4 ms·
Let's not conflate the Gates in Balmer era at Microsoft. The Gates era produced some of the finest software Microsoft ever made, Windows 2000, Visual Studio an
by thefourthchime 5y ago
Let's not conflate the Gates in Balmer era at Microsoft.
The Gates era produced some of the finest software Microsoft ever made, Windows 2000, Visual Studio and Office 2000. They had a real focus on developers, and developer support (remember when MSDN didn't suck?).
In spite of Balmer jumping up and down on stage yelling "Developers!!", he had no idea how to build a software company and subsequently nearly drove it into the ground.
- azinman2 5y agoLet’s also recognize that while clearly both of these guys (Bezos and Gates) are clear outliers in talent and execution, they themselves did not build these companies and products alone. They were supported by thousands and thousands of people. And many of them coming up with the important ingredients that made it all happen.
- legitster 5y agoHaha! Fair enough. Although, to give Ballmer some credit, he inherited a lot of structural problems in the business, and I merged their eras because it was never very clear when Gates actually let go of all of the reigns.
- taneq 5y ago> In spite of Balmer jumping up and down on stage yelling "Developers!!" ... If you actually know how to support developers you don't need to jump up and down on stage screaming about it.