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Comments on: Gates stepping down from full-time Microsoft role

Sets 2008 date for transition out of day-to-day role as chief software architect at the software giant.

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So Atlas Shrugs....
by Galt June 15, 2006 3:04 PM PDT
It's about time, and the only real sad part is that he's leaving Microsoft intact. I'd prefer he'd shut down the entire operation, and let all those 'open source' fools attempt to do what he did.
He failed to fight the antitrust battle on proper moral grounds, which was his own fault, so he will apologize for all that wealth he made, and all those who have had their lives enriched, and give all of it away, saying...Gee, I'm so sorry!! And when he doesnt hand it out fast enough, or to the "RIGHT' people, we can ***** about that.
Reply to this comment
oh, give me a break
by Rita McKee June 15, 2006 3:10 PM PDT
comparing Bill Gates with John Galt is pathetic. Galt INVENTED his technology; Gates only copied his.
View reply
Jim Taggart and Wesley Mouch
by open-mind June 16, 2006 10:50 AM PDT
Maybe they could be Gates and Balmer.
Pathetic
by J. Blow June 15, 2006 3:06 PM PDT
Can anyone of you self serving do nothings name another CEO who has given so much? Jobs? HARDLY. Bill clearly cares about people and has invested billions of his own money helping others. He has done this on scale far beyond what anyone else has done with the possible exception of Andrew Carnegie and Carnegie gave away most of his money when he died.

So please, aplaud the man for his generosity and shut up about the rest. Most of you aren't investors even probably employed or employed by a university or some other tax draining entity anyway.
Reply to this comment
Bill?
by jbcahill June 15, 2006 3:12 PM PDT
Bill...is that you?
I agree with you about Bill Gates
by Tanjore June 16, 2006 7:29 AM PDT
Bill Gates is doing an amazing job as philanthrophist and he should continue to do it.

Good or Bad he has done good to technology world in his own way - (Computer is a commodity now!!!).
You can't buy salvation
by t8 June 15, 2006 3:09 PM PDT
Gates will be remembered as a guy who stifled technology by abusing his companies power via the Windows operating system.

He thinks he can buy salvation, but his legacy is the technology and other companies he unfairly and illegally destroyed.

The IT world will be much better off without him.
Reply to this comment
How much wealth did Bill destroy?
by wlamia June 15, 2006 3:19 PM PDT
Ask yourself, if you think Bill and M$ are such great contributors to the economy, how much wealth did they destroy along the way by using dubious (at the least) practices to stamp out or absorb innovative new companies with technologies that infringed on their domains? We will never know how much further along we would have been in a truly competitive environment.

Oh, yeah, they DID help the anti-virus industry to flourish, didn't they ..... ?
View all 3 replies
Gee.. thats news!
by ServedUp June 15, 2006 4:10 PM PDT
Whats all the hype about!?

He just said he's not retiring! Yes really High Impact News here!
In all seriousness didn't Ballmer already have full control over
Microsoft anyway!? And what has he done to warrant this
prestige other than the fact that hes Bill Gates friend?? So he
handed his Company off to a Car Salesman.. big deal. He hasn't
retired! My belief is he'll run it to the ground and Bill will get
away scott free and still go down in the history books.

And whats with Gates giving a little giggle when giving a speech.
Thats annoying. Check out all his keynotes and appearances
from this past year, including his CES 2006 keynote speech and
you'll see what I mean, that giggle is seriously annoying and
seemingly rehearsed even up until his supposed -stepping
down- speech. I mean whats he got to be giddy about? And how
about before when Microsoft's had all this talk about them being
thick skinned and being able to survive the onslaught of
innovation from other companies like GOOGLE, SUN and APPLE.
cleary thats not the case in this situation, in contrary to this -
supposed stepping down fiasco-. Which it all really is.
Another Microsoft marketing campaign. Check out this link and
you'll see what I mean - http://www.internet-nexus.com/
2005/09/microsoft-executives-discuss-apple.htm

Utterly Pathetic.
Reply to this comment
Gee.. thats news!!
by ServedUp June 15, 2006 4:13 PM PDT
Whats all the hype about!?

