• by Jonathan Blum , January 5, 2006

LAS VEGAS--They line up by the thousands, each year. Otherwise intelligent people stand for a very long time in a loud room filled with a cacophony of slot machines. All for a speech from a middle-age nerd with low-rent glasses.

And on Wednesday at the Consumer Electronics Show, it was no exception: Bill Gates was in town. Everyone queued up. Never mind that it's usually the same speech: the future of Microsoft's software and the power it can have over society.

Never mind that the real news this week is about Bill's old nerd buddy from Silicon Valley, Steve Jobs. Jobs' Apple is expected to drop some kind of digital content bombshell later this week. Thought the iPod was big? Just wait.

Never mind that Gates spoke about an operating system this time. Yes, an operating system. This reporter has never understood the value of upgrading operating systems. Who cares? If an OS runs, that's all you need. What needs to change?

Never mind that the new operating system will be called Vista and that it will be more media-friendly, more secure, and easier to use than the current Windows XP.

Never mind that with all the hype Microsoft cranked up for its Xbox 360 launch a month ago, this reporter wondered how Gates keeps one speech straight from the next.

Never mind that it really does not matter. Gates is his own news now. But never mind. With Gates, they all line up. Oh, but don't forget, he was one of Time's people of the year.