NEW BLOOD IS NEEDED. GATES IS JUST THE FIRST OF MANY THAT I THINK NEED TO GO. IT'S TRUE EVEN IF YOU DON'T WANNA HEAR IT.

OK! THANKS FOR THE UPDATE! JUST IN CASE YOU WEREN'T SURE THE CAPS KEY IS ON THE FAR LEFT OF MOST KEYBOARDS! IT'S TRUE EVEN IF YOU DON'T WANNA HEAR IT!

The Bill Gates' charade... Geez!
Charity... yeah.. another money-making machine, nothing else.
Whatever, he believes to be the smartest guy around so he thinks that no one will notice it and understand his true intentions, using someone else to control Microsoft while appearing not concerned anymore with it....

Wow, you truely are uninformed. Charity's go to various organizations, not to his pocket, why dont you try learning the definition prior to posting :)

Charity organizations are the worst scam ever made in history. They should be banned.

Oh yeah, all the money goes BACK to the people that give right? The organizations don't use that money at all to help people? Nah, that could never happen!

Moron...

You sir, obviously have no clue what you are talking about. I know for a fact that various charities give the money where it is needed. Try contributing to the Combined Federal Campaign with the DoD. I give every year the army brings this to me, and I know it goes to good charities (autism, ADHD, Breast cancer), all charities that matter and affect many people. I feel sorry for you the day someone you love or know gets cancer and then you realize just how much these charities contribute.

wha!!!!! wha!!!!!!!!! :( bill gates is gonna leave :(! wha!!!!

umm.... That's funny. I heard about this a few years back. Gates was supposed to leave 2 years ago. I guess he keeps delaying his leave like they keep delaying OS systems.

woohoo! I get to keep up hope of a continued war then? :) Yessssssssss (ssss sound of his seething hatred rekindled)

hatred is evil.

NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!!!!!!!!!!

for as long back as there was PC's I have been at war with Bill gates and to a lesser degree, MS... one and the other but always Bill has kept me alive with seething hatred... he CANT DO THIS TO MEEEE! I need that hatred to drive me!! I will die now without Bill to hate... damn you bg!! LOL

hatred is evil.

I wouldn't say he made software easy to understand at all, infact he did the complete opposite. Making software user friendly is one thing, but in doing so deprives the user of an understanding as to what makes the software work, hence we have people out there now spending thousands on a machine just to use google because they don't know any better. I think bill has done well on a market scale, good on him, but he has taken something out of the software world that will be hard to bring back for many people. For anyone interested:
http://news.zdnet.com/2100-9595_22-530081.html an article about microsoft :)

If it wasnt him, it would be someone else that would have done it. No one would have used computers if they were like the old pc's of back in the day. They would have remained for business use only, and they probably wouldnt have caught on like they did now.

Agreed.

Jesus!!! I haven't seen this many replys to a topic on BetaNews for years :))).
Actually I don't think there ever was this many replys :)))

There were a couple about the NSA wiretaps and some other topic earlier this year that were 200+. I think there was one even that had 400+ but I don't remember the issue. Nice to see the users getting involved though!

please don't use god's name in vane

It's all capitalism. The fact is, Bill Gates has so much friggin' money that he doesn't care about making money anymore, now he just wants to give his money away. Good man! But if he only had a million dollars in his company, i'm sure he'd be like 'Charity wah? Leave Microsoft huhhhh?'

I love how he created a global market out of PCs and the Windows Operating System. I like Windows, and think he accomplished his goal of making software easy to understand and use for practically everyone. It's hard to traverse the tech world without hearing his name at least a few hundred times, and you can understand why. Bill Gates may have lost the pizazz he once had, but I think everyone can agree that while his tactics weren't always herioc, he got his company to where he wanted it to be. #1.

"It's all capitalism."

Breaking the law to make a buck is not capitalism, no matter how much some people want to argue that it is.

"while his tactics weren't always herioc"

LOL What an understatement, how about "while his tactics were rarely legal"

yeah while all that crap is debatable fewt, i'm sure Billy boy made enough money not breaking the law as well. I honestly don't mind how Microsoft went about its tactics. I'm computer literate enough to run Netscape on my machine if I so need it, and in which case, I'm always running Firefox.

