Steve Ballmer to retire within 12 months

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[Fredledingue]

Microsoft Soars on News of Ballmer Stepping Down -- Should You Buy? by Matt Nesto

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I don't care wheter you should buy MSFT stock or not... but a shoot up of 7% on the news of Ballmer's departure tells a lot about how everybody were disapointed by the leadership and, of course the products which resulted of it. IMO many investors blame Ballmer fo the all the developement non-sens we have seen lately.

 

[Phone Man]

The software company said its board had appointed a special committee to direct the process of appointing a new CEO.

The committee is chaired by John Thompson, the board's lead independent director, and includes Microsoft founder and Chairman Bill Gates, as well as other board members Chuck Noski and Steve Luczo.

It will consider both external and internal candidates and is working with executive recruiting firm Heidrick & Struggles International Inc, according to the company.

Looks like the search is wide open and not limited to internal promotion. Maybe some of those hotshots that left MS may get a shot at returning.

Jim

 

[Mustang]

She might be on the ball, we can't tell.

As long as she's not 'following' the Ball .. mer trail!

 

[phillipduran]

Rumor has it William Shatner wants a shot at it. Last I heard they told him if he gets the position, he can have as many buttons on the armrest of his chair as he wants. Just don't go looking for a Start button. It aint happening.

That's actually a good idea. . .

 

[musiclover7]

This news makes me very happy.

 

[Jf1450]

Rikkins, you crack me up with every post of yours.

[video=youtube;PHQLQ1Rc_Js]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PHQLQ1Rc_Js&feature=player_detailpage[/video]

 

[acr731]

Awesome news, but too bad its going to take up to a year. But at least now there's hope for a better Windows after the 8 and 8.1 disaster that was a Ballmer creation.

 

[BlueMasterFX]

The Internet is surging with happiness that Steve Ballmer is retiring lol. Stocks go up, Ballmer gifs everywhere. Kind of reminds me of the moment when everybody was singing Na Na Hey Hey Goodbye when Bush was leaving.

Maybe now Microsoft can get its stuff together.

 

[crawfish]

Maybe now Microsoft can get its stuff together.

The first move needs to be scrapping Metro. They can do a funny Dallas Pam/Bobby type ad.

 

[BlueMasterFX]

Maybe now Microsoft can get its stuff together.

The first move needs to be scrapping Metro. They can do a funny Dallas Pam/Bobby type ad.

I'm not saying the idea of Metro is completely bad but it could of been better and should of stayed in the tablet world. Scrapping Metro from the desktop should be in the priority list. There should be more focus in battery life, less Windows bloating, enhancements for power users and better performance on the desktop.

Has Microsoft ever thought of something simple like adding tabs to Windows Explorer? I mean we're in 2013. Why should I need a third party tool to do that?

And hopefully this new CEO can bring innovation cause to be honest tablets kind of got boring already. Would be nice if a tablet was a portable backpack. Throw your books pencils paper whatevers inside the screen and when you need them put your hand inside the screen and take it out. Like a magic hat.

Google glasses is not impressive either. Why not make eye contacts that work like a computer as seen in the movies?

iWatch? How about a Windows Watch where holograms pop out.

 

[burtie]

Hardly surprising.

 

[lehnerus2000]

Windows Features

Maybe now Microsoft can get its stuff together.

The first move needs to be scrapping Metro. They can do a funny Dallas Pam/Bobby type ad.

They could hide it in the "Windows Features" section (where Telnet is).

 

[legacy7955]

So it seems that the dissenters at M$ over a couple of years ago (the faction that lost and was not happy with Windows 8 / Metro) have been RIGHT all along, hopefully these folks that likely quit the company back then might be welcomed back with open arms.

YES, MS needs younger folks that have more than money on the mind. They should have vision, creativity, and enthusiasm, and most importantly listen to the customers needs, wants and desires, and are willing to let the customer make choices when new ideas are introduced as well.

I've said it ALL along, even if MS would have introduced Metro as it was the ONLY thing that was needed initially was to give the customers a choice about how THEY wanted to use the OS for their own needs. I mean it was really a simple solution. When the customer first booted up their new OS Win 8 for the first time they should have been given a CHOICE as to which default GUI they wanted to use. Of course the OS could have informed them that at any time they could switch to Metro as the default UI or perhaps have simply clicked in and out of Metro at will. Of course that default choice should have been as welcoming and familiar as 7 was with all the things folks had come to expect like the all important desktop as the boot to default, the critically important safe boot with the tap of the F key, and the traditional start button and menu....

The biggest tragedy wasn't Metro or Windows 8, it was the fact that the solution to the problem was only a few lines of code that was a snap to implement. That failure to quickly add it back in after the forced idea failed is a unmitigated DISASTER that there is no excuse for.

I bet there are a LOT of MS exiles (that parted with the company when they were the losing side in the debate on Windows 8) that are now chuckling at the fiasco and happy as well because they will get their jobs back.

As for Ballmer.... well, good riddance, and it can't come too soon, frankly I think the guy should leave ASAP for the good of the company and the employees.

