Bill Gates Begins to Phase Out of Microsoft

[gamesource]

He is stepping down as Chief Software Architect to devote his time to the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation. He will remain as Chairman, but won't be part of the day to day operations at the House that Bill Built.

http://www.microsoft.com/presspass/press/2006/jun06/06-15CorpNewsPR.mspx

[Kakerotto]

hmm...interesting

[Fayth]

wow that sounds kinda like a bad idea...I guess its good that he's doing something more charitable with his time but still

[Kakerotto]

Hello Fayth, its me Kak:) , .....its been ages

[ladyofrage]

well its not like Microsoft is innovative anymore. i mean everything they are trying to do, someone else beat them to the punch.

[Miss_Insanio]

well its not like Microsoft is innovative anymore. i mean everything they are trying to do, someone else beat them to the punch.

i dont really agree... but i don't hav any arguements lol, i'm just a ms fan i guess :o :p

[r33hash]

I think Bill should start letting everyday average people take his seat for one day at a time, and get the pay that he'd get on that day.

That'd be sexy. And much cooler than "The Apprentice"

[gamesource]

I really wouldn't trust your average Joe with the world's leading OS and the most important software in the world.

[r33hash]

I mean, Bill Gates really lets all his minions run the show anyway.

So, all the person would have to do is sit in a throne for one day, and sip on wine (cranberry juice for the youngsters) and watch cartoons.

[e]

well its not like Microsoft is innovative anymore. i mean everything they are trying to do, someone else beat them to the punch.

Yeah, you're right. We totally copied that whole Xbox Live thing.

[Kal-El]

and watch cartoons.

Pretty much what Bill does lol.

[r33hash]

Exactly my point, Dex.

Oh, and eat some kind of yummy cereal.

[edx]

Yeah, you're right. We totally copied that whole Xbox Live thing.

Ouch!

Mr. Gates has been in the process of "phasing out" for some time.

Lesson for today:

We all get old, and must move on. What? You didnt think you could play games forever did you?;)

[ladyofrage]

I was speaking with respect to web browsers. Firefox has been around for awhile but now IE decides they want to make the browser more secure?? Too Late. And Windows 64bit was the biggest flop of an OS ever. You have to hunt for drivers like hunting for a girl at a sausage party. Vista doesn't seem like it will open many doors either.

[edx]

Well imagine how many people use IE compared to Firefox. The more people that use IE means more people will look to take advantage of that fact. I have to give MS the benefit of the doubt. They try to advance a product that has no competition. It's like being the best at a sport, the only way to get better is to go up against a challenge, and they haven't had one of those in decades.

[Look Its a Panda]

well its not like Microsoft is innovative anymore. i mean everything they are trying to do, someone else beat them to the punch.That's why both Sony and Nintendo did copy a bit off them regarding their next-gen consoles. And the whole Vista-Xbox 360 integration looks really sweet, and is something pretty innovative if you ask me.

I'm also happy to see that Bill is starting to phase out, not because he's done a horrible job, but simply because the man have been working pretty damn hard for all these years, and I think that the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation is a pretty noble goal. There's a reason why Bill and Melinda, along with U2's Bono, was Time Magazine's persons of the year (2005).

[PMS GibGirl]

I mean, Bill Gates really lets all his minions run the show anyway.


You have no idea how aware that man is about the technology and details of various Microsoft products.

During New Employee Orientation, Microsoft has some corporate executive come in and talk to the new hires. On my start date, we got a special treat - Bill Gates himself came in and talked to the group. After the talk, he took questions. I was just floored watching - the various people were asking some pretty serious questions about various products and technologies, and BillG responded to all of them in a manner that showed he was quite aware of the topic, and knew more than just rough brushstrokes on each.

He may have been having to deal with lots of top-level decisions, but unlike many other companies, he wasn't just getting brief overviews of things and focusing on "top-level managerial stuff". I gained a totally new admiration for the guy, just how smart and knowledgable he is.

Trust me - he wasn't letting anyone run the show without him - I guess he reviews just about every product in the company, and by review I don't mean reads a brief summary of it. We're talking meetings with the people in charge of the product or feature, and is known for grilling people and making them justify their decisions. He's one of those people that's scary smart.

