He literally can't give it away as fast as he makes it.
When he retired in 2000 he was worth $60B.
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Microsoft CEO Steve Ballmer will retire within next 12 months
- Thread starter Courage
- Start date
He literally can't give it away as fast as he makes it.
When he retired in 2000 he was worth $60B.
spicy_potatochip
Neo Member
I believe it's time.
Time for the king to return to his throne.
He's gotta be almost out of money by now, right???
As much as we'd probably appreciate Gates back at the helm, I think it best that he continue his foundation's work. That's far more important and impactful for us and future generations. It's his life calling and what he'll be most remembered for.
Also, he's still got truckloads of money tied into MSFT shares. The better Ballmer's successor does, the more funds Gates' foundation will have to battle diseases, improve global education etc!
Kin was a misstep but ahead of the curve. There was a phone for Android that had a similar GUI and mission-set/goal of connecting social media together. I forget the Phone/UI's name but it was an HTC or LG or something.
Courier never got out of MS to even be classified as a misstep or bad idea. On paper it sounds good but MS never gave him a chance after Zune (which was good) never got off the ground since iPod's exploded.
badcrumble
Member
I'm just saying that Allard isn't CEO material for a company that makes the entire world's practically-standard OS and productivity software by a long shot, even though he made two really nice toys that people in America liked a bunch. I'm not saying Allard never did anything good.
And Bing
And Skype (Prism/NSA)
And Windows Mobile
And Kin
And MS Office 2013 online
Cant think of anything else right now...
rakkadakka
Member
There are some things on that list that do not belong.
ThePeoplesBureau
Member
maquiladora
Member
MS moneyhats Kaz to be the next CEO. Kaz DNA to be injected into Xbox One units via the cloud in a day one patch improving performance by 80%.
Nothing belongs on that list apart from Kin.
Most people would add Bing as well but it's a pretty important part of Microsoft's online services.
spookyfish
Gold Member
So, if you were one of the division heads who has just been "reorganized" by Ballmer, do you get comfy in your new job, or do you wait until the new person comes in within the "next 12 months" and reorganizes AGAIN?
I swear. Between Mattrick making all the XBone decisions even though plans were "in place months ago" for him to go to Zynga (Uh huh. Sure.) and now this after Ballmer extensively reorganizes the company ... It's a frickin' mess over there.
I swear. Between Mattrick making all the XBone decisions even though plans were "in place months ago" for him to go to Zynga (Uh huh. Sure.) and now this after Ballmer extensively reorganizes the company ... It's a frickin' mess over there.
You mean the person(s) in charge of just correcting inane blunders only after acting stoutly defiant in the face of mass criticism? No thanks. Get someone who doesn't fuck up in the first place.
That was Steven Sinofsky, not Julie Larson-Green.
soul creator
Member
I'll just use this thread as an excuse to post this Ballmer video
scoobs
Member
Oh nows the time huh? I've had it for 4 years, made good money off of it too. Its up 7% today
Various Artists
Banned
NEVER FORGET (that Microsoft failed by not continuing to manufacture them)
One of my friends had these and swore by it. I couldnt use it though. Awful.
This. He may be entertaining and shrewd, but he's made some really poor, shortsighted business decisions that have sullied their brand quite a bit.
NotXbox one
Banned
Sad News 
metalslimer
Member
I have a feeling it will only get worse. MS is in such bad shape with all their products outside of windows and office and new office sucks.
Officerrob
Banned
This is HUGE news
How did you get that? Does that eliminate the need for Metro UI completely, as in it'll let you do everything from the regular Windows (98, etc.) UI? If it's easy, and doesn't involve any heavy modifications, then why are people complaining so much about it? Especially tech/PC savvy people..
You would've been better off investing in AAPL.Oh nows the time huh? I've had it for 4 years, made good money off of it too. Its up 7% today
MSFT has been comparatively flat the last 4 years.
Not sure if a new CEO is going to fix things, they're going to pretty much stay with the current plan laid out in the recent restructuring for some time.
Still glad he's gone, MS needs someone with a better public appearance and hair.
If they take internal guys, probably Kevin Turner or Satya Nadella.
Still glad he's gone, MS needs someone with a better public appearance and hair.
If they take internal guys, probably Kevin Turner or Satya Nadella.
ding dong.
Ballmer is/was absolutely right with the developer focus. When you look at Nintendo and see how disappointed people are with the lack of 3rd party support, think back to this.
3rd party app.
Because it's fun to complain on the internet, especially for tech/PC "savvy" people.
FonkyByNature
Member
I don't think Xbone will fail though... quite the opposite actually.
For the rest i agree, especially Zune and Surface, those are epic fails.
Funny how MS has a lot of problems entering the consumer market. They lack that cool factor that other companies have, they need to change their image because it's not associated with cool, trendy, fashionable... at all. Their products are usually big, ugly and not something you want to show to your friends. But their products are functional.
So does this confirm that wild rumour from a certain CEO's blog about Gabe Newell becoming Microsoft's next CEO? 
But seriously it really does seems nowadays you need a "product guy" to run the company. Sony seems to be doing well especially with mobile devices since Kaz became CEO.
But seriously it really does seems nowadays you need a "product guy" to run the company. Sony seems to be doing well especially with mobile devices since Kaz became CEO.
Yep
Hope the new guy doesn't shun the Xbox division. I know MS isn't too high on there entertainment sector. In some ways other then Xbox its viewed as a black hole.
Mass Effect
Member
Wow, megaton.
This is long overdue though.
This is long overdue though.
badcrumble
Member
Their top priorities really need to be getting Windows Phone back on track (and Windows RT), as well as the Surface. I suspect Microsoft might make a move to buy Nokia in the not too distant future.
The living room used to be the future, but people have realized that the actual future is the pocket. I think the Xbox division is still important, but it's less essential to the entire company's future than keeping Windows and Office big and profitable; less essential than the other parts of the Entertainment and Devices division, even (since that also contains Windows Phone and Surface). Gaming, as a market, is dwarfed by personal computer use and by smartphones.
I don't think the Xbox division is getting shuttered anytime soon, but it's not going to be a top priority that Microsoft will want to take big losses on for future gain. Microsoft should demand that the Xbox division return profits immediately, and otherwise leave it alone to handle itself rather than micromanaging from up on high.
They haven't been flat, but they have lagged the indexes, even with the Ballmer-is-leaving pop.
Nocturno999
Member
About time. The entire company needs a new face.
Well, yeah they are functional. but surface RT was just... just what were they thinking?
moltonasty
Member
Is this real?