Channel 9 Forums - Coffeehouse - How essential to Microsoft is Bill Gates? http://mschnlnine.vo.llnwd.net/d1/Dev/App_Themes/C9/images/feedimage.png Channel 9 Forums - Coffeehouse - How essential to Microsoft is Bill Gates? http://channel9.msdn.com/Forums Channel 9 keeps you up to date with the latest news and behind the scenes info from Microsoft that developers love to keep up with. From LINQ to SilverLight – Watch videos and hear about all the cool technologies coming and the people behind them. http://channel9.msdn.com/Forums en Sat, 25 May 2013 00:31:48 GMT Sat, 25 May 2013 00:31:48 GMT Rev9 23 -23 -1 Coffeehouse - How essential to Microsoft is Bill Gates?

I haven’t seen this question asked before, at least not in this community but please forgive me if I’m going over well-trodden ground.

 

One day Bill Gates will retire and inevitably, like the rest of us, one day he will pass away. In the hypothetical situation that this happens tomorrow, how would Microsoft be affected in the short and long terms?

 

Is Bill’s knowledge and insight in technology development that vital to Microsoft as a business, this developer community and the organisations we all apart of? Would Longhorn still ship as planned? Would the world in 20 years be very different to what it would be otherwise? Would the release of Windows post Longhorn be the same? Would Slashdot stop ripping in to Microsoft as soon as the name is mentioned? (I think not) and, who if anyone could take Bill’s place as Microsoft’s Chief Software Architect?

 

I know we can’t predict the future but it would be interesting to hear what everyone thinks.

]]> http://channel9.msdn.com/Forums/Coffeehouse/1362-How-essential-to-Microsoft-is-Bill-Gates/1362#1362 Fri, 09 Apr 2004 10:51:48 GMT http://channel9.msdn.com/Forums/Coffeehouse/1362-How-essential-to-Microsoft-is-Bill-Gates/1362#1362 Richard Acton 23 http://channel9.msdn.com/Niners/Richard Acton/Discussions/RSS Coffeehouse - How essential to Microsoft is Bill Gates? Retirement-He will pass the reighns on. But will still be somewhat visible.


Death-MICROSOFT will live on I think...There will be a breif time of mourning ...The world I think will be left with only a simple brief statement at the  time of shutdown.....


IN MEMORY OF OUR COMPANY FOUNDER BILL GATES MAY HE REST IN PEACE- (followed by the his birth and death dates)

]]> http://channel9.msdn.com/Forums/Coffeehouse/1362-How-essential-to-Microsoft-is-Bill-Gates/bede9413d3664ab3a0c89dea0111d5ee#bede9413d3664ab3a0c89dea0111d5ee Fri, 09 Apr 2004 11:05:55 GMT http://channel9.msdn.com/Forums/Coffeehouse/1362-How-essential-to-Microsoft-is-Bill-Gates/bede9413d3664ab3a0c89dea0111d5ee#bede9413d3664ab3a0c89dea0111d5ee redvamp128 23 http://channel9.msdn.com/Niners/redvamp128/Discussions/RSS Coffeehouse - How essential to Microsoft is Bill Gates?
redvamp128 wrote:

IN MEMORY OF OUR COMPANY FOUNDER BILL GATES MAY HE REST IN PEACE- (followed by the his birth and death dates)



"And Let's all welcome our new, Chief Software Architect, Steven Veselinovic, (claps and cheers and whoop whoop's). Followed by the release Windows 2020.

]]> http://channel9.msdn.com/Forums/Coffeehouse/1362-How-essential-to-Microsoft-is-Bill-Gates/65e63a4a43b546d2a0e29dea0111d61b#65e63a4a43b546d2a0e29dea0111d61b Fri, 09 Apr 2004 11:11:37 GMT http://channel9.msdn.com/Forums/Coffeehouse/1362-How-essential-to-Microsoft-is-Bill-Gates/65e63a4a43b546d2a0e29dea0111d61b#65e63a4a43b546d2a0e29dea0111d61b Stevan Veselinovic 23 http://channel9.msdn.com/Niners/Steve411/Discussions/RSS Coffeehouse - How essential to Microsoft is Bill Gates? Sorry guys but I think you have missunderstood the question entirely. I am refering to the bigger picture, the effect on Microsoft as a company, it's products, the developer community and businesses world wide.

