The idea that Bill Gates has appeared like a knight in shining armour to lead all his customers out of a mire of technological chaos neatly ignores the fact that it was he who by peddling second-hand, second-rate technology, led them all into it in the first place.

More from 'Douglas Adams on Microsoft'

• A common mistake that people make when trying to design something completely foolproof is to underestimate the ingenuity of complete fools.
• After nearly four years of total isolation he was so pleased and relieved to see Ford that he could almost cry. Ford was, on the other hand, an almost immediately annoying person.
• A glummer look replaced the already glum look on Arthur Dent’s face. “So we’re not home and dry,” he said. “We could not even be said,” replied Ford, “to be home and vigorously toweling ourselves off.”
• All eyes were on Ford. Some were on stalks.
• All opinions are not equal. Some are a very great deal more robust, sophisticated and well supported in logic and argument than others.
• “All right,” said Ford, “I’ll try to explain. How long have we known each other?” “How long?” Arthur thought. “Er, about five years, maybe six,” he said. “Most of it seemed to make some sense at the time.”