What people cry foul about is that Microsoft agressively and questionably puts its products on its own OS to eliminate competition. Yup! But what is Google's recent deal with (Dell is it? dunno) to install their own software automatically on new machines. All companies are doing it, and it's not always Microsoft trying to smother its competitors. When I booted this PC 6 months ago I had Itunes as my default music player, not Windows Media Player. So what impact will Microsoft really have in the future of antitrust bullsh!t? I figure not as much.

Also is it really bad to have default applications installed by big named companies? Not really. A lot of older people, and/or folks introduced to PCs by default usually use software already installed with their OS because it's really all they know how to use. In this case, I don't mind.

What does piss me off is the browser wars. Website compatibility and companies that are trying to push for a clear browser winner. For instance I cannot use Office Live with Firefox nor can I view some of Office Live's webparts with Firefox. Or maybe when Google releases products like Firefox Browser sync which is so awesome you could almost pee your pants, but no IE version? COME ON!

I think Bill has done good over the years, but i think its good to see him finally move to the open source community :D

I remember that Bill Gates was sent as a special envoy, invited to the European Internet Foundation (dubious parliament body), to defend software patent policy. In the case of Gates I am sure he knows that patents are the wrong legal instrument for software. This is something which I take personal. MS company pulluted Brussels with hired guns who fought against committed geeks. But unsound methods do not prevail.

In fact Craig Mundie will have to regain trust.

Good luck Bill and Goodbye!
...and good work ;D

Bill Gates is truly a great architect, and a man of all times.

His vision will touch people of all nations, and generations yet unborn.

He is a shining example for all people to emulate!

Wow, that was beautifull!!!

Could this be Bill Gates himself??? Or is this Steve Ballmer trying to kiss his ass???

"Bill Gates is truly a great architect"

Of what, q-dos? Oh right they bought that too.

The only thing that he may deserve credit for as an architect was BASIC, but that was what 30 years ago?

Why do y'all keep doing that? The man is smart. Can you start a company and have it become what Microsoft is today?

I have great respect for him. He IS a true role model.

Oh, he's been directly involved in Office 2007 development.

The history of their company makes it perfectly clear that they only became the gigantic corporation that they are because they were in the right place at the right time (one time, ~30 years ago). They have consistantly missed the boat on nearly every technological advance and have played catch-up (granted, they shine here). Examples: The internet, internet search, Ipod, Xbox, etc. They have time and time again proven that they will do anything to make a dollar, even if it violates the law.

Oh, and he didn't start the company all by his self incase you didn't know, he had lots of help.

What makes him a role model for anything other than a common thug?

-- Waiting.

I have no respect for him, or the company he represents.

I'm surprised the regular pro-Microsoft flamers haven't torched you to a crisp! Actually, maybe it's because they realize you've done your homework to back up your statements.

Just to point out, even if you are in the right place at the right time you have to have the stones and the smarts to take advantage of the situation. Remember, he and Steve Jobs were racing to bring to market the same concept.

The fact that Microsoft has repeatedly purchased companies that had already created concepts and systems they were interested in is actually rather astute business. Why reinvent the wheel when getting bought by MS for millions, if not billions, is an admirable goal for any individual.

You can make more money selling out to MS and being brought into the fold so they can absorb the concepts and include them in their software that is distributed around the world much more rapidly than if your company stayed on its own. Makes sense to me anyway.

Not everyone gets a chance to steal big money from IBM and other big groups, you know... So...

Guess those twits at Slashdot will have to change their juvenile "Billy Borg" icon.

Unfortunately, MS will likely become considerably more cutthroat with the likes of Ballmer having free reign.

Bill was a visionary and we've seen what happens to companies when visionaries either leave or go to seed (both in the case of Apple).

Is he moving to RedHat or Linux?

Good 4 him!

Who is Bill Gates?

With him leading Microsoft might not suck anymore. He may have been a pioneer but the last 10 plus years have proved he's out of touch with the universe. Making bold claims about this and that and never having the pulse on the real world. Microsoft has been in bad need of better leadership for years. This is just a start but it's something. They really need to fire a ton of managment and bring in new blood to make the company not only thrive but to be a great place to work again. Don't think for a minite that it's fun working for Microsoft. They have some of the worlds worst managment teams. Treating employee's much like a drunken father treats his kids. It's all begins with the top dog. And hopefully he will be gone for good.