He just said he's not retiring! Yes really High Impact News here!
In all seriousness didn't Ballmer already have full control over
Microsoft anyway!? And what has he done to warrant this
prestige other than the fact that hes Bill Gates friend?? So he
handed his Company off to a Car Salesman.. big deal. He hasn't
retired! My belief is he'll run it to the ground and Bill will get
away scott free and still go down in the history books.

And whats with Gates giving a little giggle when giving a speech.
Thats annoying. Check out all his keynotes and appearances
from this past year, including his CES 2006 keynote speech and
you'll see what I mean, that giggle is seriously annoying and
seemingly rehearsed even up until his supposed -stepping
down- speech. I mean whats he got to be giddy about? And how
about before when Microsoft's had all this talk about them being
thick skinned and being able to survive the onslaught of
innovation from other companies like GOOGLE, SUN and APPLE.
cleary thats not the case in this situation, in contrary to this -
supposed stepping down fiasco-. Which it all really is.
Another Microsoft marketing campaign. Check out this link and
you'll see what I mean - http://www.internet-nexus.com/
2005/09/microsoft-executives-discuss-apple.htm

Utterly Pathetic.
Reply to this comment
HaahaHAAaaHaHAaa
by FutureGuy June 15, 2006 7:43 PM PDT
Which planet are you from. What is the news here?? Check any major news site and you would likely find this news on the front page, this is number one news even on Google so take you small talk some place else. The funnies part is your mention of Sun as a threat to MS, where have you been??? Did you wake up from some looong hibernation or something? Sun is barely hanging on after laying off a good portion of its work force. And as far as Google and Apple goes MS probably makes more selling office alone then the two combined, so wake up and smell the air.
View all 2 replies
Shut up you pea brains...
by bigwormonmine June 15, 2006 4:13 PM PDT
And use an alternative if you dont like microsoft.
As a normal end user...I am sticking with the best thing going.
Reply to this comment
No....
by ServedUp June 15, 2006 4:22 PM PDT
and stay where you are.. cause it works for you, right?

And.. I could care less what you choose.

Your one-liner of a post amuses me to know end.

Clearly your the pea brain!
Most people would do nothing.
by Yates23 June 15, 2006 4:18 PM PDT
Most of these people are nothing but whiners?.Bill Gates held us back? the evil empire?ect. If he is so bad why do you use his products? ?and you know most of you do. Second why don?t you help out and make something better?

Anyways I say good for him and recognizing he has the ability to help people. Besides I don?t think he is that involved in the actual coding and software of products as when he was starting the company.
Reply to this comment
Full-time Philanthropist. Aww.. thats nice.
by ServedUp June 15, 2006 5:05 PM PDT
Sure the next stage in his life is becoming a full-time
philanthropist, very honourable of him. Of course with his
abundance of wealth its obviously the next logical step? Right?

He will retire from Microsoft right??? Wrong....

In all truthfulness.. He's a shrewd business-man first. Always
has been! Underneath that sharp finely waxed image of
goodness, he's always looking for ways to stay on-top,
regardless, on who he steps on, even Microsoft's consumers.

Need we forget his comments on the one-laptop-per-child
program for children of third world countries?

?Hardware is a small part of the cost? of providing computing
capabilities, he said, adding that the big costs come from
network connectivity, applications and support.

?If you are going to go have people share the computer, get a
broadband connection and have somebody there who can help
support the user, geez, get a decent computer where you can
actually read the text and you?re not sitting there cranking the
thing while you?re trying to type,? Gates said.

Clearly he's in another reality all-together.

I mean check out this link..

http://www.devlib.org/blog/2006/03/16/bill-gates-on-the-
one-laptop-per-child-project/

Don't be fooled.
Full-time Philanthropist. Aww.. thats nice..
by ServedUp June 15, 2006 5:07 PM PDT
Sure the next stage in his life is becoming a full-time
philanthropist, very honourable of him. Of course with his
abundance of wealth its obviously the next logical step? Right?

