Bill Gates leaves Microsoft

[kabunaru]

http://www.macworld.co.uk/business/news/index.cfm?newsid=21762

[Lyle]

Just a quick note to say his departure is as planned, for several years now. It's not like he got fired or anything. ;)

[kid rock]

bill gates stepping down i think will hit microsoft and im sue he wont be very far away when they need him, i doubt he will be able to let go even on his death bed.

Simon

[elppa]

He's still spending 2 days a week there I believe.

Good luck to him and Melinda in their work with the foundation.

[aLoC]

Working at MS would be more fun than managing a charity pile. Strange decision.

[Slip]

End of an era ey. I actually quite like the chap, not as charismatic as Mr Jobs but he sure is talented.
And I echo the other members, good luck with the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation.

[IJ Reilly]

End of an era ey. I actually quite like the chap, not as charismatic as Mr Jobs but he sure is talented.

More like extremely lucky. I find it odd that this article makes no mention at all of Gates having had the great fortune of being in precisely the right place at precisely right time, or of the often illegal strong-arm tactics he used to establish Microsoft's place in the market. Now that he's "retiring" from Microsoft we will no doubt see more of these hagiographies.

Still his departure, planned or not, leaves the company entirely in the hands of Steve Ballmer, a man of very dubious talents indeed.

[JNB]

Tp paraphrase Norman Schwarzkopf, as far as Steve Ballmer being a great business strategist, he is neither a strategist, nor is he schooled in the development arts, nor is he a visionary, nor is he a leader, nor is he a operator. Other than that he's a great businessman.

[elppa]

Working at MS would be more fun than managing a charity pile. Strange decision.

He's solving bigger problems than the ones his software has created!

As I said, he is still devoting some of his time per week to Microsoft.

[Abstract]

MS really has made the transition very smooth, though. When SJ retires from Apple, I doubt the separation will be this clean. I expect the stock price to drop like a rock. :p

[PlaceofDis]

bill gates will never be completely separated from Microsoft. its really just not possible. but its good to see him devote time to other aspects of his life as well.

[kabunaru]

Sorry for off-topic question but who do you think dislikes Apple more: Bill Gates or Steve Ballmer? I am just curious and it's a question that popped into my head. :)

[mac 2005]

Sorry for off-topic question but who do you think dislikes Apple more: Bill Gates or Steve Ballmer? I am just curious and it's a question that popped into my head. :)

I would say Ballmer. He's a "zero."

As much as I think Gates allowed Microsoft to steal from Apple, he and Jobs have more in common. They both have an underlying belief in technology as a path to better lives for people. They may differ on how that path should be directed, but I don't see Gates and Jobs being fundamentally different. Remember, it was Jobs that handed Gates the "keys to the kingdom" because Jobs was so afraid of IBM -- and it was Gates who rode to the rescue, so to speak -- with the cash Jobs needed after the disastrous Scully years.

Also, Gates, in his day, actually coded. Could Jobs do the same -- or do we have Woz to thank for much of what we take for granted?

Few things in life are as simple as we're led to believe. No computer is perfect, and I would expect that characteristic extends to the the CEO of the computer company in question.

[Daveman Deluxe]

kabunaru: Steve Ballmer, no question about it. I understand that Bill Gates and Steve Jobs actually have a healthy admiration & warm feelings toward each other.

[ErikCLDR]

It'll be interesting to see Microsoft without Bill. Personally I would have retired years ago if I was him :p.

He's certainly made his mark in history though. I wouldn't doubt hundreds of years from now in addition to kids learning about the lightbulb and the printing press and the cotton gin, kids will be learning about Bill and Microsoft.

[mcarnes]

Steve Ballmer, no question about it. I understand that Bill Gates and Steve Jobs actually have a healthy admiration & warm feelings toward each other.

They love each other.

Maybe not to the point of holding hands but I can see them sharing an ice cream cone.

[Hawkeye411]

Enjoy your well deserved retirement from MS Bill!!!!!!

[Yaboze]

I find SJ's future departure from Apple very terrifying. :(

[kabunaru]

I find SJ's future departure from Apple very terrifying. :(

I don't. I would like to see somebody else in charge now. Steve Jobs was good but now I want to see a new leader.

[Eric Lewis]

wooo..yes this is good...just hope he "dissapears forever"

here comes the fall of microsoft just like what Apple did..but is back

Apple will eventually rule!

[PlaceofDis]

I find SJ's future departure from Apple very terrifying. :(

why? it has to happen sometime. and its obvious that hes been taking a step back in the keynote process, which is a good sign that they know its an inevitability.

[IJ Reilly]

bill gates will never be completely separated from Microsoft. its really just not possible.

This is true. Gates will remain the single largest stockholder and a major force on the board. We can also expect him to have substantial personal influence over Ballmer.

Remember, it was Jobs that handed Gates the "keys to the kingdom" because Jobs was so afraid of IBM -- and it was Gates who rode to the rescue, so to speak -- with the cash Jobs needed after the disastrous Scully years.

This isn't correct. Remember, Jobs left Apple in 1985, and I don't think you could point to any event at Apple that "handed Gates the keys to the kingdom," at least not prior to 1985. If anyone did that, it was IBM (in 1981), and unwittingly at that. As for the cash, Apple did not need it at the time Microsoft made that payment. This was part of settlement of a long-running patent dispute, not a rescue. Apple had about $1 billion in cash on hand at the time.

Also, Gates, in his day, actually coded. Could Jobs do the same -- or do we have Woz to thank for much of what we take for granted?

Who cares if Gates ever coded? Did this result in Microsoft being better at writing software than Apple? Honest answer, please!

