Microsoft exec jumps ship for Google
Posted by Hurmoth on 29 June 2006 - 21:27 · 32 comments & 14740 views
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(2 replies)
#1 Posted by phantasmorph on 29 Jun 2006 - 21:31
- Like rats leaving a sinking ship...
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(12 replies)
#2 Posted by stifler6478 on 29 Jun 2006 - 21:45
- Oh dear god no, an employee left. Big deal, I'm sure there are quite a few more than qualified people to take his place. I don't know why people leaving a company is such big news.
-Spenser -
#2.1 Posted by Hurmoth on 29 Jun 2006 - 21:47
- I guess you really haven't been paying that much attention to Microsoft's problems then have you?
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#2.2 Posted by stifler6478 on 29 Jun 2006 - 21:50
- Yes, I have, and I'm just saying that it still isn't as big a deal as they're making it out to be. A lot worse has happened to other corporations than some execs leaving. Spots can be filled. MS employs 10s of thousands of people. Some of them are going to be in line to take over. That's how businesses are run. It's not like MS is going to go away because a few higher-up people quit.
I guess I should make clear that I don't think Google is as big a threat to MS as people make them out to be, or as they themselves probably make them out to be.
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#2.3 Posted by phantasmorph on 29 Jun 2006 - 21:55
- If you can't see that there is more going on behind the scenes that what is being let on, you are *blind*. Why all of a sudden are people from the top down, all resigning or announcing their impending departure? These aren't just employees here...the corporate roles are pretty vital.
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#2.4 Posted by stifler6478 on 29 Jun 2006 - 21:59
- No, if you can't see that you are blowing it way out of proportion, then you are *blind*. Especially when you use the word all to encompass just a few people that left. The problem is that everytime someone leaves, it's made into a big deal, so it seems even bigger a deal than it really is. And I know corporate roles are vital, but do you think that a corporation just relies on one person to hold a position for the corporations life? No, they have people that will take their place.
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#2.5 Posted by SniperX on 29 Jun 2006 - 22:57
- Equally, I don't know why you can't see this as the smack in the mouth for Microsoft that it is. To have your own staff leave for your main competitor really stings, for any company. When it's echoed around the world as it is for Microsoft, it goes beyond stinging. When it starts getting investors asking questions about these red flags popping up, you can increase that sting ten-fold again.
If you really don't see this is big news then a little less time on Neowin and a little more time out in the real-world may be in order. -
#2.6 Posted by Jugalator on 29 Jun 2006 - 23:04
- Yeah, it's really no biggie when Bill Gates steps down to watch from the sidelines, their top blogger to humanize the company leaves, the MSN portal general manager leaves, and the director of Microsoft Office development leaves, and now a general manager for Microsoft evangelism leaves. These are all small potatoes and it happens almost monthly, right? :p This is also not including Jim Allchin, chief Windows architect, that are to leave as Vista is released at the end of 2006. His legacy is a great influence on Windows, all the way since 1990.
I wouldn't be so sure this is the end of it either, and fact remains this is an unusually high ratio of resigns for unusually many top positions in the company.
Last edited by Jugalator on 29 Jun 2006 - 23:09 -
#2.7 Posted by toadeater on 29 Jun 2006 - 23:17
- It's important to note who has been leaving. These are people in leadership and design positions, not your average disposable MS Borg drone.
I think Gates knows what's about to happen. The captain jumped ship first. Now he can blame all of MS's problems on someone else, while going down in history as this benevolent, charitable enterpreneur.
Bill Gates, no amount of money will change the fact that you were a greedy, evil dork. That's why you get pies in the face and Steve Jobs gets praised. I don't even like Apple products! I'm starting to seriously consider them after seeing Vista though.
I've said before, Paul Allen was the real brains behind MS. Gates and Ballmer were a couple of fratboy shmucks.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Paul_Allen
MS hit their peak around 2000, it's been downhill ever since. -
#2.8 Posted by Brandon Live on 30 Jun 2006 - 00:40
- I'd have to disagree. Most of the people leaving are (pardon the expression) dead weight. A lot of what Mini-Msft suggested for a long time is actually coming to reality, and I think it's going to save Microsoft - not hurt it. I have a feeling that some of these people were just getting out before being shown to the door.
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#2.9 Posted by phantasmorph on 30 Jun 2006 - 01:40
- Quote - Brandon Live said @ #2.8I'd have to disagree. Most of the people leaving are (pardon the expression) dead weight. A lot of what Mini-Msft suggested for a long time is actually coming to reality, and I think it's going to save Microsoft - not hurt it. I have a feeling that some of these people were just getting out before being shown to the door.
No offense, but I wouldn't expect a low-level Microsoft employee to say anything else. Best to remain optimistic, because I don't foresee many OS X or Linux users wanting a craptastic Desktop Search on their system.
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#2.10 Posted by stifler6478 on 30 Jun 2006 - 05:40
- Not once have I said that it isn't a big deal. And I'm not really trying to imply that. I'm saying that when you go and say they're jumping ship because of a product, that you're making it into too much of a deal.
It'll be a big mistake on your parts if you underestimate Microsoft's ability to produce people for these positions, as I'm sure a multi-billion dollar corporation has plans in these cases.
Honestly, do you think that if MS thought it was a great big deal that Gates was 'leaving' a half a year before their next OS came out that they'd announce that at this time. They seem more excited about it than anything else.
I'm guess I'm just saying that you shouldn't underestimate this company.
And SniperX, that was pretty f'in uncalled for. Just because you don't agree with my opinions doesn't mean I don't have a life.
