Rating: 
Summary: A Lesson to be Learned
Review: Taken in it's entirety, this (March) 1999 release by the author of "The Road Ahead" has been a multi-media event. The print edition has been available in hard-cover or paperback. The audio cassette format has been marketed in both abridged and unabridged versions, and there's also been an audio compact disc available. The content poured into the book's web-site has been extensive, and has included an insightful 45-minute video "chat" by Mr. Gates recorded on March 31, 1999. There is little about the publication that hasn't been covered in over 100 reviews on either Amazon.com, Barnes&Noble.com, or other web-sites. Traditional media coverage has been extremely broad based, and the book was ranked in the top ten on just about every final 1999 business bestsellers list, including the New York Time's and USA Today's.Like it or not, there's no denying that this book has reached out deep into the critical masses. But, (in less than a year), has the response to this work perhaps surpassed the actual content in importance? Take for example Scott Rosenberg's hard-hitting perspective in which Mr. Gates is critiqued as an author with obviously passionate ideas on business management, but also as one who is either unwilling or unable to break out of a dull corporate-speak writing tone. Mr. Rosenberg cites "e"source proponents of the idea "that the Internet is rapidly transforming not just the speed but the tenor and content of business communications." He furthers the suggestions that the corporate lingua-franca is soon to be made a remnant of our popular culture, and could very well be replaced with a much more original form of thought as one of the results of the "Web lifestyle" Mr. Gates is promoting. Customer comments on the review pages of e-bookstore sites are given as one example, and the postings on corporate stock message boards (such as those found within Yahoo) would be another. Mr. Rosenberg is most profound when he considers whether "the very voice Bill Gates uses in Business @ The Speed of Thought is being rendered obsolete by the technology he espouses." It's too bad, but we probably won't be seeing responses by Mr. Gates to these kind of issues posted in the questions section of the book's website. My conclusion here is to take care to consume the entire event, and don't be skimpy. Digest both the content of and the response to Business @ The Speed of Thought or whatever other media-intense works you study . Savor the combination and all of its flavors. Then draw your own conclusions and fling them into cyberspace, because one can't yearn to be a knowledge participant unless one can learn like a knowledge participant. Records managers like myself may take particular interest in the discussion of the issue of creating a paper-less office. Don't be mislead by the title of Chapter 3 -- the author's view is realistic and the insight into Microsoft operations presented here is interesting. Additionally, the discussions in Section IV on the concept of bringing insight to business operations should be specifically noted by professionals in the records and information management industry. In particular, the thoughts in Chapter 18 on utilizing an organization's information technology department are very relative. This information is excellent support for the argument that technology has given records managers improved tools to do their jobs, while actively changing the perception of their profession.
Rating: 
Summary: telling...
Review: Gates has missed the cluetrain. Microsoft is still engaging in the us against them corporate mentality, and this book reveals why. He's so focussed on the boardroom mentality that he seems to have no clue what his CUSTOMERS want. It's all about how the internet can serve the company, rather than how the company can fill the needs of the community.
Rating:
Summary: Business according to Chairman Bill
Review: Business @ the Speed of Thought provides a great overview of how companies need to adjust their internal business systems to survive, adapt and embrace new technologies. The book is written in a non-technical way which makes it ideal for non IT managers. I recommend it.
Rating: 
Summary: Apple vs. Microsoft over the 'mouse graphics interface'.