How's the last 10 years Bill has lost his touch? In the last 10 years, MS basically capture the whole PC market in all the area they are in. If that's call out of touch or incompetent, I think all textbooks on business have to re-write on your standard.

Microsoft is too big to run it the way Google is running now. If Google continue to growth at the current pace, in the past 5 years or so, they will run like Microsoft, just like the rest of big corporations run. It's easy when you working in a group with 10 to 20 people and pointing outside how they are wrong, and their job is easy. You don't know the pressure they have from up above. It just not as easy as you see it. There is a lot more than that when running a big organization. Yes, it's decision make will be slower, probably worst than those in a smaller company, but order must maintain.

Simply said, BigSexy022870 is just full of BS.

"MS basically capture the whole PC market in all the area they are in"

Illegally.

Call we wrong all you want but I am right. There has been many employee's at microsoft that complain about the working conditions. And that sometimes they will lie about when a project will be completed just to get managment off there back. Vista for one is a big problem for Microsoft cause it's a very complex and involved project that the workers have stated they need more time to finish correctly. Yet Microsoft needs it to come out on time. Yet it's over a year late as of now. And the reason they control the market for operation systems isn't cause of them being the best it's cause they wasn't a choice. Microsoft began with the sweet deal of being included in every system and it's just gotten worse cause if greatest OS of all time was released for free tomarrow it still wouldnt have a chance. And there are free and next to free OS's out there already people. And some are indeed better. And Gates has indeed missed the mark on many things in the last 10 years. He didn't even thing the internet was a big issue worth considering at the begining. He played catch up, alot. Which is what they do there in redmond, play catch up. They steal idea's better then anyone. Yet rarely come up with a idea of there own. Vista is Apple's idea. Look at all that Vista is offering and then look at a apple computer. It's had the same features for almost 2 years. They are once again stealing someone elses ideas instead of being the one with the idea. Just cause he's the richest man in the world doesnt make him the smartest. And yes they could still have a chance at being as productive and innovative as Apple or google(as someone mentioned). They just need to get there stuff together. Size of there company doesnt matter. They can and need to reorganize to survive. I'm right, you just don't like that I am right.

The Microsoft employees are the best and the brightest, and they have all done their jobs well, and the products still slip and don't support interoperability standards. It's management's fault and heads must roll. But I think this is a feint, I'll believe it two years from now, if it's still true. The man has an insatiable hunger, an uncompromising need to dominate. So something will come up and bring him back, perhaps an emergency where only Bill can save the day. Then he will stay on indefinitely, till things settle down again.

I hope you're right - the world just won't be as much fun without Gates pushing, inventing, stealing, whatever anyone wants to say he does, he does it well and he does it fiercely and that kind of passion is inspiring to watch and see

Right on, peaceful cooperation is boring. Just look at Iraq, never a dull moment.

LOL, yup thats right.

What ? The best and the brightest ? I bet you are one of them or a relative of someone working there at Microsoft.
The truth is that they write an average of 1,000 lines of code A YEAR ! Yep! So, what does that mean, that they are the smartest ? Yeah, sure... Don't be silly ! 90% of shareware coders have much more experience than the 9,000 Microsoft coders writing 1,000 lines of code a year each.

I see a lot of post that once Bill Gates leave MSFT (not being fulltime), MS will be doom. I just don't see it that way, unless the board of directors decided to being in some celebrate CEO from outside, it just won't happen. MS is NOT a one man team like Apple. When Apple fired Steve Jobs, and replaced him with John Sculley, John ran Apple to the ground. And I don't see this will happening to MS to the near future.

Then Ms has a truck problem.

Good organisation is like writing programs. When the organisation depends on one person it is doomed. The role of an organisational leader is to steer and redesign the organisation that it "just works".

if it weren't for Sir Bill Gates, I would have been not in Software Industry. Just like me, he transformed the lives of billions. The world owes a lot to him. The windows users made him rich. I am glad he is returning his wealth back to the poor world.
Wonderful man.

Yeap. I know we all hate the Windows 9x series, but we all have to admit, without it, most of us still view computer is for geek only. It creates many thing possible. In my view, without Windows OS, there is no need for fast CPU, no need for fast and power graphic card. Because the computer hardware industry will strink to non-existance w/o Windows. The software (especially gaming) will be so slow, and it's not going to be profitable because there just not enough demand. I can go on and on.

