[edu]

  There was no doubt about it: I had discovered The Next Big
  Thing. Like Edison and the lightbulb, like Gates and the 
  pc operating system

Ouch.

[gord]

I'll see your ouch and raise you one Gary Kildall.

[eru]

Discovered. Not invented.

[eru]

To clarify: Bill Gates discovered operating systems, and made a lot of money producing and selling them. He did not invent them.