Review: OVERVIEW Business at the Speed of Thought is far more than a position paper on his business strategies, nor is it a public relations effort to soften the critics or judiciary overseers. The book takes a higher conceptual approach, focusing on the imperative role of information and knowledge management will play in running today's organizations. Gates speaks as a consultant, using the successes and failures of real companies, in a case-study approach, to support his philosophies and strategies. It is more basic than revolutionary, but the vision is expressed with great clarity and given depth and breadth through pragmatic, working examples. CEO's, other organizational leaders, and managers at all levels can potentially benefit from the ideas illustrated. As a small business owner, I found at least half of the content relevant to improving the efficiency of my business operations. Further, those who believe that technology will continue to play an increasingly significant role in the marketplace, should grab a cup of coffee, a pen, and actively read this book. The book is organized into four distinct sections: information flow, commerce, knowledge management, and business operations. The author's basic premise is that the success or failure of an organization will depend on how well they gather, manage, and use information. Gathering information is the first step in this direction. Gates observes the importance of gathering "business facts", which encompass internal as well as external forces. These business facts concern customers, vendors, distributors, competitors, and internal systems and procedures. DISCUSSION While Gates coherent 12-step program to the implementation of a "Digital Nervous System" is a useful guide to better integrate IT with existing business resources, it unfortunately gave little attention to much deserved social and psychological issues. Gates refuses to admit any problems with technology. This technological utopianism results in an incomplete analysis and does not discriminate at all. As a result, the potential pitfalls are not identified, which could lead to oversight. Functionally, it may lead to a blind, non-discriminatory adoption to digital processes. This absolute change to may produce the inefficiency it is meant to eliminate. Under this approach, the problems fade into the background because the technology is so perfect. For example, Gates insists that communication flow through the organization over e-mail so that you can act on news with reflex like speed. It is difficult to take a 'key step' like this seriously. Is the ability to act with 'reflex-like speed' really a function of the communication medium, or is it dependent on such factors as experience, intelligence, etc.? Is there no downside to e-mail? What of the lack of truly human communication, that is, fact-to-face, if e-mail is used for all communication? Is it surprising that chief executives fly around the world almost continuously to talk face-to-face? Do they use e-mail, or do they prefer to see the whites of the potential partner's eyes? Despite these criticisms, I enjoyed this book from cover to cover, and have used its content to increase the productivity of the technological resources owned by my business. Business @ the Speed of Thought illustrates its concepts with detailed case studies of top-notch companies as well as Microsoft in a variety of industries, making the "Digital Nervous System" relevant to a broad and diverse audience. He uses accurate yet easy to understand language, abandoning technical jargon. This, combined with an introduction which provides a clear layout of the books objectives, produces a coherent and pragmatic resource for all people, business persons and non-business persons.
The analysis within the case studies gives examples of how IT can improve, or did improve, failed processes. These examples of already successfully re-engineered information networks, provides concrete methods of how to manage inventory, sales, customer relationships, etc. Because Gates draws from a diverse field of companies, the advice of Gates is useful for all business people of all types of organizations, from service to merchandising, and profit to non-profit. In addition, the concept of a "Digital Nervous System" can be applied to the personal lives of people who are adapting what he calls a Web Lifestyle. I concur with Gate's conviction that the success of businesses will be a function of how you gather, manage, and use information. Subsequently, Business @ the Speed of Thought goes a long way to increasing vital IT knowledge and skills; and these life-long skills are as important for personal, academic, and professional achievement as traditional academic knowledge and skills such as Math and Science. CONCLUSION While Gates breaks no new ground, he provides specific examples that illustrate the necessary steps to help businesses capitalize on their IT investment, and authentic examples of its realized benefits. I recommend this book to anybody who feels they are unclear on how to integrate IT with current business operations, as well as to individuals who desire to learn more about how to utilize technology to improve their personal tasks. I do not believe Business @ the Speed of Thought is just a finely tuned marketing campaign, but it may be hard for those who do not favor Microsoft to listen to Gates for the entire length of the book. In this case I recommend people read selected chapters that are in line with their individual or business IT objectives. As Gates has shown time and time again, him, Microsoft, and perhaps even this book you may ignore at your own peril.
Rating:
Summary: Bill Gates continues to lead the field
Review: This is a must book for anyone who wants to know how to automate the processes in his company. Knowledge Mangement and Customer Relations Management are buzz words. This book eliminates those buzz words and gets down to the baisics of what really matters in a company and keeps the spin machines away. Each chapter is loaded with useful ideas often in the form of examples from real industry. Each chapter ends with a list of issues which the reader should think about in his own company. I have read several parts of this book multiple times.
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