-Spenser -
#2.11 Posted by GiB WaKeR on 30 Jun 2006 - 06:36
- stifler6478... You REALLY just aren't getting what everyone is saying, are you? =
It's a big deal because top people leaving for a rival is a symbol of what the current state of affairs is within Microsoft. It's the IMPLICATIONS of what this means thats a big deal, not 'OH EM GEE THE POSITION CANNOT BE FILLED'... It's the fact ithese departures are happening. -
#2.12 Posted by stifler6478 on 30 Jun 2006 - 07:00
- And if you read my above post, you'll see that I F'IN KNOW THAT. But you're still underestimating them.
This is my opinion, and ya know what - the beauty of the internet is that I can just stop looking at this newspost and get on with my life and not have to care about what any of you think, since you all obviously disagree, and seem to be rather juvenile by thinking I'm a friggin idiot just because I think a bit different than you do. But w/e. I'm sick and tired of it, and I have stuff to do tomorrow, so I can't really sit and keep defending myself here, so it's probably best if you just drop it.
-Spenser
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#3 Posted by Zirus on 29 Jun 2006 - 21:50
- Its big news because its all part of the MS vs Google war.
Eventually people will start to go the other way once everything equalizes.
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(1 reply)
#4 Posted by tiwaris on 29 Jun 2006 - 22:36
- Many of my friends work for both the outfits, so I have some idea.
Gosh, I wanted to click the reply button, instead ended up editing it. Anyway.
Last edited by tiwaris on 30 Jun 2006 - 02:06
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#5 Posted by Shibby on 29 Jun 2006 - 22:49
- It is getting abit out of hand with all this news on people leaving.
I'm not surprised people are leaving after 15 years at the same company, People may just want a nice fresh start and want to move on with there life and do something more and maybe go in to a company and help them.
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#6 Posted by ruey on 29 Jun 2006 - 23:58
- eugh. I'm disgusted at these people.
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(1 reply)
#7 Posted by Croquant on 30 Jun 2006 - 06:34
- I'm betting Steve Balmer stays 'till the bitter end and eventualy becomes the Micheal Jackson of the computer industry: Walking Freek Show.
All hail the impending demise of Microsoft!
:LOL:
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#8 Posted by badazzEVO8 on 30 Jun 2006 - 06:43
- cant you guys see the obvious here? google offered them more money thats most likely why they left
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(1 reply)
#9 Posted by ANova on 30 Jun 2006 - 08:36
- I wouldn't shed a tear if M$ died. Probably won't, at least for awhile longer though.
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#9.1 Posted by protias on 30 Jun 2006 - 16:12
- i sure hope microsoft dies. they are so into all the drm garbage and trying to prevent users from doing anything. i cant remember what organization they belonged to, but it essentially is trying to prevent any software that isnt "registered" with the hardware, that it wont work.
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#10 Posted by Colin-uk on 30 Jun 2006 - 09:24
- im still waiting for Steve Balmer to "****ing kill google"
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#11 Posted by cipher1024 on 30 Jun 2006 - 13:37
- it's always the money!!!!!!! or maybe MS is trying some James Bond ****
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#12 Posted by lbmouse on 30 Jun 2006 - 15:52
- Would the last person to leave Redmond for Mountain View please remember to turn out the lights?
Seriously though, the culture at MS changed drastically in the late 90's and morale slowly dropped. It no longer has the inspiring, fun, energetic atmosphere that drew many people to its door-step. I still have friends working in Redmond and it doesn't sound like much has changed. Whenever I chat with them about work, it's always negative. I guess the company had to eventually grow-up and become a real corporation. The same will probably happen to Google.
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(1 reply)
#13 Posted by C_Guy on 30 Jun 2006 - 16:09
- *YAWN*... Would this be such big news if they left to go join HP or Intel or *shudder* Apple or any other tech company? Probably not.
Google isn't as big a threat to Microsoft as everyone thinks. Right now they are a direct competitor of ONE of Microsoft's services, MSN, and guess what? MSN is not even close to the top of Microsoft's list of money makers. -
#13.1 Posted by phantasmorph on 30 Jun 2006 - 16:24
- Yep, and their main money maker just got delayed *AGAIN*. Microsoft is in trouble.
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#14 Posted by hairyjohnson on 02 Jul 2006 - 15:14
- Quote -f you can't see that there is more going on behind the scenes that what is being let on, you are *blind*. Why all of a sudden are people from the top down, all resigning or announcing their impending departure? These aren't just employees here...the corporate roles are pretty vital.Quote -It's the fact ithese departures are happening.
Microsoft employes more than 60000 people. How many of them do you think hold some type of Executive roll? More than most companies have emplyees I gather.
By the by, do you really need me to post info on other executives and whoever that are leaving other companies?
Step out of the forest and look at the trees.
Vic Gundotra, a general manager for platform evangelism at Microsoft and a 15-year employee, has agreed to join Google after first spending a year working on charitable endeavors.
"Mr. Gundotra has resigned from Microsoft and entered into an agreement with Google," Google spokesman Steve Langdon wrote in an emailed statement. "He will not be a Google employee for one year and intends to spend that time on philanthropic pursuits. We are uncertain what precise role he will play when he begins working for Google, but he has a broad range of skills and experience which we believe will be valuable to Google."
Gundotra had been charged with getting developers to write programs that build on top of Microsoft's desktop software and online services. Most recently he had been working out a strategy to compete with the draw of Google's newer, Web-based software applications.
His departure comes shortly after the abrupt departure of Martin Taylor, a corporate vice president charged countering Google by marketing Microsoft's Windows Live and MSN services.