioxide 1 American breaths will eventually spread across the world. Same could be said about car emmissions.

Re: Bill Gates
 

So we should go into negative growth for the next century, but China should maintain its 10% yearly growth?

**** no. You're nuts if you think anyone except Europeans will go for that. (Is Germany enjoying its negative growth??)

He did. Europeans didn't like it because it wasn't "invented" outside of America.

The atmosphere can handle it. Global Warming is a dream come true in Canada.

Re: Bill Gates
 

Neither did Al Gore, if I remember.

But hey, they don't count, they're liberals.

Re: Bill Gates
 

Exactly. They're not the ruling party at the moment.

Re: Bill Gates
 

So ultimately their opinion doesn't matter?
So you blame europe instead of other Americans who feel the same way?
If the democrats where in power would you want them to treat your opinions with the same respect and curtosy?

Re: Bill Gates
 

You didn't directly contradict it. You did ask:
I answered. I also pointed out that that pollution from cars has been linked with Asthma.

Well, I cannot provide facts for that. I did say that the pollution MAY affect other people. However, I found the following interesting snippet in the CIA world fact book..

So, in the name of Economics, you are busy buggering up your own country..
No, it's not. It's still a darn sight more efficient than the Chevvy though.

Re: Bill Gates
 

Dull as I find car talk I can see the attraction over Bill Gates. :D

Re: Bill Gates
 

Mmmmm, I think the 46 thousand million (if thats right :rolleyes: ) has its benefits, beauty is in the eye of the beholder and rose coloured glasses certainly help to count all that cash :D

Re: Bill Gates
 

I wouldnt mind being a penny behind Bill Gates :D
Must be so nice... to be that financially comfortable.

I wonder what happened to the idea he had of putting a multitude of satellites in orbit around the earth so surfing would be quicker :rofl:

Re: Bill Gates
 

Let's be fair about this, pick a new car, maximum budget 20 grand and we'll compare acceleration, fuel economy and top speed.

Re: Bill Gates
 

No no no, you didn't say new car. Are you changing the terms of your bet now?

Re: Bill Gates
 

:rofl: :rofl: :rofl:

Getting scared now? :D

Re: Bill Gates
 

Yes, but ok, I'll dig out an old second hand car, can't guarantee the literage as modern european and japanese engines are so much better nowadays. Give me a day or so and I'll dig something up.

Re: Bill Gates
 

I'll start with a 1996 N Reg Caterham Super Seven 1.6 litre, £11,750 on Autotrader, it's getting close but not quite close enough, 0-60 in 6.9 seconds and a top speed of 110 .. I'm still looking!

edit: Lotus Esprit Turbo, £7995, reputed top track speed of over 180mph, 0-60 in 4.7 seconds, the only problem is it's I believe a 2.2 litre engine, still half of that of the Corvette though, and with a marked improvement of over half a second in acceleration and it leaves your 'bus' in the dust top speed wise.

edit again: perhaps someone else on here could find a suitable contender? :D

Re: Bill Gates
 

Not really. It is just that I'm fond of Corvettes. And Bifta, go ahead. Pick a new car. I don't care.

Re: Bill Gates
 

For $22,000, I can get a very decent C5 Corvette. August 1 issue of Car and Driver, on page 144:

0-60 in 3.8 seconds
1/4 mile in 12.4 sec
Top Speed: 185 mph

Comparing with the Lotus (ironically a GM car), $18,000 will get you a very decent C4, perhaps a C5.

0-60: 4.4 seconds
Top speed: 170 mph


I'm sorry. Your argument that a 1.6L engine will outperform a 5.7L engine just does not hold water.

