"Whom do you think the better innovator is, Steve Jobs or Bill Gates? There is no wrong or right answer, we just want to see your creativity."
I rather enjoyed crafting my answer so I thought I'd share it with you.
Both Steve Jobs and Bill Gates are each phenomenal innovators in their own specialty. Bill Gates has grown Microsoft to a dominant position in business computing. Steve Jobs has revolutionized personal electronics and focuses on providing intuitive computers for consumers. Granted, Microsoft also holds a dominant market share of desktop operating systems in homes, but even Windows experts agree, the Mac is a superior product (http://www.scotsnewsletter.com/88.htm#mactest). Gates and Jobs each have applied their enthusiasm for innovation to make the world a better place.
Microsoft is most impervious to Apple in the enterprise, where Active Directory, Exchange Server, Office, Share Point, and SQL reign. In our free market economy, there are plenty of other players who would like a piece of the enterprise technology pie, but Microsoft is the main player. Gate's Microsoft also plays to the consumer market with Windows Media Center and the recent Zune, but these are feeble attempts to play catch-up in a market space where Apple reigns.
Jobs and Apple have created a substantial impact on American culture with the iconic iPod and iTunes. The iPod's achievements include the ability to purchase, download and view TV shows or movies and listen to podcasts, and of course, music. iTunes and downloadable songs may very well be the end of traditional music distribution like CD's. Then, as if that's not enough, Jobs has recently debuted the iPhone, which purports to invade the PDA, cell phone, and tablet PC markets with one svelte device.
Each of these men have raised the game of innovation and used their passions to advance our civilization. Bill Gates has clearly brought substantial innovation to the business world and the global economy owes he and Microsoft (and other technology companies) a debt of gratitude. Steve Jobs continues to pursue and provide easier, more attractive, more enjoyable gadgets and tools which can be integrated to improve our lives. According to their own priorities, Bill Gates and Steve Jobs are each the consummate innovator in their fields.
