http://arstechnica.com/business/2013/08/microsoft-ceo-steve-ballmer-to-retire-within-12-months/
Apparently, Steve is retiring :o I thought the day would never come.
Damit you just beat me to posting this.
http://finance.yahoo.com/news/microsoft-ceo-ballmer-retire-within-131209911.html
True change to come to Microsoft or more stagnation and decline?
Apparently Microsoft stock is already up 8%
So what does that say haha
It says that people like to follow activist investors. One is trying to get onto the ms board now. Possibly fiddling with or getting rid of the "xbox" division because according to him, it still doesn't make them money (I thought it did now...).
Over the weekend on Netflix I watched "iSteve (http://mashable.com/2013/04/18/isteve-mockumentary-funny-or-die/)", and really enjoyed how it never took itself seriously and yet kinda followed the true timeline of true events (but completely warped every single one of them).
With the exciting news of this OP, I hope that FoD ends up doing a similar short bio-mockumentary and manage to get the same actor* who played Ballmer in tPoSV ( *HIM, BENDER (http://www.imdb.com/character/ch0092330)!)
Hah! I only recently saw iSteve, which was a riot, I'd love to see old Chair Chucker get the same treatment
I was also reading yesterday that the PS4 stole the show at gamescom leaving the Bone to the dogs (apparently the Bone launch title is ... FIFA [lol])
This is probably relevant: http://arstechnica.com/gaming/2013/08/by-the-numbers-next-generation-console-software-showdown/
PS4 has twice the number of games, and many more "original IP" and "indie" games than the xbone.
They totally screwed the pooch on the reveal. People are clearly avoiding the xbone.
The only thing that would have saved their butts after the E3 disaster was a bunch of gotta-have-it games, which they lack.
It will be like the Wii-U launch ... only worse
The E3 disaster pretty much made sure they wouldn't have any gotta-have-it games.
Mmmm I'm pretty sure to make the launch date of late 2013 / early 2014 they would have had the game lineup figured out long before the incredible series of marketing SNAFUs (though that certainly doesn't help things when publishers consider what systems they want to bend over for)
Like I say, they have no "gotta have it" games. Which isn't bad I guess as long as they aren't too far behind with the next version of Halo or whatever but clearly Sony has won 2013
Hopefully we see the playing field get more competitive in 2014 when Nintendo finally releases its games and Microsoft sorts itself out.
Maybe 12 months to retire is actually too long:
QuoteThere is never a perfect time for this type of transition, but now is the right time.
(http://i.imgur.com/JaRRqNy.jpg)
right != perfect.
Perfect timing and right timing impart the same meaning so...
Mr. Spock raises his eyebrow slightly further
I dunno. I'd say you could have the right timing, but not actually have perfect timing. varying degrees imo.
paraphrasing: perfect is the enemy of right.
Quote from: Tom on August 23, 2013, 10:06:49 AM
paraphrasing: perfect is the enemy of right.
I say, we must move forward, not backward; upward, not forward; and always twirling, twirling, twirling towards freedom!
Hmm, you know the guy who caused the chair-throwing incident quit Google a few years ago, maybe him and Stevesie can get together and take their show on the road.
Quote from: Mr. Analog on August 23, 2013, 10:15:25 AM
I say, we must move forward, not backward; upward, not forward; and always twirling, twirling, twirling towards freedom!
NICE esoteric reference (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JSpSkWPBx6M)! (even more esoteric -- the apparent source (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=386JprXXU90) for this strange word salad)
Hahaha OMG
Quote from: Mr. Analog on August 23, 2013, 10:33:59 AM
Hahaha OMG
confirmed legit: http://www.seattleweekly.com/dailyweekly/2011/07/why_is_dennis_kucinich_twirlin.php
I didn't keep up with Uhmerican political BS during that time, so didn't know that was an actual event being satirised (a la The Dean Scream (http://www.youtube.com/results?search_query=howard+dean's+scream) I guess?) (sadly, the actual message "No Strings" (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ycFtOBKIXcg) was completely lost in MSM-delivered-sound-bite-addicted America )
Quote from: Lazybones on August 23, 2013, 08:51:04 AM
http://finance.yahoo.com/news/microsoft-ceo-ballmer-retire-within-131209911.html
True change to come to Microsoft or more stagnation and decline?
back on topic -- above link = wow didn't realize the timing so soon after this pretty-damn-significant public declaration of "we just can't keep doing it anymore"...
