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Quiz about Pirates of Silicon Valley  Pt 2
Quiz about Pirates of Silicon Valley  Pt 2

"Pirates of Silicon Valley" - Pt 2 Quiz


Welcome to Part 2 of my quiz.

A multiple-choice quiz by Doug_from_NZ. Estimated time: 6 mins.
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Author
Doug_from_NZ
Time
6 mins
Type
Multiple Choice
Quiz #
236,194
Updated
Dec 03 21
# Qns
15
Difficulty
Average
Avg Score
10 / 15
Plays
182
- -
Question 1 of 15
1. After Bill and Paul had spent time in New Mexico with the Altair Computer (whose company MITS went out of business) they moved their business to Seattle, and were joined by their old college buddy, the unforgettable Steve Ballmer.

Also a narrator, Steve Ballmer comments "It was a 2-bit little company called "Microsoft"." ("Bit" pun intended?) But according to the movie, how did they come up with the name "Microsoft" in the first place?
Hint


Question 2 of 15
2. According to the movie (in reality, he might religiously believe the others too!), what was Bill Gates' philosophy about life? Hint


Question 3 of 15
3. In conversation with Paul and Steve, Bill said "You know what they say in the Mafia? 'Keep you friends close, and your enemies closer.'"

Which enemies is he talking about in this case?
Hint


Question 4 of 15
4. As the three Microsoft eccentrics run through Miami airport carrying their luggage in one hand (and suits in the other), they are late for an important meeting. In the toilets where they are about to put on their suits, Bill suddenly realises he's forgotten his tie. What happens next? Hint


Question 5 of 15
5. At the important meeting, Gates and co tell some well-dressed executives that Microsoft has what they need. What Microsoft product are they referring to? Hint


Question 6 of 15
6. Bill Gates discovers Apple's latest computer (the "Lisa") which makes him very angry because it makes his own products look antiquated. He decides to visit his "friendly" competitors Apple in Silicon Valley, California.

But he arrives at the airport late, just as his plane is leaving. What does he do to convince the gate's staff to make the plane wait for him?
Hint


Question 7 of 15
7. At Apple's headquarters in Silicon Valley, what did Bill Gates say to convince Steve Jobs to let Microsoft work with Apple? Hint


Question 8 of 15
8. Steve Wozniak was in hospital at the time. But when he comes out of hospital and visits all his Apple colleagues in a local bar, half of them are the new Macintosh team and are throwing food and jeering at the others, who are flinging food right back. While Steve Jobs sits to the side and just laughs. What famous 80s song is (appropriately) playing in the background? Hint


Question 9 of 15
9. Why was Steve Wozniak in hospital? Hint


Question 10 of 15
10. Steve Jobs recruited John Sculley to be Apple's new CEO. Where did John work prior to Apple? Hint


Question 11 of 15
11. According to Steve Jobs, what famous artist said "Good artists copy, great artists STEAL"? Hint


Question 12 of 15
12. During a job interview, Steve Jobs belittles, demeans and virtually orders off Apple's premises an applicant he'd just met. Because the middle-aged, stuttering, nervous man turned out to be a ______. Hint


Question 13 of 15
13. Who was the famous film director Apple employed to film its "1984"-like TV commercial? Hint


Question 14 of 15
14. Why is Steve Jobs so angry with Bill Gates towards the end of the film? Hint


Question 15 of 15
15. Which character became the richest man in the world as a result of the events of this movie? Hint



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Quiz Answer Key and Fun Facts
1. After Bill and Paul had spent time in New Mexico with the Altair Computer (whose company MITS went out of business) they moved their business to Seattle, and were joined by their old college buddy, the unforgettable Steve Ballmer. Also a narrator, Steve Ballmer comments "It was a 2-bit little company called "Microsoft"." ("Bit" pun intended?) But according to the movie, how did they come up with the name "Microsoft" in the first place?

Answer: We are not told in the film

Writing this question has made me curious...I just checked and apparently they just abbreviated the words "Microcomputing Software."
2. According to the movie (in reality, he might religiously believe the others too!), what was Bill Gates' philosophy about life?

Answer: You make people need you

He said to Ballmer and Paul "You know how you survive? You make people need you. You survive because you make them need what you have. And then they have nowhere else to go."

Then he adds bitterly "Right now we're dead, nobody needs us."
3. In conversation with Paul and Steve, Bill said "You know what they say in the Mafia? 'Keep you friends close, and your enemies closer.'" Which enemies is he talking about in this case?

Answer: IBM

The other three, of course, became his enemies either later on in the movie or in the real Bill Gates' life.
4. As the three Microsoft eccentrics run through Miami airport carrying their luggage in one hand (and suits in the other), they are late for an important meeting. In the toilets where they are about to put on their suits, Bill suddenly realises he's forgotten his tie. What happens next?

Answer: Ballmer leans over a cubicle door and asks the man in there for his tie

I don't think the man wearing the tie particularly appreciated Ballmer intruding on him at that exact point in time...

I've often wondered if this bit was true. I must get the book "Fire In The Valley" out someday. That's the book this film is based on.
5. At the important meeting, Gates and co tell some well-dressed executives that Microsoft has what they need. What Microsoft product are they referring to?