I understand where most hate come from, it's nothing but jealousy. Especially when someone so young (he is older now) has so much influence and run the most successful company in the world.

Hey Kids...

Bill Gates does not make all the decisions!!!

Hes Chief Software Architect and Chairman of the board. Ballmar makes the most decisions (CEO)so if you dont like it blame him. Bill goes to schools and donates enough money to build more campuses steve impliments WGA and mac office.

Yeah, sure.. "charity"... To look and appear good... Geez! Bill Gates *IS* Microsoft and he will continue to be the leader there. There is no clear hierarchy at Microsoft other than Bill Gates deciding who is in and who is out of the Company. He is much more than just a CEO like in other Companies/Groups.

Well, he's still far from gone. I see a parallel -- I'm from Singapore and Minister Mentor Lee Kuan Yew is still exerting very strong influence at an age of 80+ and has no plans of retirement soon.

Wow, I've heard the good, bad and ugly in this topic. Over the years I've been known to say good and bad about MS. I hated all Windows 9x, but like 2000 and XP and I'm sure Vista will be better.

Many other OS companies have come and gone, Linux distros have tried and failed, Windows keeps chugging along. IE lost some market share, but 7.0 is coming out and it'll probably gain it back. Office is still the most used office suite around, it beat Word Perfect years ago. OH and Office is the top office suite for Mac too. For the first Xbox, they did well and the 360 is 100% better...also Sony is taking MS' business model that they used for the Xbox (sell it lower than you pay to build it and make money on the games and extra hardware). Xbox kicked Game Cube totally out of the funning. Microsoft mice and keyboards are being used on Macs now. I could go on and on.

We may not have liked everything Bill Gates has done, but he has done a lot of good. He gives money back to the community. MS is great at marketing, and I think they'll be around for a very long time. The only way I can see MS going down is if someone else comes out with the next carnation of OS before MS and that we'll have to wait and see.

Bill Gates will still be around, maybe he won't be at MS 7 days a week, but I bet he'll be there 4-5 and calling in every day. He's probably just sick of being sued and chastised. People are jealous of his accomplishments. I wish him luck.

"For the first Xbox, they did well and the 360 is 100% better"

If your talking hardware terms, its more like over 900 percent better (atleast when comparing the xbox cpu and the 360 cpu(the 3 cores added together))

Bill Gates is NOT leaving Microsoft. His daily duties will deminish allowing him more time to work with the foundation. He will remain with Microsoft.

Nooooooooooooo
who we will hate now :((((

BIll Gates can you come to singapore and all the best for your trip

Why come to Singapore?

Singapore? No, Bill is very welcome to come and stay at my house in England. I've got a sofa bed he can use, and my woman makes a decent breakfast.

As a fellow Englishman, I really enjoyed the mental image of Bill Gates stretching and yawning, waking up from a night of crashing out on someone's sofabed!

I'm no fan of Microsoft, but that down to earth image had me laughing. :-)

I may have a love-hate relationship with his products, but I like to think he's probably a nice guy.

Mr Gates did not steal everybody's money he did the "American thing" he crushed the competition by making a product.
You do not have to buy it!
But we did!

You don't have to drink the kool aid either!

Gates helped technology more than hurt it. He raised the bar. Good luck to him.

wow, well all i can say is good luck in the future to him.

This is without a doubt the signal that Microsoft's reign is coming to an end.

I give Bill props to leaving Microsoft to focus on the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation. This foundation gave my old high school a grant to update the computer lab. Which other wise they would have had none. So I think this is great.
So lets all start bashing me now.......Thanks

I totally agree with you. It is very admirable and my respect for him went up quite a bit.

I was just meaning that Microsoft won't be the same when he leaves, and I think MS is going to take a serious dive which they won't be able to recover from

Unfortunately not. He is just trying to make a fool of everyone once again.

Hey splinter.... and other MS haters.....

ALL I SEE IS HATEN ON MS AND ALL THEY DID WAS PROMOTE WHAT YOUR USIN TO WRITE THIS CRAP ABOUT THEM. Even if you use unix, linux, or crapintosh you still used windows and that got you interested! If you say otherwise your a liar!

