ROANOKE TIMES 
                      Copyright (c) 1997, Roanoke Times

DATE: Friday, April 25, 1997                 TAG: 9704250025
SECTION: EXTRA                    PAGE: 1    EDITION: METRO 
COLUMN: FRIDAY SOMETHING
SOURCE: NANCY GLEINER

WAS IT SOMETHING I SAID?

Maybe consulting a crystal ball would have been a good idea for the people who said:

``I think there is a world market for maybe five computers.'' Thomas Watson, chairman of IBM, 1943.

``But what is it good for?'' IBM engineer, commenting on the microchip, 1968.

``The concept is interesting, but in order to earn better than a `C,' the idea must be feasible.'' Yale professor in response to Fred Smith's paper proposing an overnight delivery service. (Smith later founded Federal Express Corp.)

``Who the hell wants to hear actors talk?'' H.M. Warner, Warner Bros., 1927.

``We don't like the sound, and the guitar music is way out.'' Decca Recording Co., rejecting The Beatles, 1962.

``Louis Pasteur's theory of germs is ridiculous fiction.'' Physiology professor Pierre Pachet, 1872.

``Stocks have reached what looks like a permanently high plateau.'' Yale economics professor Irving Fisher, 1929.

``640K ought to be enough for anybody.'' Bill Gates, 1981.

LENGTH: Short :   33 lines