]]> http://channel9.msdn.com/Forums/Coffeehouse/1362-How-essential-to-Microsoft-is-Bill-Gates/33f6f6ab0f834e2e97899dea0111d647#33f6f6ab0f834e2e97899dea0111d647 Fri, 09 Apr 2004 17:23:29 GMT http://channel9.msdn.com/Forums/Coffeehouse/1362-How-essential-to-Microsoft-is-Bill-Gates/33f6f6ab0f834e2e97899dea0111d647#33f6f6ab0f834e2e97899dea0111d647 Richard Acton 23 http://channel9.msdn.com/Niners/Richard Acton/Discussions/RSS Coffeehouse - How essential to Microsoft is Bill Gates? You are "Bill Gates"

]]> http://channel9.msdn.com/Forums/Coffeehouse/1362-How-essential-to-Microsoft-is-Bill-Gates/4b787ad32fc44b68bf5a9dea0111d68d#4b787ad32fc44b68bf5a9dea0111d68d Fri, 09 Apr 2004 17:38:47 GMT http://channel9.msdn.com/Forums/Coffeehouse/1362-How-essential-to-Microsoft-is-Bill-Gates/4b787ad32fc44b68bf5a9dea0111d68d#4b787ad32fc44b68bf5a9dea0111d68d V4us 23 http://channel9.msdn.com/Niners/V4us/Discussions/RSS Coffeehouse - How essential to Microsoft is Bill Gates? Bill Gates = $$$$$   Microsoft = Brains
This is simple Microsoft needs Bill Gates to finance their development, if he dies , gives all his money to charity, then Microsoft loses its war chest and it would have trouble riding through a storm. He is only essiential for his money, do you think he programs 18 hours a day?

]]> http://channel9.msdn.com/Forums/Coffeehouse/1362-How-essential-to-Microsoft-is-Bill-Gates/d5924d95963d4fd7988e9dea0111d6ba#d5924d95963d4fd7988e9dea0111d6ba Fri, 09 Apr 2004 17:53:39 GMT http://channel9.msdn.com/Forums/Coffeehouse/1362-How-essential-to-Microsoft-is-Bill-Gates/d5924d95963d4fd7988e9dea0111d6ba#d5924d95963d4fd7988e9dea0111d6ba machocomacho 23 http://channel9.msdn.com/Niners/machocomacho/Discussions/RSS Coffeehouse - How essential to Microsoft is Bill Gates?
machocomacho wrote:
Bill Gates = $$$$$   Microsoft = Brains
This is simple Microsoft needs Bill Gates to finance their development, if he dies , gives all his money to charity, then Microsoft loses its war chest and it would have trouble riding through a storm. He is only essiential for his money, do you think he programs 18 hours a day?


BULL#$!*. Look companies are founded and run and their founders up and leave, or die all the time. The whole thing is not going to collapse to the ground in financial ruin. I think Bill long ago stoped reaching into his own pocket to pay the electric bill.

]]> http://channel9.msdn.com/Forums/Coffeehouse/1362-How-essential-to-Microsoft-is-Bill-Gates/fae5865e653b4cb5850f9dea0111d6e8#fae5865e653b4cb5850f9dea0111d6e8 Fri, 09 Apr 2004 21:19:26 GMT http://channel9.msdn.com/Forums/Coffeehouse/1362-How-essential-to-Microsoft-is-Bill-Gates/fae5865e653b4cb5850f9dea0111d6e8#fae5865e653b4cb5850f9dea0111d6e8 Lwatson 23 http://channel9.msdn.com/Niners/Lwatson/Discussions/RSS Coffeehouse - How essential to Microsoft is Bill Gates? What I can think of is Microsoft World might be a bit different , do Microsoft employees have any hindsight into this?