Quote
Ballmer's planned exit comes just weeks after the company announced a major reorganization and delivered an earnings report that showed across-the-board weakness in the business, including dismal sales of the company's new Surface tablet and a lukewarm reaction to the crucial Windows 8 operating system.
The recent reorganization was aimed at reshaping Microsoft - once primarily a purveyor of packaged software - into a company focused on devices and services, essentially mimicking Apple.
Well, as I stated earlier there has been a long string of failures under Ballmer, from what I understand people have wanted him out of the big boy chair since the Vista fiasco.
Microsoft can only take so much financial damage before something had to be done, I'm just surprised it wasn't done sooner actually.
http://arstechnica.com/information-technology/2013/08/microsoft-needs-a-new-ceo-who-probably-doesnt-exist/
Financially he didn't do to bad, I think those of us in IT just hate what is happening with windows and the licensing cost increases in all products.
I look at the billions pissed away on things like Windows RT, Zune, previous iterations of the Microsoft App Store, Vista, 8... there's not much he did there that went well under his stewardship.
As much as I can admire Bill Gates having him hand pick a replacement was probably the worst thing that could have happened to Microsoft.
Some of the pro-Ballmer comments pointed out that Microsoft is more than just consumer software, and that the profits and especially GROWTH of the enterprise/business segments were significant during his watch.
Many others pointed out that virtually any other CEO woulda had the same global culture to benefit from, and in fact would done better with all the chances to excel that Ballmer missed or failed at:
Quote
...Ballmer simply rode a train that was already going full-blast with what amounts to a monopoly. The company that owned Windows and Office pretty much had a license to print money.
Microsoft would have been successful with almost anybody as CEO, because most people were going to buy Windows and Office no matter what the company did.
But instead of making sure that the company could dominate the future Ballmer was obsessed with protecting what he already had ? the semi-monopoly franchises that continue to bring in money. As a result, the company has lost its chance to continue being the 800-lb. gorilla of the IT industry.
While Microsoft made a lot of money on Ballmer's watch, I see no evidence that he added value. He was handed the keys to the semi-monopoly of the IT industry and he's managed to blow all the chances that the market leader rightfully should have taken advantage of. He was a buffoon who has laid the foundation for the serious decline of the company ? simply because he did nothing with the resources and the giant lead he was given.
Remember, Dancing Monkey Boy was a MATH major in college, he was always a SALESMAN at heart, not an ideas guy, not a trail blazer or risk-taker by any means... Good luck Microsoft in finding any inspiring visionary leader who is actually willing to take over the helm at the Titanic, post-iceberg!
imo this nicely sums up what is hard to deny:
Quote
...he hasn't set up Microsoft for a great future, and that's why he's getting the boot.
Yes, he's done some things that have realised good revenue and profit in the past decade or so, but Microsoft's future isn't very bright, in fact some might consider it quite dismal. Where is their future growth coming from? That's the reason he's been and let's be honest and clear here, fired.
How many product failures can one person achieve at a company and still remain at the helm? Well, thank goodness Microsoft was cash and annuity rich that he had the opportunity to create so many massive failures.
Ballmer out, Nokia in
http://www.theregister.co.uk/2013/09/03/microsoft_nokia_rise_of_elop/
http://www.theregister.co.uk/2013/09/03/microsoft_just_bowled_a_googly/
TheRegister forumers discuss possible Ballmer successors
http://forums.theregister.co.uk/forum/1/2013/08/29/microsofts_next_ceo/
Yeah, strange how former Microsoftie Stephen Elop went to Nokia not too long ago, now Nokia is bought Elop is coming back... and is also a potential heir to the throne...
(http://i.imgur.com/LBvq7wG.jpg)
I'm more surprised by Microsoft offering a board seat to the president of an investment company (ValueAct Capital) that owns a mere 0.8% of the Microsoft stock. Usually the board members hold a much larger percentage of the stock than that.
Quote from: Thorin on September 04, 2013, 10:30:32 AM
I'm more surprised by Microsoft offering a board seat to the president of an investment company (ValueAct Capital) that owns a mere 0.8% of the Microsoft stock. Usually the board members hold a much larger percentage of the stock than that.