[Kal-El]

You have no idea how aware that man is about the technology and details of various Microsoft products.

During New Employee Orientation, Microsoft has some corporate executive come in and talk to the new hires. On my start date, we got a special treat - Bill Gates himself came in and talked to the group. After the talk, he took questions. I was just floored watching - the various people were asking some pretty serious questions about various products and technologies, and BillG responded to all of them in a manner that showed he was quite aware of the topic, and knew more than just rough brushstrokes on each.

He may have been having to deal with lots of top-level decisions, but unlike many other companies, he wasn't just getting brief overviews of things and focusing on "top-level managerial stuff". I gained a totally new admiration for the guy, just how smart and knowledgable he is.

Trust me - he wasn't letting anyone run the show without him - I guess he reviews just about every product in the company, and by review I don't mean reads a brief summary of it. We're talking meetings with the people in charge of the product or feature, and is known for grilling people and making them justify their decisions. He's one of those people that's scary smart.

I thought it was kinda unfair how "BillyG" took a lot of flak over the Microsoft monopoly issue a couple years back. I mean is it the man's fault that no one came out with products that could compete? I don't think so.

I hope he never completely phases out. MS wouldn't be the same without him.

[Rip]

Fedex, i will play games forever!
Gib! nice to see you back!
One thing I’ve learned about leadership, successful leadership - you should be needed, but not irreplaceable. While Gates is an incredible head who does indeed remain incredibly in-tune with his company, at the same time I am glad in a way he is confident enough that his company will do well with his interaction on a much more limited basis than the past. It seems that his confidence allowed the market to take the news without any major hiccup in Microsoft stock. Indeed some analysts are even hoping that it will potentially allow Microsoft to innovate in new areas it has not previously plowed forward full tilt (a lot speak of competition with Google, although I personally am not sure that is the best thing to do considering public opinion on the search giant, it would damage the ‘good guys’ view people have begun to view Microsoft as due to things like Xbox 360)

E, you better watch out for Nintendo and that oddly reported patent on that one ;-)
Microsoft definately innovates, they have to in order to stay alive. Even if you take their acquisitions, finding companies with unique products but limited resources and absorbing them in order to let their ideas grow is a method of innovation as well.

I certainly am sad in a way to see Gates reach this point in the road; however I also know that he’ll continue to do a lot of good with his charity foundation. In a way it’s reassuring that the richest man in the world also happens to be one of the most philanthropic. Humanity still has some hope.

[ladyofrage]

Well imagine how many people use IE compared to Firefox. The more people that use IE means more people will look to take advantage of that fact. I have to give MS the benefit of the doubt. They try to advance a product that has no competition. It's like being the best at a sport, the only way to get better is to go up against a challenge, and they haven't had one of those in decades.

This is only true because 65% of computer users know nothing about computers and their hard drives are riddled with spyware and virus that clone them selves as ActiveX Controllers that are only found in IE. Also, Mozilla Foundation is a non-profit organization that relies on its users to get the word out while Microsoft partners with everyone possible to get the word out. MS used to be it back in the Windows 2000 days but the security holes have made it more than tedious. There lacks of expedious action to fix the holes is the main reason I sold all my stock and opped for Google who will probably launch an OS worthy of putting MS to bed like MS did Apple a few years ago.

[ladyofrage]

That's why both Sony and Nintendo did copy a bit off them regarding their next-gen consoles. And the whole Vista-Xbox 360 integration looks really sweet, and is something pretty innovative if you ask me.

I'm also happy to see that Bill is starting to phase out, not because he's done a horrible job, but simply because the man have been working pretty damn hard for all these years, and I think that the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation is a pretty noble goal. There's a reason why Bill and Melinda, along with U2's Bono, was Time Magazine's persons of the year (2005).


I honestly don't know why Xbox became so huge. I guess it turned out like Playstation did when it first came out. There were no games and it was too expensive. Now, it has better games but I still think its over priced.

[Rip]

You probably want to watch out for PS3 then if you think the 360 is too pricy. In relation to many console releases, if you adjust for inflation, the 360 isn't really that much more $. In fact it was less than a lot of consoles in the late 70s / early 80s.
Oh also, google has offically announced they have no plans to enter the browser market, just FYI.