]]> http://channel9.msdn.com/Forums/Coffeehouse/1362-How-essential-to-Microsoft-is-Bill-Gates/cd8ba38daef7461a8eac9dea0111d715#cd8ba38daef7461a8eac9dea0111d715 Fri, 09 Apr 2004 23:19:35 GMT http://channel9.msdn.com/Forums/Coffeehouse/1362-How-essential-to-Microsoft-is-Bill-Gates/cd8ba38daef7461a8eac9dea0111d715#cd8ba38daef7461a8eac9dea0111d715 Tejaaa 23 http://channel9.msdn.com/Niners/Tejaaa/Discussions/RSS Coffeehouse - How essential to Microsoft is Bill Gates? Microsoft nor computing will never be the same but life will move on.

]]> http://channel9.msdn.com/Forums/Coffeehouse/1362-How-essential-to-Microsoft-is-Bill-Gates/4555be2a15654885a4829dea0111d79a#4555be2a15654885a4829dea0111d79a Sat, 10 Apr 2004 00:32:35 GMT http://channel9.msdn.com/Forums/Coffeehouse/1362-How-essential-to-Microsoft-is-Bill-Gates/4555be2a15654885a4829dea0111d79a#4555be2a15654885a4829dea0111d79a Shining Arcanine 23 http://channel9.msdn.com/Niners/Shining Arcanine/Discussions/RSS Coffeehouse - How essential to Microsoft is Bill Gates? As a Microsoft employee I can add my two cents.  I don't know Bill well at all on a personal level.  I have been in meetings with him and worked with him on conferences a handful of times in my career. 

What I can say is that Bill is WAY more than just money bags here.  His wealth is connected to the company and not the other way around. Bill doesn't personally fund anything we do. 

Bill is one of the co-founders and his influence in the company is very deep as any co-founder's is. Does he plan everything we do?  No.  Does he let his people innovate and provide thoughtful feedback, yes.  Bill is a very very gifted man IMHO.  The person you see on television is not the whole person by any means.

He is funny, he is smart, he is a person like you and I.  He laughs, he tells stories, and he is critical when needed.  I have found him to be very likeable the few times I have worked with him. 

When Bill does make the very personal decision to move on one day, Microsoft will lose a very important part of its essence.  Until then, I am glad to have learned a few things from him in my 7 years here. He has taught all of us a thing or two that will live on well after he moves on from Microsoft.   

]]> http://channel9.msdn.com/Forums/Coffeehouse/1362-How-essential-to-Microsoft-is-Bill-Gates/f941ba53d3834ba98be59dea0111d7cb#f941ba53d3834ba98be59dea0111d7cb Sat, 10 Apr 2004 00:45:17 GMT http://channel9.msdn.com/Forums/Coffeehouse/1362-How-essential-to-Microsoft-is-Bill-Gates/f941ba53d3834ba98be59dea0111d7cb#f941ba53d3834ba98be59dea0111d7cb lenn 23 http://channel9.msdn.com/Niners/lenn/Discussions/RSS Coffeehouse - How essential to Microsoft is Bill Gates?
machocomacho wrote:
Bill Gates = $$$$$   Microsoft = Brains
This is simple Microsoft needs Bill Gates to finance their development, if he dies , gives all his money to charity, then Microsoft loses its war chest and it would have trouble riding through a storm. He is only essiential for his money, do you think he programs 18 hours a day?

Nah, i wouldn't worry about it, Microsoft has a few billion in reserve, Plus, their products are bought daily, how much profit do you think that is?

]]> http://channel9.msdn.com/Forums/Coffeehouse/1362-How-essential-to-Microsoft-is-Bill-Gates/91cf77e83bc74f2fbe709dea0111d7fb#91cf77e83bc74f2fbe709dea0111d7fb Sat, 10 Apr 2004 00:54:15 GMT http://channel9.msdn.com/Forums/Coffeehouse/1362-How-essential-to-Microsoft-is-Bill-Gates/91cf77e83bc74f2fbe709dea0111d7fb#91cf77e83bc74f2fbe709dea0111d7fb Stevan Veselinovic 23 http://channel9.msdn.com/Niners/Steve411/Discussions/RSS Coffeehouse - How essential to Microsoft is Bill Gates? Obivously macho was just trolling a bit. I'm sure he has no idea how difficult it is for an individual to just put money into a company, from an accounting standpoint.