He will retire from Microsoft right??? Wrong....

In all truthfulness.. He's a shrewd business-man first. Always
has been! Underneath that sharp finely waxed image of
goodness, he's always looking for ways to stay on-top,
regardless, on who he steps on, even Microsoft's consumers.

Need we forget his comments on the one-laptop-per-child
program for children of third world countries?

?Hardware is a small part of the cost? of providing computing
capabilities, he said, adding that the big costs come from
network connectivity, applications and support.

?If you are going to go have people share the computer, get a
broadband connection and have somebody there who can help
support the user, geez, get a decent computer where you can
actually read the text and you?re not sitting there cranking the
thing while you?re trying to type,? Gates said.

Clearly he's in another reality all-together.

I mean check out this link..

http://www.devlib.org/blog/2006/03/16/bill-gates-on-the-
one-laptop-per-child-project/

Don't be fooled.
Full-time Philanthropist. Aww.. thats nice..
by ServedUp June 15, 2006 5:28 PM PDT
The next logical step is for him to become a Philanthropist, thats
very honourable of him. Of course.. why not? With the
abundance of wealth he has. Great!

I mean he will retire from Microsoft eventually too right??
Wrong!...

First off he's a shrewd business man first.. Always has been
always will be. He's always looking for ways of staying on top no
matter who he steps on, even Microsoft consumers. Oh Yes,
even underneath that sharp finely waxed image of goodness.

Don't be fooled. Need we forget his comments for the one-
laptop-per-child program.

?Hardware is a small part of the cost? of providing computing
capabilities, he said, adding that the big costs come from
network connectivity, applications and support.

?If you are going to go have people share the computer, get a
broadband connection and have somebody there who can help
support the user, geez, get a decent computer where you can
actually read the text and you?re not sitting there cranking the
thing while you?re trying to type,? Gates said.

Now how can any child from a third world country be able to
afford a broadband connection let alone an expensive laptop as
he is proposing. Truth is, Kids from third world countries would
be happy with any technology you give them regardless if it had
the latest technology or not. If it works use it. Clearly Bill is in
another reality all together.

Check this link out.

http://www.devlib.org/blog/2006/03/16/bill-gates-on-the-
one-laptop-per-child-project/

Don't be fooled. He will always be with Microsoft.
Full-time Philanthropist. Aww.. thats nice...
by ServedUp June 15, 2006 5:30 PM PDT
The next logical step is for him to become a Philanthropist, thats
very honourable of him. Of course.. why not? With the
abundance of wealth he has. Great!

I mean he will retire from Microsoft eventually too right??
Wrong!...

First off he's a shrewd business man first.. Always has been
always will be. He's always looking for ways of staying on top no
matter who he steps on, even Microsoft consumers. Oh Yes,
even underneath that sharp finely waxed image of goodness.

Don't be fooled. Need we forget his comments for the one-
laptop-per-child program.

?Hardware is a small part of the cost? of providing computing
capabilities, he said, adding that the big costs come from
network connectivity, applications and support.

?If you are going to go have people share the computer, get a
broadband connection and have somebody there who can help
support the user, geez, get a decent computer where you can
actually read the text and you?re not sitting there cranking the
thing while you?re trying to type,? Gates said.

Now how can any child from a third world country be able to
afford a broadband connection let alone an expensive laptop as
he is proposing. Truth is, Kids from third world countries would
be happy with any technology you give them regardless if it had
the latest technology or not. If it works use it. Clearly Bill is in
another reality all together.

Check this link out.

http://www.devlib.org/blog/2006/03/16/bill-gates-on-the-
one-laptop-per-child-project/

Don't be fooled. He will always be with Microsoft.
Full-time Philanthropist. Aww.. thats nice...
by ServedUp June 15, 2006 5:30 PM PDT
The next logical step is for him to become a Philanthropist, thats
very honourable of him. Of course.. why not? With the
abundance of wealth he has. Great!

I mean he will retire from Microsoft eventually too right??
Wrong!...

