Adam Osborne

Venture capitalists are like lemmings jumping on the software bandwagon.

We can learn from IBM’s successful history that you don’t have to have the best product to become number one. You don’t even have to have a good product.

Money coming in says I’ve made the right marketing decisions.

This is the ultimate con game – I’m having fun and people pay me to do it.

Adequacy is sufficient.

I take what I see work. I’m a strict believer in the scientific principle of believing nothing, only taking the best evidence available at the present time, interpreting it as best you can, and leaving your mind open to the fact that new evidence will appear tomorrow.

With bundled machines you can throw away the hardware and keep the software, and it’s still a good buy.

There’ll be a special place in hell for the tape back-up people.

I liken myself to Henry Ford and the auto industry, I give you 90 percent of what most people need.

The guy who knows about computers is the last person you want to have creating documentation for people who don’t understand computers.

The future lies in designing and selling computers that people don’t realize are computers at all.

The small businessman is smart; he realizes there’s no free lunch. On the other hand, he knows where to go to get a good inexpensive sandwich.

People think computers will keep them from making mistakes. They’re wrong. With computers you make mistakes faster.

The most valuable thing you can make is a mistake – you can’t learn anything from being perfect.