Bill Gates will be transitioning out of a day-to-day role in the running of Microsoft by July 2008 to spend more time on his global health and education work with the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, Microsoft Corp. today announced. The two-year transition period will ensure a smooth and orderly transfer of responsibilities.
The Redmond-based company announced that Gates will continue in his role as Chairman, with Ray Ozzie (currently Chief Technical Officer) taking over the Chief Software Architect post with immediate effect. Craig Mundie, also a Chief Technical officer, will assume the newly-created role of Chief Research and Strategy Officer.
“This was a hard decision for me,” Gates said. “I’m very lucky to have two passions that I feel are so important and so challenging. As I prepare for this change, I firmly believe the road ahead for Microsoft is as bright as ever.”
News source: Microsoft Press Release
Link: Neowin Forum Discussion
The Redmond-based company announced that Gates will continue in his role as Chairman, with Ray Ozzie (currently Chief Technical Officer) taking over the Chief Software Architect post with immediate effect. Craig Mundie, also a Chief Technical officer, will assume the newly-created role of Chief Research and Strategy Officer.
“This was a hard decision for me,” Gates said. “I’m very lucky to have two passions that I feel are so important and so challenging. As I prepare for this change, I firmly believe the road ahead for Microsoft is as bright as ever.”
News source: Microsoft Press Release Link: Neowin Forum Discussion
Yeah, hes doing the exact opposite, hes giving his money away.
http://achurch.org/media/ballmer.avi
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dance_Monkeyboy
http://youtube.com/watch?v=CZr2qXVlEcs&search=domopers
-Spenser
How can microsoft keep this dangerous clownesque personnage in their rank is a mystery to me...
Hopefully not! That guy's damn funny.
It seems that CNN money agrees.
FTFA: "Since Gates stepped down as CEO in 2000 in favor of Ballmer, the company has floundered technically and strategically."
Personally, I'd miss monkey boy with all the Ballmer vs. Bozo the Clown photo comparisons and chair tossing jokes.
Bill has a LOT more than 29Billion. Closer to double that.
What??? I heard it got delayed
What??? I heard it got delayed
LMAO!
He is simply stating that he is no longer going to be in charge of day to day dealings.
This means all the small stuff that he really shouldnt be dealing with
He will remain chairman of the company which means he still will be the end of the line when it comes to making decisions, and he is still going to have a hand in all their products. Its just now he is going to be able to allocate time to those other things he finds important
He will still be chairman of the board
-Spenser
MS is not one person.
He is not stepping down 'on the eve of a flagship product release' ... you could say that about any day he chooses to leave.
It's a good thing for those who benefit from his Foundation (and believe me, that's a lot).
He's not leaving MS, but it is true he won't be as visible as previously. He still retains influence over the company, however.
And please, please do all read the article before commenting!
Microsoft are selling you, and most importantly the shareholders, bad/worrying/questionable news with a positive spin. They got the "slow transition" (nothing to worry about) point accross very solidly. Then they hit you with "Ray Ozzie (currently Chief Technical Officer) is taking over the Chief Software Architect post with immediate effect. so that that piece of information was less pronounced, and wouldnt really register in your minds. Its marketing spin.
Lets think about this.......Bill Gates is (was) currently the Chief Software Architect. Ray Ozzie is taking full control of that position right now........ meaning Microsoft's Chief Software Architect is leaving his post only a few months before the release of 2 of Microsoft's biggest software releases EVER, in the form of Windows Vista, and Office 2007.
Something is afoot........
That's largely speculative from the news we've had so far. His own quotes are "shifting priorities" and that could mean a lot, as well as a little. The press release speaks of him of taking on a more advisory role at MS, so that would point more to a greater reduction in their affairs than a small one to me. When you step down as a Chief Software Architect, that's no doubt a major shift in focus anyway.
Actually, the BBC News coverage has a point about this:
"But Microsoft shareholders are assumed to have some jitters about the ambiguity regarding the future leadership of the company that Gates founded and ran for over 20 years"
Keep your trolling to the console forums please.
Keep your trolling to the console forums please.
You know what I love, is people think it is cool to hate Microsoft, Bill Gates is satan, and Windowz is teh suk.
[/End Sarcasm]
Seriously! State a good reason!
Which is it.
We have plenty of poor people of our own in America, yet he is taking/stealing our money and giving it to others to make himself look good.
They show him on TV giving medicine to some sick child in another country, when common sense knows that he isn't over giving out medicine. Its all a publicity stunt.
We have plenty of poor people of our own in America, yet he is taking/stealing our money and giving it to others to make himself look good.
They show him on TV giving medicine to some sick child in another country, when common sense knows that he isn't over giving out medicine. Its all a publicity stunt.
Robin Hood, anyone?
The very fact you wrote that message indicates that theres probably a 95% you did it on a PC you have regular access and are in a position where you could use a computer. So whether he charges alot really doesnt matter, obviously people ARE able to afford it if its on 95% of pc's even if thats just an OEM purchase. It's not like your forced to buy a new OS on the day of release.
But yeah. Those people he is helping have a terribly hard life. I'd go so far to say as the people in the worst situation in places like America ect (the homless ect) still get it better than most of the people hes helping. At least the homeless have some access to clean water and food drives ect. Those people, without charities such as Bills, would have nothing.
I've no qualification to comment on whether MS's prices are reasonable or not, but FFS man, get some perspective. If they are indeed inflated, it sure as hell ain't a tax on the poor of any country.
We have plenty of poor people of our own in America, yet he is taking/stealing our money and giving it to others to make himself look good.
They show him on TV giving medicine to some sick child in another country, when common sense knows that he isn't over giving out medicine. Its all a publicity stunt.
Do you give anything to charity or poor people? Have you seen the prices for OS X and video games. How about the PS3 and other Computer brands.
I beg to differ
I beg to differ
When you go to login, or are in the forums, look at the background, and then come back here and shut the **** up.
I remember years ago when in an interview Gates talked about possibly leaving MS when he turned 40 to persue other interests.
http://neowin.net/index.php?act=view&id=33603
That is just an insane price for Vista. Then people wonder why warez exists.
http://neowin.net/index.php?act=view&id=33603
That is just an insane price for Vista. Then people wonder why warez exists.
A bit hypocritical. If you don't want to pay for it, don't buy it. End of story.
That's why there are open source OS like Linux and all the different and complete distros. So stop trying to justify your horrible stealing habits.
Tell me where does Bill Gates' financial worth come from?
Number of Microsoft shares he owns and Microsoft's market capitalization?
IMHO Vista WILL be a success, just look at how many people have downloaded Beta 2
Do you know how much stake and shares Microsoft has at Apple? If it doesn't have any stake in the company, Apple has been slashed out. They do want Apple to grow so that they can earn profit from shares.
Written in red like it is up top, that's fairly amusing.