First off he's a shrewd business man first.. Always has been
always will be. He's always looking for ways of staying on top no
matter who he steps on, even Microsoft consumers. Oh Yes,
even underneath that sharp finely waxed image of goodness.

Don't be fooled. Need we forget his comments for the one-
laptop-per-child program.

?Hardware is a small part of the cost? of providing computing
capabilities, he said, adding that the big costs come from
network connectivity, applications and support.

?If you are going to go have people share the computer, get a
broadband connection and have somebody there who can help
support the user, geez, get a decent computer where you can
actually read the text and you?re not sitting there cranking the
thing while you?re trying to type,? Gates said.

Now how can any child from a third world country be able to
afford a broadband connection let alone an expensive laptop as
he is proposing. Truth is, Kids from third world countries would
be happy with any technology you give them regardless if it had
the latest technology or not. If it works use it. Clearly Bill is in
another reality all together.

Check this link out.

http://www.devlib.org/blog/2006/03/16/bill-gates-on-the-
one-laptop-per-child-project/

Don't be fooled. He will always be with Microsoft.
Bad guy?
by rgor June 15, 2006 9:43 PM PDT
How many companies exist out there that would not have taken Microsoft out if they could? If the tables were reversed would we be saying the same thing about the Apple people? It is our nature to hate and love the biggest fish in the pond. Companies compete and we all know the tactics they would use to win. Nothing unique about Microsoft...just the fact that the limelight is on them, and who doesn't love to hate them and cheer for the underdog? In the end, deep down, he is a good businessman (not a bad thing) and from what I personally know, a philanthropist who is trying to make a change. Must we vilify the guy at the very time when there are people out there that are going to benefit from his work? If he helps just 1000 kids out there, it is worth it. At this point, he doesn't mean harm to anyone and we should wish him the best of luck...besides his new job is a venture we would all like to see him succeed at this time.
View reply
A requiem for the man who did the most
by fd359 June 15, 2006 8:13 PM PDT
Bill, we will miss you. May your riches be used for the good of ohters less fortunate. Your brains and acumen have shown us the way. Although you have not departed this earth, there will always be someting missing.
Reply to this comment
Pathetic.
by ServedUp June 20, 2006 9:29 AM PDT
He doesn't care about you or your views. Trust me. lol
Well Done to Bill.
by City_Of_LA June 16, 2006 12:25 AM PDT
Love him or hate him, you can not deny this guy as one of the greatest business men ever. It must be amazing to know that you build one of the greatest and most admired companies on this planet within your lifetime.

It's funny reading all the haters on here. If you weigh up what THEY are (10 points below nothing) and what Gates is, the joke becomes even funnier. I'm sure Gates is sitting in his £1 000 000 000 house caring what Joe Nothing and Nina Nobody is saying about him. Hey, they probably had to pay for his software to be on here in the first place.
Gates gives more money away in one year than all the people that ever posted on News.com COMBINED, would ever earn in their whole lives.

Although you'll never read this Bill, nor would I ever use your software, congratulations on a job WELL DONE.

PS.