[gkarris]

They love each other.

Maybe not to the point of holding hands but I can see them sharing an ice cream cone.

Or each their own single earphone off the same Windows Mobile Phone.... :eek:

[ezekielrage_99]

Microsoft wont be the same. I am not a fan of Microsoft however they have shaped the IT industry undoubtedly, IMHO the organisation wont be the same without the full direction of Bill.

Hello Ballmer with a mirror of the Apple Scully years...

[kabunaru]

Who cares if Gates ever coded? Did this result in Microsoft being better at writing software than Apple?

No, it did not.

[BornAgainMac]

I am interested how these companies will turn out in the next 15 years. Microsoft seemed to fall when Steve Ballmer came to power. Gates seemed to have a Sith Lord power that held Microsoft together and created many followers. Microsoft just isn't the same without Bill. Ballmer is sort of like Jar Jar Binks.

[mcarnes]

Ballmer is sort of like Jar Jar Binks.

Looks more like Watto

http://www.cybertronical.com/allsites/starwars/main/aliens/watto/watto.jpg

[twoodcc]

i actually kinda like gates, at least compared to ballmer - i just can't stand him

[ErikCLDR]

I actually think Ballmer is retarded.

[FoxyKaye]

Still his departure, planned or not, leaves the company entirely in the hands of Steve Ballmer, a man of very dubious talents indeed.
That's not true - M$ is going to "Developers, Developers, Developers, Developers!"

*ducks and runs*

Seriously, though, Ballmer will drive M$ into a mountain - it's only a matter of time.

[IJ Reilly]

Seriously, though, Ballmer will drive M$ into a mountain - it's only a matter of time.

If the mountain won't come to Microsoft...

[TSE]

I really like Bill Gates. He is a great guy, and is very talented and a great businessman. I really think Windows is a better option for some people, and personally I like competition. Him and Steve have a lot in common.

[cycocelica]

The media here has been having a field day (week is more like it) with this story.

It will be interesting to see where MS goes after this.

[kabunaru]

I really think Windows is a better option for some people

For gamers you mean? :confused:

[IJ Reilly]

The media here has been having a field day (week is more like it) with this story.

It will be interesting to see where MS goes after this.

Ballmer has been running the show for about two years now, so I don't foresee any dramatic changes in Microsoft's direction in the immediate future. It will continue to be rudderless. And of course Ballmer is essentially un-fireable, so no matter how poorly he runs the company, he'll have the job for as long as he wants it. Not a pretty picture.

[Prom1]

IJ Reilly, I thought Jobs was ousted out of Apple by Scully, then CEO. He didn't put up much of a fight because of the direction Apple was going to go with clones.

I don't. I would like to see somebody else in charge now. Steve Jobs was good but now I want to see a new leader.

I vote for that younger dude, cannot recall his name. My vote is for Forestall (?), the guy that introduced Time Machine, and also the hilarious burst regarding App Manager (showing a WM Standard powered Samsung BJII). "This is just ridiculous", lmao. I got a kick out of that. But I did see a lil' of Jobs' influence there, and that smirk towards MS again that I used to see out of Jobs - well still do.

Regarding who makes better software - can be argued to death! And it probably will. However, I'd like to see Apple make a major push for the corporate market ... SQL-DB application/server to compete with MS, OS X server is already RIPE for this, and a solid and feature rich (really unique giving us MORE that we didn't know we NEEDED) Email Server as well. MANY corporations rely on these 3 tiers to run; even if their Linux based. IPhone's license from Activesync hints at this push, but its not enough. Sure they don't have to insult the potential market like they did in the past with the Lemons Commercial, hehe.

Looks more like Watto

http://www.cybertronical.com/allsites/starwars/main/aliens/watto/watto.jpg

LMAO! So TRUE! (Stupidity we can excuse because its not the subjects fault) "Mind tricks don't work on me, ONLY MONEEYYYYYY!" Yeah, purely Balmers style.

TO be honest its GOOD for Apple that Balmer is now in charge. His greed and efforts will be more widely spread thin, and with Linux & OS X in the desktop market picking up steam ... soon getting Vista to work as well as XP SP2 has the past 2yrs will be a lil too late. XP SP2 is not that bad, but its not as stable as OS X nor a pleasure to use as well.

I'd like to see a chassis redisign of the MBP, its getting really old!

[kabunaru]

I vote for that younger dude, cannot recall his name. My vote is for Forestall (?), the guy that introduced Time Machine, and also the hilarious burst regarding App Manager (showing a WM Standard powered Samsung BJII). "This is just ridiculous", lmao. I got a kick out of that. But I did see a lil' of Jobs' influence there, and that smirk towards MS again that I used to see out of Jobs - well still do.

Maybe there will be more games for Mac under his command. Who knows?
If that does happen, Apple's market share will increase and gamers will be buying Macs for gaming.
It's just a possible idea and I think this should happen.

[IJ Reilly]

IJ Reilly, I thought Jobs was ousted out of Apple by Scully, then CEO. He didn't put up much of a fight because of the direction Apple was going to go with clones.

Not sure exactly what you are responding to, but yes, Jobs was kicked out by the board on the instigation of Scully, but that was in 1985 -- ten years before the first Mac clones arrived, which was during the Spindler and Amelio years. I don't think we know how much of a fight he put up, only that he left and immediately sold all but one of his Apple shares and started NeXT.

[coupdetat]

I liked Forstall's performance at the keynote as well. I hope he has the vision to continue Apple, because it seems like Steve is playing it too safe these days. I miss those great days of the iMac G3, iMac G4, Cube, iPod, etc. These days Apple seems to be much slower-moving and less willing to take risks.