Re: Bill Gates
 

Perhaps I should rephrase slightly as the message behind the original post is clearly lost on you. There are 'probably' a lot of 5+ litre cars that a good 1.6 engine over here could outperform and still not guzzle a whole petrol station just to get to work, is that better for you? Why won't you drive anything smaller? I can think of two reasons but I best not post them :D

Re: Bill Gates
 

The Lotus Carlton
Itââ‚ ¬ÃƒÂ¢Ã¢â‚¬Å¾Ã‚¢s a Vauxhall Lotus Carlton. To cut a long story short, Lotus were employed to produce a Limited Edition version of the Vauxhall Carlton. They started with the already superb 3.0 litre 24v Carlton GSi, reengineered it, and ended up with a 3.6 litre 24v twin turbocharged and intercoooled 377 BHP, 170+ MPH monster. The gearbox, differential, brakes and chassis were all modified and/or replaced to handle the increased power. In all, only 950 cars were built, of which 284 were right hand drive Vauxhall Lotus Carltons, the rest were left hand drive Opel Lotus Omegas. The worldââ‚ƚ¬Ã¢â€žÂ¢s fastest production saloon car.

Difficult question. The †˜officialâà ƒÆ’¢â€šÂ¬Ã¢â€ žÂ¢ top speed is 176 MPH. Several motoring magazines of the time attempted to verify this, but there arenââ‚ ¬Ã¢â€žÂ¢t any runways long enough in the UK to do it on. And no-one in there right minds would publish an article claiming to have done 170+ MPH on public roads. Rumor has it that top speed is governed by the rev. limiter in 5th gear, and this would give a top speed of about 187 MPH. The 0-60 time is around 5.2 seconds, according to the magazines, but they donââ‚Âà ‚¬ÃƒÂ¢Ã¢â‚¬Å¾Ã‚¢t have to pay for new tyres, clutches and gearboxes. Itââ‚ ¬ÃƒÂ¢Ã¢â‚¬Å¾Ã‚¢s not particularly quick away from the lights because of its weight (nearly 2 tons), but since you can do nearly 60 MPH in first, you donââ‚Âà ‚¬ÃƒÂ¢Ã¢â‚¬Å¾Ã‚¢t get beaten that often.

The SAAB 9-3 Aero
2.0T 210bhp

Four-cylinder high output turbo.
Displacement: 1,988 dm3.
EEC rating: 154 kW (210 hp) at 5300 r/min.
Recommended fuel: 95 octane (min. 91).
Top speed: 146 mph; auto. 143 mph . 0 to 60 mph: 7.5 sec; auto. 8.3 sec.
Overtaking,6 speed man.: 40 to 60 mph in fourth gear 6.2 sec; 50 to 70 mph in fifth gear 8.5 sec.
Fuel consumption mpg *: 23.7/41.5/32.8; auto. 20.2/39.8/29.4.
Carbon dioxide emission (CO2)combined g/km: 207; auto. 232.

*City/highway/Combined driving cycle, according to the 1999/100 EC directive.
This car is actually faster in normal driving (e.g. 40-70 in Third) that a Ferrari -

Re: Bill Gates
 

No one gonna mention the Ford RS Turbo Cosworth or Subaru Impreza WRX ??

I recall (a long time ago) at Oulton Park the 1600cc Lotus Cortina's (Graham Hill & Jim Clark) dumping all over the 7 liter (yes 7 !!) Ford Galaxies !!

Re: Bill Gates
 

Am I the only one who has noticed the
http://www.lotus-carlton.fsnet.co.uk/images/emblem.jpg
word keeps appearing?

Re: Bill Gates
 

Not quite in the same league:

Ginetta G20

Still pretty nippy for a 1.8 :eek:

Engine Capacity 1796 cc
Cylinders 4
Power 138 ( bhp / rpm )
Torque No Data
CO2 Emissions

Performance
0 > 60 mph Acceleration6.3 seconds
Maximum Speed 130 mph

Re: Bill Gates
 

Now I'm really scared.
I learnt to drive in a Metro that was more powerful than this :eeek:

Re: Bill Gates
 

I have no wish to drive a dinky 2.0L engine. Personal preference. My car will be a Corvette. Perhaps not a C5 or C6 right off the bat, but then a C4. My second car, probably for when I'm married, will be a minivan. My family have a minivan and it is amazing for a family.

Check your PMs. I've sent you a picture of my penis, so you can see I'm not compensating. :) :pp

Re: Bill Gates
 

My favourite deceptive production small car from the early 90's

1272cc
0 - 60 in 8.1 secs
Top speed 122 mph
113 bhp

51.4 mpg at 56 mph.