Answer: MS-DOS

DOS, or the Disk Operating System, was what Bill Gates said IBM needed to "compete head-on with Apple".

But (and this is one of my favourite bits of the movie) Steve Ballmer turns to face us, everyone else freezes, and he says "This is amazing. Not just amazing, it's historic. It should be taught in all the history books. I mean, hung and framed in the National Gallery or something, because this is the instant of creation of one of the greatest fortunes in the history of the world! I mean, Bill Gates is the richest guy in the world because of what started in this room. And you wanna know what else? It wasn't exactly smoke and mirrors, but we didn't HAVE ANYTHING!"

But later Paul Allen was able to buy DOS from an acquaintance, so they were able to make their millions after all...
6. Bill Gates discovers Apple's latest computer (the "Lisa") which makes him very angry because it makes his own products look antiquated. He decides to visit his "friendly" competitors Apple in Silicon Valley, California. But he arrives at the airport late, just as his plane is leaving. What does he do to convince the gate's staff to make the plane wait for him?

Answer: Exaggerates the danger of computer viruses

He says to the unyielding senior gateperson "Sir I ask you, are you prepared to accept responsibility for what might happen if the computers in the airport all fail because of a virus?"

Paul Allen and Steve Ballmer were already on the plane and Paul had bet that Bill would miss the flight.

When the plane suddenly stopped, turned around and headed back to the gate, Ballmer knew immediately who was responsible and snatched back his money from Paul, laughing.
7. At Apple's headquarters in Silicon Valley, what did Bill Gates say to convince Steve Jobs to let Microsoft work with Apple?

Answer: You know IBM? They're gonna want all our stuff.

Jobs is looking at his newly printed "Apple" t-shirts and trying to ignore Bill. Bill actually says all these things which do not interest Steve...until he mentions IBM. Jobs always hated IBM and did whatever he could to undermine their reputation and efforts. Later in the movie though, he would be considering Microsoft an even greater enemy...
8. Steve Wozniak was in hospital at the time. But when he comes out of hospital and visits all his Apple colleagues in a local bar, half of them are the new Macintosh team and are throwing food and jeering at the others, who are flinging food right back. While Steve Jobs sits to the side and just laughs. What famous 80s song is (appropriately) playing in the background?

Answer: "Everybody Wants To Rule The World" - Tears For Fears

When you think about, Microsoft DOES rule the world. Just not in the way Tears for Fears meant.
The song "Burning Down The House" is actually in the ending credits. And it's just as appropriate, because David Byrne and co sing "Watch out, you might get what you're after."
9. Why was Steve Wozniak in hospital?

Answer: His private plane had crashed

"He was sick" were probably the first words that leapt to mind.

"Woz" had started playing with "expensive toys", as he called his new private plane. After it had crashed, he commented wryly "A computer guy with *memory* problems! A crash!"
10. Steve Jobs recruited John Sculley to be Apple's new CEO. Where did John work prior to Apple?

Answer: Pepsi-Cola

At his welcoming ceremony John told everyone "Steve Jobs said to me 'Do you want to sell sugared water for the rest of your life, or make history?'!"
11. According to Steve Jobs, what famous artist said "Good artists copy, great artists STEAL"?

Answer: Rembrandt

Later on, Bill Gates makes the same quote but when asked who originally said he says "I think it was Van Gogh."
12. During a job interview, Steve Jobs belittles, demeans and virtually orders off Apple's premises an applicant he'd just met. Because the middle-aged, stuttering, nervous man turned out to be a ______.

Answer: Virgin

I'm sure that is not normally a pre-requisite for most computer-related jobs, but STEVE Jobs is far from an ordinary computer-related job... (pun intended).

In real life, Jobs was quite notorious for being unkind like that.
13. Who was the famous film director Apple employed to film its "1984"-like TV commercial?

Answer: Ridley Scott

The actor John G. Hertzler who plays Ridley Scott also plays Martok, the Klingon General, in "Star Trek - Deep Space Nine 9". He's quite a versatile actor!
14. Why is Steve Jobs so angry with Bill Gates towards the end of the film?

Answer: Gates has used Apple's software to invent Microsoft Windows

Bill retorts when Steve accuses him of theft: "Get real, would ya? You and I are both like guys that had this rich neighbor - Xerox - that left the door open all the time. And you go sneakin' in to steal a TV set. Only when you get there, you realize that I got there first. I got the loot, Steve! And you're yellin'? 'That's not fair. I wanted to try to steal it first.' You're too late."
15. Which character became the richest man in the world as a result of the events of this movie?

Answer: Bill Gates

And that's how it went. That's the story of how Bill Gates and Microsoft became so rich and famous.

It's true Gates used other peoples' brainchilds like DOS and Apple's operating system. But I couldn't argue his point: Apple acquired the mouse and GUI from Xerox without paying a cent or doing any work.

"Pirates of Silicon Valley" was a clever name.
Source: Author Doug_from_NZ

This quiz was reviewed by FunTrivia editor ladymacb29 before going online.
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