Riches man in the WORLD $50 BILLION

If he worked 40 hours a week 52 weeks a year for 50 years he would make over $480K per hour thats more than you make in a year probably more than 3 years!!!

YOU GUYS MAKING $50 AND UP COMPLAING HE IS NOT GOOD WITH COMPANIES AND ISNT SMART OR DOES NOTHING HE IS BEING REPLACED BY 2 PEOPLE AND STILL WORKS AFTER 2008 FOR THEM

went to harvard and his company has its own educational standards MCSE, MCP etc

MORONS

"Riches man in the WORLD $50 BILLION"

Majority earned illegally.

Got any sources? Facts? Figures?

"Majority earned illegally."

Don't post it unless you also post proof. I don't love MS, but I don't think slandering them w/o proof to back it up says anything anyone should do!

Can someone please translate this into English for me?

http://www.google.com/se...&btnG=Google+Search

http://www.google.com/se...+guilty&btnG=Search

Do your own homework from here.

Check google, hints anti-trust and guilty.

by the way, Gates dropped out of Harvard.

MCSE, would you really hire one?

I wouldn't until they had MCSE and at least 5 years experience.

Please get the information straight, he decided to leave Harvard to start MS with Paul. It's completely different then when you get drop from a college because you below 2.0 for 2 or 3 semesters.

Its 3 statements, loosely connected but I think it was not intended to be anyway.

It is actually in english, and anyone with half a brain can read it, have another go this afternoon after some coffee

You seem to know a lot about this, you can refer them to me :)

Einstein didn't have a high school diploma.

Should we ridicule him also?

Nobody is ridiculing anyone, thanks for the suggestion though.

"leave"
"dropped out"

What's the difference here?

Oh, there isn't any. Reasons are irrelevant, the facts are the same.

Reasons are irrelevant

Spoken like a true politician. You sure you're not running for something?

The 5 years experience mean nothing just like any certification and degree. What really matters is the person. If you are not dumb you should hire one for a couple of months and if he/she can't keep up with it and understand the job quickly, then you could just fire him/her.
But judging without testing someone on the field it's pretty dumb and the reason why the IT market is flooded with mediocre people getting the job just because someone said to hire them.

This move comes about ten years too late, but better late than never I guess. Shockingly, I somewhat agree with PC Rat's sentiments: MS has been treading water for years now and the company is long overdue for some leadership changes. They should take this opportunity to clean house and get some people in there who know how to innovate. See ya, Bill! Next!

You know your big when you have to announce this 2 years in advance.

I applied for Scoble's job this week. I'd also like to submit my half-page resume for Gates's job, too. I can do both and save the company some money. And if hired, I promise to whack Steve Ballmer upside the head with a 2x4 on video just for fun.

C'mon, who's with me? Take a chance, hire an idiot; stock can't get much lower.

Microsoft's stock has only gone down ~$3 from numbers a year-ago. The company also has a market cap of over $225 billion -- double that of Google, which has a stock price that is just waiting to come crashing back to earth.

Things aren't really as dire as the media often make them out to be.

In zridling's defense, he *did* admit he was an idiot.

...just sayin'.

LMAO

Indeed...

LMFAO!

wether one likes or dislikes Bill gates and his company doesnt really matter. he accomplished a lot and the biggest he is about to do is through this foundation of his. because of his unmeasurable wealth, he is likely to be criticized by most people unable to shake loose their envy. unmistakingly his efforts to do something for humanity give credit to his ( like it or not) sophisticated degree of intelligence.

Well said...looks like you scored too!

Indeed! I have always found it amusing that people criticize him or Microsoft as being a big greedy corporation when he does so much for the world around him.

The very first Mod in the positive I've ever seen here.

Shocking.

I've said it before, it's his wife that is the humanitarian. How much did he give before he married her?

Research that and let us know.

How much available money did he have before he married her? And either way, his wife isn't making the money and he wouldn't let her just give it away if he didn't believe in the cause. The world will become a better place a little at a time with the Bill & Melinda Gates foundation distributing their funds and continuing to raise funds. Whether or not it is he or his wife that started the philanthropy is entirely irrelevant.

You obviously have never been married.

'nuff said

His mother was an important member of United Way in Seattle and his family has contributed with United Way for long years now.

