Melinda Gates Says No iPods or iPhones Are Allowed

iPods and iPhones Are Not Allowed in the Gates Household

March 2, 2009

This month's Vogue has a great interview with Mrs. Bill Gates, the lovely philanthropist Melinda Gates. The interview focuses on the Microsoft founder's better half, but there's a fun Apple rivalry moment in the piece, when the subject of the couples' kids is brought up.

She says: "There are very few things that are on the banned list in our household. But iPods and iPhones are two things we don't get for our kids."

Gates does admit to being swayed — a little— by Apple's smartphone, though: "Every now and then I look at my friends and say 'Ooh, I wouldn't mind having that iPhone'."

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33 Comments

2 years 4 weeks

look

2 years 48 weeks

Awesome article! Paints nice pictures – I think I wander by next time, I’ll check it out!

3 years 21 weeks

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4 years 2 weeks

A small sacrifice to be the child of Bill Gates.

4 years 8 weeks

Sorry Bill Gates but Steve jobs is better 1st Place .....Apple................www.apple.com 2nd Place.....sorry i can't tell or say 3rd Place.....Microsoft...........www.microsoft.com 1st Place iPod 2nd Place Zune

4 years 8 weeks

Lol, I always look in envy when someone pulls out their iPhone on the train or bus then 10 others start pulling out the same device. I pull out my HTC with WM 6.5 on it and all heads turn my way. I'm proud of being different. So, while everyone has the same looking devices, each phone that runs WM can be customised to the users liking so its kinda rare to see 2 people next to each other having the same kind of looking phone. Oh and Windows Mobile 6.5 is fully sick, love the new interface although it drains through my battery. That said, its still in beta. :P

Sammi_784 4 years 10 weeks

lol, i guess it's a justified rule.although saying that, i wouldn't want to live in that house.i'm an apple geek through and through.

Sammi_784 4 years 10 weeks

lol, i guess it's a justified rule. although saying that, i wouldn't want to live in that house. i'm an apple geek through and through.

margokhal 4 years 10 weeks

Sucks to be Bill Gates' kids!Matredalia, Microsoft *is* in the mobile phone business...there isn't a Microsoft phone, but Microsoft Windows Mobile software is integrated into many smartphones that are competitors of the iPhone [Blackberry, for instance], so not allowing competitor's products in the house makes sense. Still sucks, though.

margokhal 4 years 10 weeks

Sucks to be Bill Gates' kids! Matredalia, Microsoft *is* in the mobile phone business...there isn't a Microsoft phone, but Microsoft Windows Mobile software is integrated into many smartphones that are competitors of the iPhone [Blackberry, for instance], so not allowing competitor's products in the house makes sense. Still sucks, though.

Matdredalia 4 years 10 weeks

My grandmother worked in K-Mart for over 25 years and because of it, my grandfather wouldn't step foot in Wal Mart. So *shrugs* it's just the way some folks are. I think it's kind of funny, but sad for the kids in a way. The iPod I could understand since Microsoft has a competing product but Microsoft isn't in the mobile phone market, so why no iPhone?

Katypaty 4 years 11 weeks

Poor kids, they should have the choice, and this made me laugh. :D

kristints 4 years 11 weeks

I couldn't live with Bill... PCs often make me want to throw things.

kristints 4 years 11 weeks

I couldn't live with Bill... PCs often make me want to throw things.

misscococherie 4 years 11 weeks

lol that's a funny statement. i mean come on steve jobs will not have in his house a PC or a Zune.

aistea311 4 years 11 weeks

lol its like my aunt when she used to work at coke never had pepsi in her house!

EvilDorkGirl 4 years 11 weeks

Yep macgirl, that's why my family has to book all of our travel through Orbitz, cheapest or not. :-) I think that was a really cute comment about the iPhone. And can I just say that I think Bill & Melinda Gates make the cutest geek couple ever.

EvilDorkGirl 4 years 11 weeks

snapperdragon 4 years 11 weeks

I guess the new reason for kids to rebel is to get them their iPods!

starangel82 4 years 11 weeks

I don't see anything wrong with their comment. I mean, I'm sure there are other parents in the world that won't let their child have a certain brand or product because of name or whatever reason.

whitesky 4 years 11 weeks

Bill Gates not allowing Apple products in his home is akin to Nero slapping his fiddle while his world was getting torched. The Luddites are still alive and well in the soggy, albeit beautiful, northwest.

macgirl 4 years 11 weeks

@Taadie all of our household income is due to us selling and servicing Apple computers. I wouldn't buy my son a Zune if he asked for it. I think that's just the way it is when your household is that one sided. I think his quote was cute :-)

macgirl 4 years 11 weeks

Taadie 4 years 11 weeks

Ski, I didnt really read it to mean they DO get everything they want but maybe that there arent a lot of things that are completely not up for discussion. I can understand that. If I was Steve Jobs I wouldnt be buying my kids a PC.

themd 4 years 11 weeks

I bet Bill has Firefox

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33 Comments

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