 

[EMINENT]

Lol at scrapping touch and disaster comments. The only disaster I see is bunch of people that didn't get Windows 7.1.


Same crap, different day as usual.

 

[Mustang]

As for Ballmer.... well, good riddance, and it can't come too soon, frankly I think the guy should leave ASAP for the good of the company and the employees.

:thumb: Yep! The people have spoken! And that's 12 months too long!

 

[Superfly]

Q: What was today like for you? After all, you've been one of the most public faces of Microsoft since 1980.

Ballmer: Somebody said congratulations to me this morning, and I've got to say that surprised me, probably shouldn't. When you retire, it's a perfectly reasonable thing. But, of course, my mind's been all around this notion of it never really being perfect time. ...

Surprised? LOL

Q: Did Chairman Bill Gates ask you to stay or go?
Ballmer: No. Bill -- I mean, no. Bill respects my decision. I mean, it's one of these things when if it's -- you know, ultimately these kinds of things have to be one's own personal decision.

Yeah right!

Q: Your biggest regret?
Ballmer: Oh, you know, I've actually had a chance to make a lot of mistakes,

No!...You don't say!

Source

 

[Rickkins]

Rikkins, you crack me up with every post of yours.

Thank you. I aim to please....

 

[davehc]

I am drawn to comment. The forum has 26,000 members. There are normally more than 2000 members on line.
Yet, it constantly surprises me that so much criticism is posted in these forums, often around only a couple of points, but the credit for the good points in Windows 8 remains minimal.
I have used Windows 8, in Metro and in legacy desktop mode, since its innovation. I have not had the slightest problem. My main use of Metro is as a start menu, but I have installed classic in the legacy desktop. I am 100% comfortable with either. I do not have, nor will I ever, own a touchscreen device.
My view of recent events is as uninformed as everyone. But I am prepared to believe that Ballmers resignation has very little to do with Windows 8. The principal problem with Windows 8 (imho), was allowing its very early, unfinished, release to amateur testers. Those same testers jumped in with both feet, but very little investigation or imagination, and condemned the product from the start. But, YES. MS should have made the Legacy desktop the priority opening page, complete with the old start menu. Users could then, at their leisure, have experimented at got use to the alternative desktop.
Now retired, I have amused myself over my working years, with investment in shares. Any change in a company, of a significant nature, normally results in heavy speculation and buying and selling. That is where the money people are in their glory. Their power is ultimate, and they are able to bring down a company, as easily as build one up (on reputation) It means little. I will defy any members to refer back to this post in, say, about six months, and call me a liar.

 

[lehnerus2000]

Struggle

I am drawn to comment. The forum has 26,000 members. There are normally more than 2000 members on line.
Yet, it constantly surprises me that so much criticism is posted in these forums, often around only a couple of points, but the credit for the good points in Windows 8 remains minimal.

Have you considered the possibility that most people struggle to find anything good to say about W8?

I don't like W8 (Metro mostly).
However, when I pointed out that it uses 2/3 of the RAM that my W7 install uses, some people (on this forum) responded, "An extra 400 MB of RAM is useless anyway."

Most of the other actual Windows improvements are "much of a muchness" to me (I don't disparage them though).
However other people may find them useful (e.g. built-in AV, Hyper-V, storage spaces, etc.).

IMO, if the negatives hadn't existed, people would probably be "singing the praises" of the improvements.

The principal problem with Windows 8 (imho), was allowing its very early, unfinished, release to amateur testers. Those same testers jumped in with both feet, but very little investigation or imagination, and condemned the product from the start.

I disagree.

They did the same thing with W7 and the response was the exact opposite to the W8 response.
That should have been a big hint.

W8 user feedback was negative when:

• W8DP was released
• W8CP was released
• W8RP was released
• W8Ent was released

MS chose to ignore 12 months of negative feedback and then started blaming the users, when people refused to buy W8.

Actually MS did respond to some user feedback.
When they found out that most people were disabling Metro and enabling the Start Menu (in W8DP), MS removed that code in subsequent versions.

They deliberately slapped users in the face and then acted hurt and surprised, when those users turned on them. :shock:

 

[davehc]

"most people struggle to find anything good to say about Windows 8"

I, in turn, would disagree. If you explore this, and other, forums, you will find it is a very loud minimum of users who complain and, as I said, over two minimal points (Metro and the start screen.)

" don't complain about them
The principal problem with Windows 8 (imho), was allowing its very early, unfinished, release to amateur testers. Those same testers jumped in with both feet, but very little investigation or imagination, and condemned the product from the start."

Dunno where that first sentence popped in from? Nothing said by me!

The comparison with Windows 7 is, perhaps, misplaced. Windows 7 was an enormous relief for most, following on the tragic Vista. Windows 8 was innovative and, obviously, subject to controversy.
As you can surely see, subsequent comments on the following releases, were already following the herd mentality.
I agree with the "Much of a muchness" remark. This does support my view that, at least in legacy desktop mode, there is very little to whine about.
Now I/we are drifting from the thread title. Something I have criticised others for on this forum. Apologies.