[ladyofrage]

Google doesn't have to enter the browser market. They have partnered with Mozilla for Firefox. Google is entering the OS market.

[H2o sLacK]

yea thats right, they did partner with mozilla for firefox

[H2OSilentCid]

This is only true because 65% of computer users know nothing about computers and their hard drives are riddled with spyware and virus that clone them selves as ActiveX Controllers that are only found in IE. Also, Mozilla Foundation is a non-profit organization that relies on its users to get the word out while Microsoft partners with everyone possible to get the word out. MS used to be it back in the Windows 2000 days but the security holes have made it more than tedious. There lacks of expedious action to fix the holes is the main reason I sold all my stock and opped for Google who will probably launch an OS worthy of putting MS to bed like MS did Apple a few years ago.

If you actually play with the new Vista OS you will see that microsoft will come back strong and stop failing on areas like they were doing in the past. If you want to try Vista it's now open to the public for beta 2 and later RC1. I do admire Bill Gates, he spends his time actually helping people. I remember one time his foundation did help me and my class get access to college grade computer materials and actually got my Windows 2k3 server certification (back in high school of course.) He been helping the company he built quite heavy and making sure it will run smoothly. Now he wants to do less of that and start helping people who is in need and show them they can do better.

[Rip]

After reading through a book titled 'search' which goes in depth on google's business structure, I'm pretty confident that they won't be launching to compete directly with microsoft in the operating system world anytime soon. Quite frankly although google is popular, they don't have the clout in that area and really would get squashed. They know that, and are focusing on an area where they have shown they can outpreform MS by specialization and innovative products. They insist that the google spreadsheets is not meant to compete directly with applications like excel, and quite frankly i'm tempted to really agree. I use tons of graphs with excel quite often, something google spreadsheets simply cannot do. Also excel has the ability to handle a lot of thigns that google spreadsheets can't, messing around with 10+ MB files in google spreadsheets won't be nearly as efficient as excel will. Its biggest thing is the ability for multiple users to work with it at the same time, and that i wouldn't be suprised if you see incorperated into office a bit better in the future, probably more of an expansion of the current remote help and application sharing that windows already has by default.

In addition I heartily agree with cid. Vista is indeed a pretty robust OS. Its got some driver issues still, but those are to be expected until companies bring out new drivers for their hardware. for example my audigy 2 ZS Notebook doesn't work with vista, but the onboard is fine. Vista is a bit of a resoruce hog, but its pretty darn good looking too. And like XP, you have the options of disabling a lot of the eyecandy. I'm really impressed with the overall beta, especially considering it is still a beta. The security things do get somewhat annoying, however with a bit of tweaking you can set it so whenever you make a change anywhere it doesn't do the weird warning :-p I'm running vista with a dual boot on XP for my apps and stuff, but I like running vista whiel browing the web and whatnot.

[H2OSilentCid]

After reading through a book titled 'search' which goes in depth on google's business structure, I'm pretty confident that they won't be launching to compete directly with microsoft in the operating system world anytime soon. Quite frankly although google is popular, they don't have the clout in that area and really would get squashed. They know that, and are focusing on an area where they have shown they can outpreform MS by specialization and innovative products. They insist that the google spreadsheets is not meant to compete directly with applications like excel, and quite frankly i'm tempted to really agree. I use tons of graphs with excel quite often, something google spreadsheets simply cannot do. Also excel has the ability to handle a lot of thigns that google spreadsheets can't, messing around with 10+ MB files in google spreadsheets won't be nearly as efficient as excel will. Its biggest thing is the ability for multiple users to work with it at the same time, and that i wouldn't be suprised if you see incorperated into office a bit better in the future, probably more of an expansion of the current remote help and application sharing that windows already has by default.

In addition I heartily agree with cid. Vista is indeed a pretty robust OS. Its got some driver issues still, but those are to be expected until companies bring out new drivers for their hardware. for example my audigy 2 ZS Notebook doesn't work with vista, but the onboard is fine. Vista is a bit of a resoruce hog, but its pretty darn good looking too. And like XP, you have the options of disabling a lot of the eyecandy. I'm really impressed with the overall beta, especially considering it is still a beta. The security things do get somewhat annoying, however with a bit of tweaking you can set it so whenever you make a change anywhere it doesn't do the weird warning :-p I'm running vista with a dual boot on XP for my apps and stuff, but I like running vista whiel browing the web and whatnot.



