Microsoft CEO Steve Ballmer to retire within 12 months

Would be nice if they'd just do separate OS's for mobile and desktop, then everyone would be happy...

 

Maybe they thought it wouldn't be cost effective?

 

No.. it didn't fit in with their agenda.. in a few years when they stop trying to force mobile on everyone, then maybe there will be a chance again. I won't hold my breath though...

 

They need to do what Canonical did to reinvent Ubuntu - create a single unified interface that works well across ALL devices! Windows 8 is a half-baked montrosity. I'd like to see the company design an intelligent and easy to use operating system. And they need to start on that work now!

 

I don't know if that's really possible.. the one size fits all approach. I think they tried that, and it didn't work. Think about it, using a touch device with your fingers is totally different than using a mouse with such fine resolution. What's appropriate on one device isn't on another. IMO, one unified interface for all hardware won't work. You don't see Apple doing that do you?

 

i hate Unity way more than Metro.
between the two i'll go with Windows 8 over Ubuntu any day.

anyway,
i think it was a bad idea to force Metro on the desktop user.

 

As did I - but that doesn't validate a broken system that employs an open employee status system that renders them useless unless the give everything and more to the company and so-called Management.

How Cornell and many others employ the PMP Performance Management Process.

 

MS is no different than any other company pumping sewer sludge to the minions while the CEO is a fat cat that did nothing for the company.

 

This.

+ Infinite
I hope so . . . i hope.

 

http://www.bloomberg.com/news/2013-08-24/steve-ballmer-failed-to-take-microsoft-beyond-the-pc.html

 

No doubt the MS Board discussed Ballmer's implementation of the new vision and its recent failures. Ballmer was successful when he had a strong base, a monopolistic attitude and a product that was well positioned by his predecessor. The competition became stronger with both product and marketing skills which Ballmer simply ignored or misread. The Board may have had words with him which IMO sent a clear message...retire or be fired.

To recapture a good chunk of the market MS should look outside the company for a replacement. Looking at the list of internal candidates may not inspire the Board. the shareholders or the press as the insiders are already Ballmer apprentices. Beware the sorcerer's apprentice.

 

If they had done that to begin with, not a peep would have likely been heard from the critics. I personally think it was both money and agenda, but I believe agenda was the bigger reason. They've been making a huge push to the use of cloud and subscription and, yes, if anyone wants to do a one size fits all solution, it's MS. They did do it and it's failing. I'm pretty sure Ballmer got a "suggestion" to move along, I doubt he just up and decided it was time to float the Seven Seas in bliss.

As to who can replace him, I'm with others, someone should come from the outside. Anyone left in there has much too likely been "Ballmerfied" to make the changes needed. Who outside that might be, I've no good suggestions yet.

 

• http://www.computerworld.com/s/article/9241867/Ballmer_forced_out_after_900M_Surface_RT_debacle

 

I dont know but i find this funny. All those bad decisions are now striking back!

 

I hope they start making better decisions now when it comes to how they design their OS's!! What the hell was they thinking when they designed Windows 8! With a few common since changes it could have been really great, but it seems Microsoft has been lacking common since lately.

Does anyone think Government, and large businesses would want to upgrade to Windows 8? It doesn't seem like they had it's use in a business environment in mind when they created Windows 8. Has anyone's employer updated their machines to Windows 8 here? I have no ideal why they would want to, but i'm mostly going by what I have read. I have only used Windows 8 a few times. I don't have a machine with Windows 8.

 

Try it for awhile. It's the best OS I've used. Even snappier than Win7.

 

I really don't mind Metro but it could have been implemented better. I do mind that they forced an app store and pre-installed apps on their users. The entire app system should have been an option for desktop users.

Most apps are nothing but adware and spyware and I don't want any of it on my desktop PC. I also prefer to keep my information on my PC and not in a cloud that is out of my control.

 

MS will have more than management woes to deal with over the next 12 months. They may end up having a problem attracting the best of the best engineers and designers who now have a myriad of successful tech giants to work for. They may even lose some of their star employees as well. Who would want to be associated with the current product set and a company vision that continues to implode? Sounds like RIM all over again.

 

There have been reports of problems for the past few years, internally the well documented in-fighting between teams and the appraisal system creating hostile environment within teams. Externally they have also lost some 3rd party developer appeal, due to fashion (trend towards web and mobile which MS has always lagged), slowly eroding the development experience (reinventing the wheel with frameworks, creating too many hoops to jump through all causing frustration), but it and it could get worse before Balmer exits as there is going to be 12 months of speculation and doubt.

Cheers, Nick.

 

You must have missed this....

http://www.engadget.com/2013/01/04/us-department-of-defense-signs-617-million-windows-8-deal/

 

Yes, it seems to me announcing that Steve Ballmer is leaving and then giving him another 12 months is itself a bad decision.

 

Yep.. the sooner the better, but I suppose it takes time to decide on a replacement...

 

To be clear I should have said that it seems like a bad policy in general, ie to compromise someone's ability to lead by announcing he's leaving and then keep him around for a year.

 

Perhaps, but I see it as a good public relations move at this point....

 

They want everyone to know theres still hope for MS.