Thanks for Halo!
Reply to this comment
MS is dying
by Peter Bonte June 16, 2006 1:29 AM PDT
Not because Gates is leaving but Gates is leaving because de corp
is dying. He's not stupid, Apple is hitting them on there home turf
(no monopoly en no upscale pricing with Vista anymore) and
Google (with others) are taking on Office. With those 2 down or
crippled MS won't last long and i'm looking forward to it. :)
Reply to this comment
Yeah.....
by Rolndubbs June 16, 2006 5:53 AM PDT
Cause everyone wants an server-based office suit(they don't), and so many people are shifting to apple(they aren't), it really looks grim for microsoft(no, it really doesn't).
I think you statment is uninformed and nutty
by Stan Johnson June 16, 2006 7:48 AM PDT
MS is dying. LOL! Give me a break. I don't know that anyone is droping windows for Mac products. It does not make any sense because the business world is almost entirely built on Windows. Very few will dump Microsoft and its products. It will take years and years before Microsot slows down enough to even be hospitalized. It may not be the most popular company in software but it is the most powerful company in software.
MS is dying
by Shakingmy head June 16, 2006 11:29 AM PDT
MS reached $12B in revenue this past quarter ( a record) nearly $1B per month in profits, hiring 150 people a week, buiding 7 new buildings in Redmond, purchased a bunch of existing buildings and announced 12K new hires over the next 3 years. Seattle economy is booming. And this it your definition of dying?
maybe in 100 years....
by ggupta7 June 17, 2006 9:13 AM PDT
....and you and me may not live that long to see Microsoft die
Perspective
by James_U June 16, 2006 4:56 AM PDT
Someone once said that a prophet is without honor among his own people. And so it seems for Bill Gates as well. No, he's not a prophet. But, yes, among his own people (all you technoids on CNET for example) there seems to be no honor for Mr. Gates. Yet, among the 99.9% of the rest of the world Gates is heralded for what he really is ... the world's most successful businessman and an emerging world-class humanitarian.

And so history will remember him as such. When you look at Gates in the larger perspective of his place among great American businessman his story, his name and his legacy will carry on long after we've all been forgotten.

Great job Bill, and best wishes with your charitable work moving forward. You could have been like so many other rich people and hoarded your cash. Instead, you are choosing a much better path to help others. Kudos!

James.
Reply to this comment
Wallet Worshipper
by Ted Miller June 16, 2006 5:08 AM PDT
and its a great TAX BREAK too!
View reply
Bill Gates is not such a nice guy
by crazyarlo June 16, 2006 5:38 AM PDT
Wow. Bill Gates the "wonderful guy". This is the same guy that
squeezed poor school systems and charities for cash, claiming
that dontated copy of Windows 95 could not be reused .. the
LICENSE cannot be transferred! So much for his dedication to
"charity". My wife's poor rural school district was presented
with a bill for $250,000 to "update their licenses". Existing
licenses, they were told, wer only good on the the systems they
were sold on. Donated computers were almost useless! They
responded by installing a Linux web server and switching to
StarOffice. Gates went after an Austrailian chaity that was
refurbishing used PC'S and distributing them to poor third world
nations. His current "charity" kick is all about PR, although
thank God, the money is being put to good use. This guy is a
greedy egomaniac, born of wealth, who used illegal and
unethical tactics to crush new technology and concepts, hold PC
manufacturers hostage, and become the richest man in the
world. Good job Bill Gates .. you are the finest CONTRACT
EXPERT on the planet. However, I am still not convinced he has
a soul.

Arlen Owens
crazyarlo@gmail.com
View reply
Nothing unexpected in these comments
by dragonbite June 16, 2006 6:23 AM PDT
Most entrepreneurs don't do so well when the company goes from the under-dog to the top-dog and he gave it a shot by going to Chief Software Architect and letting somebody else be CEO!

He was involved in pulling computers into the mainstream they are today. Was he alone? No. But what in history all resides on one person?

What does this mean for Microsoft? Only when Bill leaves will we ever know.

A large company is not like a dictatorship or Kingdom guys! While the top people largely influences the "culture" underneath it, the attitudes that trickle down is that of the combined mix and not just one person's!

Balmer has been under Bill's shadow for a long time now but when Bill leaves then he will have to fly on his own and this could be good, or bad and that will also depend on how well he plays with his fellow executives!

Is Steve Jobs next of the company-faces to go? Doubt it, he's the kind of person that wants to die in the saddle with his boots on I think.

Only time will tell.
Reply to this comment
Don't worry about Microsoft
by thedreaming June 16, 2006 7:14 AM PDT
Microsoft will survive, most large corporations outlive their creators and Microsoft will be no different. In the future, we might see a more friendlier and kinder Microsoft, one that puts out quality software and reasonable prices, or it could get worst and they could run themselves into the ground.

It doesn't matter either way because we have choice, we always had choice. If Microsoft folds, people can go the linux/unix route or buy a mac and use macosx.