You know Rip you can just pick up internet explorer 7 beta and use it on your xp platform. Still having issues with video card drivers to do my games yeah vista atm is a resource hog mostly because it has a few memory leaks here and there. There is no way google can compete with MS or Apple in the consumer market for an OS. Not when MS will be standardizing the video cards and bringing more things standard on the newer OS. Stuff with Vista is so easy to use, It can actually tell you and show you how to get into stuff.

[H2OSilentCid]

Once Vista comes out, games for windows, and Live anywhere you would want xbox even more. It will actually do a 360 over everything and be able to cross platform games or talk with people here who play mostly on thier 360 and connect with the PC division.

[Paulina]

Exactly my point, Dex.

Oh, and eat some kind of yummy cereal.
LUCKEY CHARMS OR CHEERIOS

[ladyofrage]

If you actually play with the new Vista OS you will see that microsoft will come back strong and stop failing on areas like they were doing in the past. If you want to try Vista it's now open to the public for beta 2 and later RC1. I do admire Bill Gates, he spends his time actually helping people. I remember one time his foundation did help me and my class get access to college grade computer materials and actually got my Windows 2k3 server certification (back in high school of course.) He been helping the company he built quite heavy and making sure it will run smoothly. Now he wants to do less of that and start helping people who is in need and show them they can do better.


I had Vista Beta a long time ago and I was not impressed. Some security features that I wanted are there but there is still going to be a huge driver issue just like with 64bit. The most reliable OS I have used would have to be between 2003 Pro and XP Pro but that is because most of the apps I run dont run on Linux.

Of course Google would not be in direct competition with MS over OS but that doesn't mean the technolgical consumer won't blast MS for another product.

[ladyofrage]

Once Vista comes out, games for windows, and Live anywhere you would want xbox even more. It will actually do a 360 over everything and be able to cross platform games or talk with people here who play mostly on thier 360 and connect with the PC division.


CONSOLE!!!!! NEVER!!!!!!!!

[H2OSilentCid]

I had Vista Beta a long time ago and I was not impressed. Some security features that I wanted are there but there is still going to be a huge driver issue just like with 64bit. The most reliable OS I have used would have to be between 2003 Pro and XP Pro but that is because most of the apps I run dont run on Linux.

Of course Google would not be in direct competition with MS over OS but that doesn't mean the technolgical consumer won't blast MS for another product.

I wouldn't keep hanging on Windows XP x64 edition with huge driver issues anymore. Thats more myth now and I actually using and still using Windows XP Pro x64 edition for everything and with all of my games. You have to remember x64 platform was built on 2k3 platform. When you say you had Vista Beta a long time ago basicly you mean you didn't get all the bells and whistles like beta 2 which was released last week of May. What you saw in beta1 was not what you see now in beta2 and beta2 is a huge improvement over beta 1. Google still would have to compete with linux and sun microsystems.

[H2OSilentCid]

CONSOLE!!!!! NEVER!!!!!!!!
Wouldn't be short on that either, was annouced on E3 and who said it was Bill Gates himself.

[ladyofrage]

I would never go back to console. Until you can hand build a console to your own specks like I do all my computers, I will never hold a controller for a console ever again.

[Gypsyfly PMS]

Hehe, I know Rip was drooling all over Vista.

[Rip]

You have to treat them in an entirely different aspect, I too love the customizability of the PC, hense my desktop / server (Server 2k3 / XP Pro dual boot) (http://www.blazingblue.org/sig/uploads/Rip_Desktop.jpg) (clickie for image). But the fact of the matter is, when i just want to sit down and play a game like uno for example, i don't really want to deal with the hastle computers present. Not to mention its just more relaxing and so much eaiser to play games with friends in the neighborhood. Believe it or not, despite the advanced nature of online gaming today, playign with friends nearby just has an additional aspect of fun. I love my PCs and my 360.
But to steer it back on topic, i think that is something Microsoft has and will continue to do well, make it all seemelessly integrate together to provide a great gaming experience. Gates was actively involved in the development of the 360, recieving an update at least every 6 weeks. He even spoke during the MS press conference this year at E3!