It is in the family... not just his wife.

"Some years later, after Bill and Paul Allen moved Microsoft to Seattle, Mary began pushing Bill to start a United Way campaign at Microsoft. For a while, Bill resisted. He’d say: “Mom, we’re trying to build a business. The best way I can serve the community is by making this business succeed.”"

- Melinda French Gates

I'm not trying to start a fight here, but you would be wrong on that account my friend. This July will be our first anniversary and we've been together six years.

I stick to my original statement, that he would not give away BILLIONS of dollars unless he believed in the cause, and nevertheless, he wouldn't resign a position at the company he created and has sweat blood for the past couple of decades to devote his life to charity. Be real.

Lemme change my statement then.

You haven't been married long. :-P

Wait a few years, you will lose all control over your $$$.

Ask ANY married man.

heh

He's not leaving. He'll devote part of his time to being in Microsft.

Gates makes like 95% of his money from stock investments. His annual salary is 900,000 and he's growing by a lot more than that in terms of net worth.

What's your point? At least he is holding most of his wealth in MSFT. Unlike Brian, Larry and Eric of Google, they sold most if not all their shares already. Net 12 billion each for Brian and Larry. All they have to do now is grant themselves more stock options to exercise at $0, and they can start the process again.

I'm just saying that to show that his current position isn't what's brining in the money. He won't lose much once he does completely step out.

The point of the post was to show that Gates never said he's stepping down. He's just gonna s*** his focus onto his foundation.

He'll still be chairman in July of '08.

One thing that should not be lost on anyone regarding Gates is his considerable generosity. Over $2 billion/year in foreign aid is pretty darn impressive. It's easy to criticize some of his business desisions and policies - yeah, I've done it too - but all things considered, he's a good man.

...

"all things considered,
he's a good man"

...

The discussion has been exclusively about
Gates' business and technology leadership.

NOBODY has insinuated that he's evil.

...

The Computer Rodent

...

The post was not meant to convey "good as opposed to evil". By "good man" it is simply to say that Bill Gates is a quality individual who has been extremely generous, especially toward those who really need help.

As for what the discussion is about, doesn't really matter. The article reports bill Gates leaving Microsoft, then spending more time on his foundation, so my post is quite relevant to the topic.

...

"Mismanagement, eh?
In arguably the worlds
most profitable company"

...

Modern history is littered with "world's most
profitable companies" that don't even exist
anymore !

Gates and Co. haven't had a successful new idea
for years.

The only thing you got right was that Microsoft
has been living off past glory. ~That~ just lasts
for so long !

Nobody will even notice (in practical terms) Gates
leaving ...because he never contributed anything
except his name.

He was just a lucky kid who exploited IBM's
stupidity. Never was a geek (just had the haircut).
Never had any real vision, insight, or genius.

...

The Computer Rodent

...

*Modern history is littered with "world's most
profitable companies" that don't even exist
anymore !*

That's called merge and aquisition, not attrition. And name 1 company in recent memory that was the most profitable company, that is no longer around....

name changes don't count.

*Gates and Co. haven't had a successful new idea for years.*

OK, now you can join the ranks of those other ignorant people.. This has to be the dumbest thing said about Microsoft yet.

Do you even have a list of products that MS promotes in front of you? Office Live for one, that's not successful and new? I am not even going to get into the Server side.. that should be OBVIOUS, but evidently not to you. Server survival that in and of itself is its OWN success right there.

*The only thing you got right was that Microsoft has been living off past glory. ~That~ just lasts for so long !*

I can't agree with that. Xbox.. that's not so old. There are pleny of things Microsoft has done over the years.. I don't think you are paying attention. They aren't around because of Windows 3.11.. That was a suck a** product, quite frankly is amazing it survived that..

...

Bill Gates as Microsoft's "Chief Software
Architect" has been a real joke. As if
the guy ever contributed anything except
confusion to Microsoft's game plan !

Microsoft has drifted the past few years.
They need someone with focus, and a vision.
But none of the heirs-apparent seem to be
any more competent than Gates was.

So far, market dominance has saved Microsoft.
This ~won't- continue forever.

If they can't provide consumers with innovative
new products, they'll at minimum have to start
updating their old products on a less than
once-every-five-or-six-years cycle !

