Poll shows Bill Gates' popularity growing

January 23, 1998
Web posted at: 1:58 p.m. EST (1858 GMT)

(CNN) -- The popularity of Microsoft Corp. Chairman Bill Gates among Americans is growing, according to a CNN/Time magazine poll, and almost half of the computer users interviewed favor having the company become the dominant provider of Internet services.

The survey was conducted January 14-15 with 1,020 adults, including 648 people who use computers in their homes or offices. It found that computer users and the general public have a generally favorable view of the computer industry guru and his company.

Forty-two percent of those polled had a favorable opinion of Gates in 1998, compared to 31 percent in 1995. However, a slightly higher percent of people have an unfavorable view now than in 1995, 15 percent vs. 11 percent. Also, fewer Americans are unfamiliar with Gates (43 percent) than they were in 1995 (58 percent), survey results show.

A majority of computer users (52 percent) believe Microsoft's dominant role in the computer industry is good for consumers, and don't want the federal government to curtail the company's advantage over software providers, according to the poll findings.

Most of the survey had a sampling error of plus or minus 4 percentage points. The question on Gates' popularity had a margin of error of plus or minus 3 percentage points.

Microsoft's dominant role in the software industry   Computer Users All Americans Good for consumers 52% 46% Bad for consumers 33% 30% Sampling error: +/- 4% pts. Source: CNN/Time poll

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Should government reduce Microsoft's competitive advantage?   Computer Users All Americans Yes 32% 32% No 60% 51% Sampling error: +/- 4% pts. Source: CNN/Time poll

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If Microsoft were the dominant company for Internet services   Computer Users All Americans Good for consumers 52% 46% Bad for consumers 33% 30% Sampling error: +/- 4% pts. Source: CNN/Time poll

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Opinion of Bill Gates   Computer Users All Americans Favorable 52% 42% Unfavorable 16% 15% Unfamiliar 33% 43% Sampling error: +/- 4% pts. Source: CNN/Time poll

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Opinion of Bill Gates (Now vs. 1995)   Now 1995 Favorable 42% 31% Unfavorable 15% 11% Unfamiliar 43% 58% Sampling error: +/- 3% pts. Source: CNN/Time poll

Special Section:

• Target: Microsoft

Related stories:

• U.S.: Consumers win under partial Microsoft settlement - January 22, 1998
• Judge denies Microsoft bid to get rid of court expert - January 14, 1998
• Has Microsoft complied? 'A resounding no,' Justice Dept. says - January 13, 1998
• Judge sets contempt hearing in Microsoft antitrust suit - December 19, 1997

Related sites:

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• Microsoft Corporation
  • Corporate Information
• U.S. vs. Microsoft: Brief archive - U.S. Department of Justice

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