[KilloWertz]

Hehe, I know Rip was drooling all over Vista.

This is true. I remember the day he got it, he was all giddy in Uno. He says it was due to lack of sleep, but I don't believe him. :)

[H2OSilentCid]

Just put it this way, I game with both PC and all consoles and thats how a true gamer should be. Every system has it's own strenght and disadvantages and I can't love one more than the other.

[gamesource]

I thought it was kinda unfair how "BillyG" took a lot of flak over the Microsoft monopoly issue a couple years back. I mean is it the man's fault that no one came out with products that could compete? I don't think so.
I hope he never completely phases out. MS wouldn't be the same without him.

1. Bill Gates will die someday, despite what Microsoft and modern science will try to say.

2. Did you not hear about the anti-trust lawsuit against Microsoft? They could force PC manufacturers to use Windows or not sell computers. There was no room for competition, hence the lawsuit.

3. You can't exactly whip up a brand new OS out of thin air, unless you open source it. And then I dare someone to compete with Linux.

This is only true because 65% of computer users know nothing about computers and their hard drives are riddled with spyware and virus that clone them selves as ActiveX Controllers that are only found in IE. Also, Mozilla Foundation is a non-profit organization that relies on its users to get the word out while Microsoft partners with everyone possible to get the word out. MS used to be it back in the Windows 2000 days but the security holes have made it more than tedious. There lacks of expedious action to fix the holes is the main reason I sold all my stock and opped for Google who will probably launch an OS worthy of putting MS to bed like MS did Apple a few years ago.

1. Mozilla may be non-profit, but they receive millions from Google.

2. I'm not quite sure why you'd sell all of your solid, blue-chip stock like MS for the "it" boys at Google. Google's already starting to plateau.

I honestly don't know why Xbox became so huge. I guess it turned out like Playstation did when it first came out. There were no games and it was too expensive. Now, it has better games but I still think its over priced....I would never go back to console. Until you can hand build a console to your own specks like I do all my computers, I will never hold a controller for a console ever again.

1. Then you're sorely missing the point of console gaming. Cheaper (comparitive to PC upgrades) hardware, and a fixed target for the developers.

Google doesn't have to enter the browser market. They have partnered with Mozilla for Firefox. Google is entering the OS market.

1. See Also: Rip's Post on "The Search" and Google.

[Optic Deception]

It isnt that bad, Ray Ozzie and Steve Ballmer are extremely talented and smart people as well. Also, ultimately Bill Gates will still controll everything as the chairman, so if he dont like something with the OS...he can make it happen the way he wants, it is gonna be fine, he is an extraordinary person, and will have thought it through. As for that innovative comment, Xbox Live and Live Anywhere seem rather innovative to me, that is just a few things to name, dont you think?:D

[ladyofrage]

when i first bought MS stock it was close to 100 bucks a share. now its like 25 bucks. nuff said. if i had jumped in when it started at 25 bucks, i would be a millionaire but i was only like 10 and i didn't know anything about stocks.

any electronic i can't build and/or customize myself, i don't want it.

[Kal-El]

finding companies with unique products but limited resources and absorbing them in order to let their ideas grow is a method of innovation as well.

MS = The Borg? :eek:

It will actually do a 360 over everything and be able to cross platform games

I hope they NEVER do that.

First, people playing on PC would have an advantage. Especially in FPS game. Everyone knows that being quick to aim while staying accurate is a lot easier with a keyboard and a mouse. They'll also have the advantage (for some people) because they've invested more into their computer. Eventually PC hardware will surpass 360. Anyone that's played a PC FPS before knows that people with the more state-of-the-art computers are notorious for doing better.

Second, Cheating will be more common place. With any PC game there are people that use trainers, bots, exploits, and hacks. They are easy to develop and distribute. On xbox it happens on occasion (*cough*Halo 2*cough*), but the vast majority of cheaters exploit map bugs of somekind. I'd rather just deal with exploiters, who use map bugs that are usually easy to detect and boot, than people who use hacks, bots, trainers, etc that are usually harder to detect and can never be 100% sure the person is using them. Consequently, innocent PC gamers are often accused of using "hax" and booted just because they happen to be better than others.