...

The Computer Rodent

...

He was just a lucky kid who exploited IBM's
stupidity. Never was a geek (just had the haircut).
Never had any real vision, insight, or genius.
--------------------------------------------
He was just a lucky kid? Luck has nothing to do with success, especially for someone who run the world most profitable company. He see opportunities and he seige it, he is a visionary.

How is Google any different? Didn't Brian/Larry steal the search idea from Yahoo? Except they make improvement to it, instead go by most keywords hit, they go by most visited. Entreprenuership is just that, you see something that's good out there, and you can make improvement to it, you will be rich. I never see Bill Gates as an IT guy, he always is a business man to me, a damn good one. Not only he is good, he is willing to give them back to society.

because he never contributed anything
except his name.

ROFLMAO.

Ya know, for someone who claims not to be an MS hater, you sure seem to exhibit all of the traits. Up to, and including totally ignoring reality.

Good job.

OK, this is definitely a personal attack, and I don't think this post will survive, but you deserve it this time.

Normally, I just disagree with your tirades. Normally, I think you're just plain wrong. This time, I think you're a complete fracking moron.

Maybe you don't like everything Microsoft does, but how can you make such a childish comment about Gates when the man donates billions of his own private money to his charitable organization?

The company itself has plenty of successful ideas, as evidence shows in the fact they're still around and still making tons of money.

I think perhaps it's time for you to go back to school and learn something about business and charity.

It's funny how you can say all those things without a ;-) or :-) or even a /joke.

I mean, you almost sound serious when you say that...

;-)

Vla

Computer Rodent,
You are one blind fellow. Bill Gates was a genius not only in computers, but also in finance. He always timed the releases so well, that he never sold under a million copies in the first week. eg- The IE 1 came out at such a crucial time(Netscape beginning to get boring and cumbersome) that before anyone knew what happened, everyone was using it. The last few years have been unsuccessful, not because of his lack of ideas, but because he began to forget that other companiies also existed. Firefox now dominates IE. Linux has started a revolution against Windows. Openoffice.org is now better than Windows Office. This isn't because the windows products are useless, it's just that the other ones are opensource and therefore, updates and new versions are released faster. Eg- Windows Vista is delayed, Linux will release at least 5 versions in the waiting time and therefore, tell me, who is better? Still, Bill Gates will always remain in the hall of fame of software. He wasn't a smart computer programmer, He was just a genius when it came to managing people and using human resources and that is a skill many "smartasses" lack.

Firefox dominates IE?? lol yeah right. Not from the figures I've seen.

OpenOffice.org is better than Office? Is this just your opinion? I think so.

He was just a lucky kid who exploited IBM's
stupidity. Never was a geek (just had the haircut).
----------------------------------------------

It was IBM who said hardware is everything, and Bill who see something different.

I still don't understand how Linux start a resolution against Windows? At any point so far, Linux is only able to steal shares from other *nix, not from Windows. I donno which dumba$$ come up with this idea Linux will replace Windows. Before that can happen, Linux has to take out other *nix players in the market. And what's even more funnier is Sun actually sponsor Linux in hope Linux will compete with Windows.

Dudes getting *old*. About time he decided to break out and start, ya know....enjoying some of that money?

Old? Just remember that little comment in 20 years.. when they start retiring your number.

EVERYONE reaches the same point eventually, keep that in mind. Its all relative. He is old-ER. I don't think he is ready to just buy a head stone at the moment.

I think he is enjoying that money.. and he should he has a family.. I think we are all just a bit jealous that he has the money AND time to put to good use.

:P Feeling a bit aged, are we?

*grins*

...

If Gates leaving were accompanied by
sweeping and fundamental changes, then
it might be of major import.

As it is, though, the same deadheads who
have surrounded Gates' misadministration
will simply carry on the incompetence
without him !

What Microsoft needs is management
with a vision. A little ability to get things
accomplished in a timely manner wouldn't
hurt, either.

They got good basic products, but no idea
where to take them next. Need to get out
of California Yuppie fad-hopping-mode and
arrive at some concept of the future of
personal computing.

...

The Computer Rodent

...

Mismanagement, eh?

In arguably the worlds most profitable company...ever.

What a funny man you are.

This guys is an obvious troll - if you hadn't noticed...

