Why It's Not Business As Usual For Microsoft

CWmike sends along a Computerworld article that begins "Bill Gates will be leaving Microsoft for good at the end of the month and Microsoft would have you believe that it will be business as usual for Microsoft. I understand they also have a great bridge between Manhattan and Brooklyn that they'd like to sell you. Cheap! Steven J. Vaughan-Nichols lays out the reasons it ain't biz as usual. 1) [and there are four more] You can't replace genius. Steve Ballmer is moving into the top slot, but I've met Bill Gates, and Steve Ballmer is no Bill Gates. He's a big, bouncy sales guy. Can't you just see Ballmer selling used cars on a local TV ad spot? Instead of running around a stage shouting: "Developers! Developers!" just visualize him running around a car lot shouting, "Cars! Cars!" I find it far too easy to do just that. This is the man who's going to replace Bill Gates? I don't think so. Besides, he already has a track record as acting head of the company, and it's lousy. Fire Ballmer now, why wait for him to fall on his face?"

Crap

[zakkie]

You give Gates far too much credit. He is a ruthless opportunist with an extremely privileged background. He is no computer industry prognosticator - even leaving aside the "640k" mis-attribution. It's his obsessive-copmpulsive drive to control that got Microsoft anywhere, not his industry insight.