I wonder what impact Bill Gates leaving will have on vista development? Is Microsoft's recent public beta signs of change?

Are cheetahs really the fastest animal in the world?

Is my cellphone carrier reading my thoughts through my cellphone?

Are peanut a pea or a nut?

P.S. I'm at work and I'm bored out of my mind!
Reply to this comment
Everyone is lost
by Mechy20 June 16, 2006 7:28 AM PDT
People have opinions. Thats fine. Gates has created a lot for the industry, and has given back a lot also. Anyone even remotely interested in business should be taking notes on how it is done from Bill. Sure most of the software has been buggy, but we still buy, and use. Most of you thrashers on here are probably using Windows to post you slandish comments. The future will be great. I respected Bill for a lot of what he has done. I think Ozzie will have a lot of ideas on how to improve the company and the products. And I also see a merge in the future between 3 large powerhouses. Google, MS and MAC. Laugh now, and miss the chance to own a piece of the empire later. There will be a lot of change in many of the companies now that the head piece to Microsoft is stepping down. Smaller rivals are going to make their moves now. I also respect Bill for wanting to concentrate more on charity, I just wish the charities were closer to home.
Reply to this comment
Bill Gates is a great man wanting to give.
by Stan Johnson June 16, 2006 7:51 AM PDT
I salute him on this. Everyone should. If you think differently on this you're a stunted person.
Reply to this comment
Leaving a Greater Legacy
by San Diego Johnny June 16, 2006 9:01 AM PDT
With his work and funds for the foundation, Gates can leave a larger legacy all over the world in helping to end poverty and illness among those who have been forgotten by the developed nations.
Reply to this comment
Leaving a Greater Legacy
by San Diego Johnny June 16, 2006 9:05 AM PDT
Gates can leave a greate legacy to the world through his work with the foundation. He's changing the lives of those who have been forgotten by the "developed" nations. Kudos to Bill Gates.
Reply to this comment
How pathetic
by qwerty75 June 16, 2006 10:01 AM PDT
A philanthropist is a person who gives money to charity and other causes with no person gain, other then personal satisfaction.

The "philanthropy" of Gates has always been and always will be nothing more than a PR show, and for tax breaks.

Look at his trip to India, he gave a couple hundred million dollars to help out people, but was only to get them to support MS products.

Bill Gates is a cancer on the world. He harms everything he touches, just to make a buck. His software company is one of the most lawless and inept companies in the world. They pratter on about innovation, yet have never invented anything. Everything they produce is either bought, borrowed or flat out stolen, but almost all of it is total dog crap.

MS is floundering. Vista is showing itself to be a bloated and unsecure POS. Nothing more then a copy of what has been available elsewhwere for years, but yet still can't get it right. The most needed features have been cut out and are still years away, despite the fact that those same features have been available on other systems for years and in some cases, decades. Of course he is leaving. MS is nothing more then a follower and he wants to leave before the truth comes out and is known to even the most ignorant computer user, which is of course his base.

Good riddance to the founder of a company that has held the computer industry down. MS will happily be weakened over the next few years and you will see an explosion of true innovation during the next 10 years. The best part is that MS will, of course, play no part in it, and that will be for the benefit of all mankind.

So I suppose that an argument can be made that stepping down will be Gates' first and last true philanthropist action.
Reply to this comment
Yes very pathetic
by Charleston Charge June 16, 2006 10:30 AM PDT
It's one thing to dislike MS and its products, but it's a whole new low to rip a man for his charity work. Get a life.
Belittling is unbecoming!
by bob3160 June 16, 2006 11:36 AM PDT
I know the easiest and most popular response it to pounce on the man on top.
At least he's giving something back.
Wonder how much money those of you who are so eager to criticize are giving back to your community.
The man isn't always right but, he certainly isn't always wrong. If he was, why are so many using the Windows operating system.
Reply to this comment
Google may take over
by pentium4forever June 16, 2006 1:51 PM PDT
Google is probably the biggest threat to MS.
Reply to this comment
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