...I smell a rat--er, see that the rat has arrived to the scene.

oh yeah. I noticed. Quite a while ago.

Still fun to play with though.

As it is, though, the same deadheads who
have surrounded Gates' misadministration
will simply carry on the incompetence
without him !

Leave us Deadheads out of it...Garcia had nothing to do with it..lol

Conspiracy, he's leaving microsoft so he can work undercover for Geeks On Call, ya know, the computer experts

PLANS to leave in two years !!!

Is this the alpha, beta, release candidate ...

I bet it wont actually happen for at least 5 years

hehe

"Even as I prepare to... ...July 2008..."

Translated: "Windows Vista will finally be released around mid-2008."

Good riddance!
But at least he's going out the right way on his own terms.
He needs to give back to society for crimes against human engineering.

Bill Gates is leaving Microsoft, to spend more time working on his haircut.

Hey, there is no cosmetic surgery to remove the geek from a man. Billions or not, there are some things that just can't be helped :)

Well done for a laugh out loud on a Friday afternoon.

LOL. I knew with all the goofyness going on there had to be something up at MS.

I see things going downhill after Billy leaves. :)

If you think this will effect Microsoft's future more than just a few people selling stock, your an un-educated fool.

If you think this will effect Microsoft's future more than just a few people selling stock, your an un-educated fool.

And what is so happy about Microsoft doing badly, this stupid idiotic childish view of Microsoft needs to stop, despite the bs people give it, Microsoft is a very good company.

From someone named "stevo" and who double posts.......

Ohhhkay.....whatever. :D

Hey, whatever. Keep digging your hole.

I think you intended to say "you're an uneducated fool".

In two years, pigs will fly. Seriously though, it's been a long journey and a job well done, Mr. Gates.

Wow, this is pretty big news. I bet their stock goes down because of this.

I don't blame him though, he already holds the world in his palm, so what else is there to do other than give back? He's already the biggest philanthropist the world has ever known, I think that this will be a great move for everyone.

I also agree with you. :)

You people are psycho. CEO's step down all the time, and nothing happens to the stock.

Did you know Bill Gates hasn't been at the helm for what, 3, 4 years? He voluntarily took a lesser position, he isn't even the CEO now, so what makes you think things will change, just because he is no longer on the staff? Everyone will eventually step down.

Bill Gates has given the company direction, and a vision. There is no reason to believe that will change.. at least for the worst. It can only get better. New people bring new ideas.

The last two comments are the only two that made sense! Correct, CEOs step down all the time. I was with UPS for 14 years and saw many changes. I believe companies fall/fail from the top (leadership)-- by losing site of the initial vision of founding fathers. I don't see that happening with MS. Did you all get the part where he will come back to 'visit'? He'll still have his finger on the pulse. He's worked hard on "his vision" and don't think for one minute he's going to stand by and let it fall in a heap! You gotta' give it to him. He's got a brain and the balls to pursue dreams and creations. I think Microsoft will be around for many years as long as greed doesn't consume MS high management.
My 2 cents. Thanks

So what exactly in my post do you find to be "psycho"?

And what crystal ball are you looking in when you say "It can only get better"? So you're saying that there is no possibility that things can get worse? You're correct that new people do bring new ideas, but who's to say that those ideas are good? Sounds naive to me, but then again maybe I'm just being "psycho".

Yea CEO's come and go...all it takes for a profitable company to crash and burn is for a new CEO to chart the wrong course. Sometimes what looked to be the right road turns out not to be...Remember "New" Coke?? Though he will continue to be a presence I think (or I hope) that the new CEO will at least examine company policies and explore what changes are needed if any. Finally MS aside Mr Gates has done more in the fight against AIDS then many nations have. For that I salute him.

Bill Gates isn't any CEO. Bill Gates is Microsoft.

The only reason Bill Gates gave himself a demotion is because he was sick of being forced into court. However, he still ran the company as he always has.

Now he is going to let someone else run the company, which has never been done at Microsoft before.

There may be some stock effect.

Now he is going to let someone else run the company, which has never been done at Microsoft before.

Ultimately, Bill will still be in control. He did say he is retaining his position as Chairman. This means someone starts messing up, oops, that person doesnt work here anymore. Even though he wont be active, dont be surprised at upper level changes if things dont go well.