3 ms·

That depends. If he's going to have the same "Don't F&*% with Windows" attitude like he used to have in the past, when people came to him with such projects, th

That depends. If he's going to have the same "Don't F&*% with Windows" attitude like he used to have in the past, when people came to him with such projects, then I doubt he'll do much better than Ballmer. Microsoft needs to let innovation get out of their labs regardless if it has to potential to kill Windows or not. The priority should be to make great products with no restrictions. Did Steve Jobs get his employees to f$%^ off when they came with the idea to make iOS that would potentially affect Mac sales in the future? I don't think so. The iPhone disrupts the iPod business, and the iPad disrupts the Macbook business (though it's still too early to see the effects). Microsoft wouldn't build anything that has the potential to disrupt Windows right now. That's why they'd rather wait over 2 years since the iPad launched to use the real Windows for tablets, instead of making a WP7 tablet version right away (which would have to be about as cheap as WP7 for phones).

dman 15y ago
Great points. btw http://minimsft.blogspot.com/ http://minimsft.blogspot.com/ is a great resource for things that Microsoft should be doing. Ironically its written by someone who works at Microsoft and several people from Microsoft participate in the comments section.
- chollida1 15y ago
  > btw http://minimsft.blogspot.com/ http://minimsft.blogspot.com/ is a great resource for things that Microsoft should be doing. Ironically its written by someone who works at Microsoft I agree that minimsft is a great blog, but can you expand on how an employee having an opinion on how Microsoft should run it's business is ironic? Most of the premise of the blog is to have a smaller Microsoft, which is almost a universally accepted opinion in the company.
  - dman 15y ago
    Well minimsft is one employee but his posts receive comments from many other Microsoft employees. In my mind the irony is that people inside the company seem to agree completely on what needs to be changed - incentives structure, more risks, less political infighting and increased agility - however things are still as they are.
    - contextfree 15y ago
      Those are all pretty abstract. Agreeing on a concrete solution, other than e.g. "less political infighting ... achieved by giving my faction what it wants and telling those other idiots to shut up!", is a lot harder. The various points advanced in minimsft comments and elsewhere tend to be mutually contradictory if you actually think about them. e.g. stop depending too much on Windows/Office and focus on making totally new products even if it's risky? or stop wasting time and money on anything not immediately profitable and focus only on core strengths? I've seen both advocated on minimsft quite a few times.
zmmmmm 15y ago
> If he's going to have the same "Don't F&*% with Windows" attitude like he used to have in the past, when people came to him with such projects, then I doubt he'll do much better than Ballmer Anybody who takes over is going to encounter resistance to change on the Windows and Office front. I think that is actually by far the strongest reason that Bill could be the best person: authority. As you say, unless he recognizes the need for it it's pointless, but assuming he does, he's by far the best person for the job. If you're going to piss off people all up and down the company you need something special to bring the majority along with you. No outsider can come in and do that. Bill could, because he, unlike anyone else can legitimately lead from the front with genuine authority and vision.

dman 15y ago

Great points. btw http://minimsft.blogspot.com/ http://minimsft.blogspot.com/ is a great resource for things that Microsoft should be doing. Ironically its written by someone who works at Microsoft and several people from Microsoft participate in the comments section.

chollida1 15y ago
> btw http://minimsft.blogspot.com/ http://minimsft.blogspot.com/ is a great resource for things that Microsoft should be doing. Ironically its written by someone who works at Microsoft I agree that minimsft is a great blog, but can you expand on how an employee having an opinion on how Microsoft should run it's business is ironic? Most of the premise of the blog is to have a smaller Microsoft, which is almost a universally accepted opinion in the company.
- dman 15y ago
  Well minimsft is one employee but his posts receive comments from many other Microsoft employees. In my mind the irony is that people inside the company seem to agree completely on what needs to be changed - incentives structure, more risks, less political infighting and increased agility - however things are still as they are.
  - contextfree 15y ago
    Those are all pretty abstract. Agreeing on a concrete solution, other than e.g. "less political infighting ... achieved by giving my faction what it wants and telling those other idiots to shut up!", is a lot harder. The various points advanced in minimsft comments and elsewhere tend to be mutually contradictory if you actually think about them. e.g. stop depending too much on Windows/Office and focus on making totally new products even if it's risky? or stop wasting time and money on anything not immediately profitable and focus only on core strengths? I've seen both advocated on minimsft quite a few times.

zmmmmm 15y ago

> If he's going to have the same "Don't F&*% with Windows" attitude like he used to have in the past, when people came to him with such projects, then I doubt he'll do much better than Ballmer Anybody who takes over is going to encounter resistance to change on the Windows and Office front. I think that is actually by far the strongest reason that Bill could be the best person: authority. As you say, unless he recognizes the need for it it's pointless, but assuming he does, he's by far the best person for the job. If you're going to piss off people all up and down the company you need something special to bring the majority along with you. No outsider can come in and do that. Bill could, because he, unlike anyone else can legitimately lead from the front with genuine authority and vision.