Far be it for me to start blogging about Windows topics in a Mac blog, but this one is a special case. Yesterday at the Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas, Bill Gates, Microsoft Chairman and CEO gave the Keynote speech. Which, incidentally, is also his last one as he is retiring from Microsoft.

It’s interesting to note in comparison with a Steve Jobs Keynote how an MS Keynote would progress. For one thing they have more gimmicks and entertainment mixed in. They have to work harder (I guess because they have less interesting points to share), and there is a lot of creative stretching involved as well. Nothing to write home about though.

Our favorite gadget and tech sites gave it equal time and had online real-time coverage of the Bill’s CES Keynote, just like the Macworld Jobs keynote speeches. It’s kinda odd reading though, specially if you’re used to following Macworld coverages. Check out the live reportage of Gadgetell and Engadget.

One of the more entertaining moments is a seven-minute produced clip about Bill’s last day at Microsoft, with appearances by Matthew McConaughey, Jay-Z, Steven Spielberg, George Clooney, Jon Stewart, Hillary Clinton, Barack Obama and even Apple stalwarts Bono and Al Gore (Apple board member). It’s one of those things Apple could have done, but it’s a bit surprising Microsoft did it. Gizmodo’s Brian Lam says “this video makes Bill Gates look cooler than Steve Jobs”, and I agree (up to a point: Bill wore a pink shirt and a purple sweater to the Keynote).

I enjoyed the video immensely, and you can watch it for yourself here.

Bill, you old coot, we’re going to miss ye.

…aaaanhhddd on Mac-A-Doodle we start a new year of Macfanboyism by paying tribute to the Man.

Steve Jobs has been named Face of Business 2007 by CNBC in a poll conducted Christmas week. CNBC Vice President for Business News Jonathan Wald said

This was a year of great business triumphs and headlines, and all of those nominated had significant impact on the world of business and, therefore, were worthy of consideration, but Steve Jobs is driving Apple to new heights, including a record stock price.”

Among the closest runners-up in a large, illustrious selection were CitiGroup CEO Chuck Prince (6.9%), the “Google Guys” (3%) and Facebook’s Mark Zuckerberg (1%).

Steve-O got 78% of the votes.

As I’ve mentioned in a couple of previous posts, when I was in Japan the other month, I lined up at the Ginza Apple Store in Tokyo on Leopard Day and caused quite a bit of attention when I pulled out an iPhone to pick songs to listen to. As a phone it was useless because the Japan telecom setup requires 3G to work. So seeing an iPhone in Tokyo wasn’t as common a thing as in other countries - hence the ruckus in the Ginza line.

Goes to show that in Apple-crazy Japan (where the leading OS is Mac OS X, and seeing MacBooks and MacBook Pros was a common sight everywhere), an iPhone would be more than a phenomenon if and when it comes out than it was in the US. Well, it seems progress is finally being made in that direction, reports the Wall Street Journal.

According to a report from the Journal last Wednesday, Steve Jobs has apparently been in talks with NTT DoCoMo, the top provider, and has also met with SoftBank, the third most popular one.

Aside from 3G, Apple might have to have a more-beefed up model to satisfy tech-savvy, spoiled and demanding Japanese users, which is good news for all concerned as it raises the bar for everyone concerned. No details or confirmations on the news, but two weeks previously, Apple was also talking to China Unicom and China Mobile.

You know things have gone past silly when Steve Jobs creates attention by being seen in public not in a black mock turtleneck and jeans.

That said, take a look at Steve in a suit:

From earlier this year, when he went to Norway to see Al Gore receive his Nobel Peace Prize.

Snazzy, but he’s looking his age. Stick to the t-shirt, dude.

(Via Gizmodo)

A portrait of Steve Jobs at home during leaner, meaner days 25 years ago. During this time in his life the Apple ][ was king, and he would appear for the first of his (so far) six appearances on the cover of Time Magazine.

Of this portrait, Steve said

This was a very typical time. I was single. All you needed was a cup of tea, a light, and your stereo, you know, and that’s what I had.”

(via The Digital Journalist; photo by Pulitzer Prize-winning novelist Diana Walker from her book The Bigger Picture: 30 Years of Portraits)