A right little beastie and very difficult to stop. :eek: :eek:

The Polo G40

Re: Bill Gates
 

Hey Debsy I think it's very rude of the lads to just steam in and nick your thread like this. :rolleyes: :blah:

Why don't they start a car thread for themselves or ask if there can be a car forum. :blah:

Re: Bill Gates
 

i did , check out post #37 , just some ppl didnt take any notice :rofl: :rofl: :rofl: :rofl: :rofl: :rofl:

Re: Bill Gates
 

Sorry :blush: :blush:

I'll get me coat............. :walk: :Peaceman: :sorry:

Re: Bill Gates
 

pmsl @ that :rofl: :rofl: :rofl: :rofl: :rofl: :rofl:

Re: Bill Gates
 

Ah right, now see, I looked at my PM's and saw nothing, so either it's still very cold over your end of the world or your need to compensate for your lack in the genitalia dept. has become quite clear.

Re: Bill Gates
 

It was a joke...

Re: Bill Gates
 

:banghead::banghead: :banghead: :banghead::banghead:

Re: Bill Gates
 

pmsl @ that , i think someone wants there thread back :rofl: :rofl: :rofl: :rofl:

Re: Bill Gates
 

:LOL: :rofl: :rofl: :rofl: :rofl:

Re: Bill Gates
 

No keep it.We will leave.I think Debsy gave up eons ago. :wavey:

Re: Bill Gates
 

Though to be fair I think this was Hijacked after the original thread ran its course.

Re: Bill Gates
 

No, sorry just got in from work so only just read it :rolleyes: boys will be boys

so anyway

Bill Gates

what could or shoud he spend his billion trillion quillion quids on :shrug:

Re: Bill Gates
 

Ditto, my apologies, I should have made it abundantly clear that my last post was drenched in sarcasm, I should probably have also explained sarcasm too :D

Re: Bill Gates
 

Sorry Debsy I can't think with the children all speaking at once. :D

Re: Bill Gates
 

I've known threads to go :notopic: but hellooooooo from bill gates billions to cars to pollution to boys bits :erm:

Re: Bill Gates
 

Pub talk really.It will be sport next. :D You and me should go to the loo and then leave by the other door.Then we can go up the chippy or the Indian takeaway. :tu:

Re: Bill Gates
 

I can't wait for our new kebab shop to open - shish & chili sauce please ;)

Re: Bill Gates
 

I just read this page. :eek: WTF? :confused: :D :rofl:

Re: Bill Gates
 

:drool: :drool: :drool: :drool:

Re: Bill Gates
 

Well, judging from the conversation here, maybe some new cars or an extension for a certain part of his anatomy...:eek:

Re: Bill Gates
 

Like so many threads here Ramrod this has not only gone off topic it has separated into two conversation threads.One for the girls and one for the ki....fellas.

Re: Bill Gates
 

i tried to bump ppl out of here for you but it didnt seem to work to well :( :( :( :( :(

Re: Bill Gates
 

does Mr Gates with all his billions really need a knighthood couldnt we have given it to a more deserving person someone who had done something for others before linning his own pocket first . So now he is Mr Bill Gates KBE but not SIR whoopy do Im sure he will sleep better in his bed knowing he is a pretend SIR

Re: Bill Gates
 

Bill Gates donated $25 billion to charities last year. How much did you donate?

Re: Bill Gates
 

Funny how many people respond to Bill Gates from the standpoint of jealousy and give him no credit what so ever for actually being a decent human being.It's that fallacy that a wealthy man must be a barsteward because he is rich. :rolleyes:

Incog. :)

Re: Bill Gates
 

Crumbs from the rich mans table designed to deflect legitimate questions about the morality of anyone possessing such obscene wealth.

Maybe think more about the value of "the widowââ‚ƚ¬Ã¢â€žÂ¢s mite" before jumping to his defence with your usual deflection tactics Jarrek. :)

Re: Bill Gates
 

did the $25 billion come out of billy boys pocket or from microsoft that you helped to put there

Re: Bill Gates
 

Anything to refuse acknowledging that he might actually be genuinely compassionate, eh?

Shame on you.

Re: Bill Gates
 

His own pocket.