PC Xbox cross over = BAAAAAADDDD Idea

[Optic Deception]

You can customize 360. Themes, Gamer Pictures, Faceplates, and Skins. You can customize it from internal hardware as well, with different fans, LEDs. The hardware is better than most other Computers on the market right now anways, most are dual, the 360 has 3 Symetrical PowerPC cores.

[Maverick]

Yeah, you're right. We totally copied that whole Xbox Live thing.

Mmmm ouch is right. That was hot Eric. lol

I think this is a good thing. I mean, what's going to happen if something bad happens to Bill Gates? Think about it, if he gets hit by a bus.. who's going to run the show? They need to get used to it. The man is a genius, but he isn't immortal.

[Rip]

You can customize 360. Themes, Gamer Pictures, Faceplates, and Skins. You can customize it from internal hardware as well, with different fans, LEDs. The hardware is better than most other Computers on the market right now anways, most are dual, the 360 has 3 Symetrical PowerPC cores.
Er, there's a heck of a lot more to hardware than just the number of cores, or even the speed of the cores. There are many PC chips that can outperform the 360 in raw computational power these days, even taking a look at the FX-62 or the new conroes, I think cell will have been eaisly passed by. The only area that the 360 has unique hardware (and not just streamlined hardware which allows one to optimize for the console) is within the GPU, the 10MB on the daughter die is an incredibly unique feature that has a ton of great performance implications. Its also quite pricy, ATI isn't even going to do it with their desktop cards, although the design of the R600 is rumored to be very similar to the architecture of the x360's GPU (with some other things, more pipes among them).

Dex, you can be sure that vista is goign to be a bit more of a pain with games when it comes to hacking. I also have a feeling direct X 10 is going to have some additional 'features' to make it difficult. Having said this, for crossplatform FPS games there will be a bit of autoaim for the console players that isn't there for PC. It should be like halo PC compared to Halo for the xbox, maybe exagerated a bit more....and coded properly for the PC.

[H2OSilentCid]

Er, there's a heck of a lot more to hardware than just the number of cores, or even the speed of the cores. There are many PC chips that can outperform the 360 in raw computational power these days, even taking a look at the FX-62 or the new conroes, I think cell will have been eaisly passed by. The only area that the 360 has unique hardware (and not just streamlined hardware which allows one to optimize for the console) is within the GPU, the 10MB on the daughter die is an incredibly unique feature that has a ton of great performance implications. Its also quite pricy, ATI isn't even going to do it with their desktop cards, although the design of the R600 is rumored to be very similar to the architecture of the x360's GPU (with some other things, more pipes among them).

Dex, you can be sure that vista is goign to be a bit more of a pain with games when it comes to hacking. I also have a feeling direct X 10 is going to have some additional 'features' to make it difficult. Having said this, for crossplatform FPS games there will be a bit of autoaim for the console players that isn't there for PC. It should be like halo PC compared to Halo for the xbox, maybe exagerated a bit more....and coded properly for the PC.

When Vista comes out developers and graphic card manufactures are going to adopt or be forced to follow a newer standard. This will make sure developers will have an easier time creating games and making sure games will be out more sooner and won't have to created different code based on a certain video card needs specs. Microsoft will be controlling when newer features will come out, it won't be where ATI whips this out or Nvidia has this and makes ATI do another thing. No won't be like that anymore, Will make a card adopt directx 10 standards so less techinical support based on different video cards specs.

[Kal-El]

Dex, you can be sure that vista is goign to be a bit more of a pain with games when it comes to hacking. I also have a feeling direct X 10 is going to have some additional 'features' to make it difficult. Having said this, for crossplatform FPS games there will be a bit of autoaim for the console players that isn't there for PC. It should be like halo PC compared to Halo for the xbox, maybe exagerated a bit more....and coded properly for the PC.

At first maybe, but they'll find a way to do it. They always do. Every single anti piracy protection and every single anti-cheat for PC has been hacked and cracked and worked around. Usually in only a couple months.

With vista you'll probably get 6 months to a year cheat free PC gaming.

I'd rather just not have the cross platform gaming and not have to worry about it. There are enough idiots on XBL as it is without adding PC idiots to the mix.