Makes me think its just a peace offering to the rest of MS's shareholders. Also you tend to want to shut up an activist shareholder pretty quickly. they tend to push really boring share holder centric policies that really only end up hurting the companies bottom line...
Ballmer gone; quotes Dirty Dancing. #hepcat
http://instagram.com/p/evs9oprJTu/
via http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/technology-24301733
Quote
Ballmer had tears streaming down his face as he made his last remarks, telling employees: "We have unbelievable potential in front of us, we have an unbelievable destiny. Only our company and a handful of others are poised to write the future.
"We're going to think big, we're going to bet big."
He took aim at some of the company's rivals, calling Apple "fashionable" and Amazon "cheap". He said Google was focused on "knowing more", while Microsoft was about "doing more".
Ahh Ballmer we hardly new ye...
When he took the reigns Microsoft was unquestioningly dominant and growing in new areas (.NET Framework, XBox, tablets (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Microsoft_Tablet_PC))
And just look at them now!
no really
come back
heeeeeeeey!
So any thoughts on the new chief?
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Satya_Nadella#Microsoft
He's probably good for their cloud and business buisnesses. Not so much for consumer....
Probably the worst candidate they could have picked.
This is the person behind the awful XBone fiasco last year
Quote from: Mr. Analog on February 19, 2014, 11:43:01 AM
Probably the worst candidate they could have picked.
This is the person behind the awful XBone fiasco last year
Quote from: Tom on February 19, 2014, 10:25:47 AM
He's probably good for their cloud and business buisnesses. Not so much for consumer....
So you guys are solidly in agreement then? (since neither of you is likely to ever be a cloud/enterprise customer of Microsoft's...)
More or less. He might be ok? Maybe? If he's flexible enough? Maybe being CEO will give him a different perspective? But from a business standpoint, MS makes most of their money from bulk license deals. You aren't their customer, OEMs, Large businesses and governments are. The only reason they care at all about the consumer is to keep people using their software at home, for lock in.
Quote from: Darren Dirt on February 19, 2014, 12:01:01 PM
Quote from: Mr. Analog on February 19, 2014, 11:43:01 AM
Probably the worst candidate they could have picked.
This is the person behind the awful XBone fiasco last year
Quote from: Tom on February 19, 2014, 10:25:47 AM
He's probably good for their cloud and business buisnesses. Not so much for consumer....
So you guys are solidly in agreement then? (since neither of you is likely to ever be a cloud/enterprise customer of Microsoft's...)
personally maybe, professionally never. It's just a case of trust across borders and it's just not on.
You saying you'll never agree with me?!?!?!?!?!
I think he's referring to never being a cloud/enterprise customer of Microsoft's.
It's funny, because our manager is definitely pushing for using cloud services from Microsoft.
Quote from: Thorin on February 19, 2014, 02:39:35 PM
I think he's referring to never being a cloud/enterprise customer of Microsoft's.
Ya, the excessive use of punctuation was meant to hint at my level of jokitude.
Quote from: Thorin on February 19, 2014, 02:39:35 PM
I think he's referring to never being a cloud/enterprise customer of Microsoft's.
It's funny, because our manager is definitely pushing for using cloud services from Microsoft.
From a business cost point of view they are selling those services rather hard... My only pause has been there TWO GLOBAL failures in the last two years.
1. Date bug
2. DNS change gone bad
No point in having regional failure domains if 1 thing can take them all down.
Amazon has a better history in this matter, but even Netflix can tell you that you have to build on top of that your own systems for dealing with failure. (http://techblog.netflix.com/2012/07/chaos-monkey-released-into-wild.html)
AWS is fun that way. It has a major DC or regional (or less frequently, Global) outages once a year or so. Much more frequently host nodes or vms will just fall off the network. It's just something you have to expect and account for.
I moved my DNS and Mail servers to digital ocean recently, my DNS setup has two $5 vms, one primary one secondary that automatically syncs with the primary, should one go down, the other will be up. And they are in separate ends of the us. Mail isn't redundant, I haven't finished fully setting it up, I haven't even bothered with spam filtering yet, as postfix with the right setup filters out most spam by virtue of rbls, reverse dns, and validity checking.
I'll be moving my web vm over soonish, and I can finally cancel my dedicated box.