11/30/98 THERE'S SOMETHING ABOUT BILL

THERE'S SOMETHING ABOUT BILL

There's nothing like a successful track record to persuade U.S. consumers--or voters--to overlook unsavory behavior. Although his court testimony has been so evasive as to leave the judge laughing, Bill Gates remains an admired business figure. Even as government prosecutors drill into the practices of the company and the motives of the man, consumers still see many of the positive attributes of an American business hero in Gates. WHO'S WATCHING? Have you read about, heard about, or seen excerpts from Bill Gates's testimony in Microsoft's ongoing antitrust trial? TOTAL MICROSOFT USERS Read about it 16% 24% Heard about it 19% 23% Seen excerpts 11% 12% None 54% 41% HOW'S HE DOING? Do you have a generally favorable or unfavorable impression of Bill Gates? NOVEMBER JUNE* Favorable 32% 37% Unfavorable 8% 8% Don't know 60% 55% CHANGING YOUR MIND? Over the course of Microsoft's trial, has your opinion of Bill Gates... TOTAL MICROSOFT USERS Improved 6% 6% Worsened 6% 9% Stayed the same 75% 81% Don't know 13% 4% DESCRIBE THE MAN Which one of these words or phrases comes closest to your view of Bill Gates? TOTAL MICROSOFT USERS Entrepreneurial 32% 41% Brilliant 28% 32% Computer geek 13% 13% Arrogant 10% 6% Bullying 2% 3% Don't know 15% 5% WHO'S RIGHT? Which one of the following statements comes closest to your opinion about Bill Gates and Microsoft? TOTAL MICROSOFT USERS Bill Gates has too much power over the computer-software industry 34% 38% The government is hampering Bill Gates's ability to compete freely 47% 53% Don't know 19% 9% Survey of 1,010 adults conducted from Nov. 11-15, 1998, for BUSINESS WEEK by Louis Harris & Associates Inc. 44% use Microsoft products. *June '98 data from CBS/New York Times poll of 1,216 adults.