As an outsider, I have slowly learned to view Microsoft as dozens (if not more) of smaller companies. Each go along with the direction of the larger one, but the innovation space within the smaller ones appears to be huge.

Longhorn. .NET. XBox. The new Management suite coming out soon. All amazing innovations within their spaces. Innovations that had to be thought up, justified, rationalized and pitched by... Not Bill. By the team members.

Bill is a great figurehead (and not just a 'look I'm a figurehead' one). He definitely pushes the comapny a lot, but Microsoft seems to be one of the few companies where the majority of the momentum is actually 4-6 levels down from Bill.

Just an outsider's viewpoint though. I'd hate to see him go. I love the keynotes, inspirations, etc that he brings to the table. Any man who can create a trillion dollar industry is worth listening to, in my books.

]]> http://channel9.msdn.com/Forums/Coffeehouse/1362-How-essential-to-Microsoft-is-Bill-Gates/701fc2bc25524e52bb4a9dea0111d82b#701fc2bc25524e52bb4a9dea0111d82b Sat, 10 Apr 2004 01:16:35 GMT http://channel9.msdn.com/Forums/Coffeehouse/1362-How-essential-to-Microsoft-is-Bill-Gates/701fc2bc25524e52bb4a9dea0111d82b#701fc2bc25524e52bb4a9dea0111d82b Jeremy W 23 http://channel9.msdn.com/Niners/Jeremy W/Discussions/RSS Coffeehouse - How essential to Microsoft is Bill Gates? [quote]Any man who can create a trillion dollar industry is worth listening to, in my books[qoute]..... Come on... Bill didn't create any industry... this industry would exist even without Microsoft. The internet would exist even without Microsoft. The proliferation would definately be less wide-spread, but I think saying he created the industry is a stretch, a huge stretch.

]]> http://channel9.msdn.com/Forums/Coffeehouse/1362-How-essential-to-Microsoft-is-Bill-Gates/280c6302e8e34a14b3ac9dea0111d857#280c6302e8e34a14b3ac9dea0111d857 Sat, 10 Apr 2004 03:46:59 GMT http://channel9.msdn.com/Forums/Coffeehouse/1362-How-essential-to-Microsoft-is-Bill-Gates/280c6302e8e34a14b3ac9dea0111d857#280c6302e8e34a14b3ac9dea0111d857 billy 23 http://channel9.msdn.com/Niners/billy/Discussions/RSS Coffeehouse - How essential to Microsoft is Bill Gates? Bill Gates 2.0, his clone will ascend to Chairman and Chief Software Architect, Microsoft Corporation around 2030.

]]> http://channel9.msdn.com/Forums/Coffeehouse/1362-How-essential-to-Microsoft-is-Bill-Gates/db77593e9a5a45b8b8eb9dea0111d885#db77593e9a5a45b8b8eb9dea0111d885 Sat, 10 Apr 2004 10:32:34 GMT http://channel9.msdn.com/Forums/Coffeehouse/1362-How-essential-to-Microsoft-is-Bill-Gates/db77593e9a5a45b8b8eb9dea0111d885#db77593e9a5a45b8b8eb9dea0111d885 eagle 23 http://channel9.msdn.com/Niners/eagle/Discussions/RSS Coffeehouse - How essential to Microsoft is Bill Gates? I think Bill Gates is basic pepls/ But All personal are he.

]]> http://channel9.msdn.com/Forums/Coffeehouse/1362-How-essential-to-Microsoft-is-Bill-Gates/8e9caeec047e455d9fae9dea0111d8c0#8e9caeec047e455d9fae9dea0111d8c0 Sat, 10 Apr 2004 14:25:43 GMT http://channel9.msdn.com/Forums/Coffeehouse/1362-How-essential-to-Microsoft-is-Bill-Gates/8e9caeec047e455d9fae9dea0111d8c0#8e9caeec047e455d9fae9dea0111d8c0 V4us 23 http://channel9.msdn.com/Niners/V4us/Discussions/RSS Coffeehouse - How essential to Microsoft is Bill Gates? billy, I was actually just talking about Microsoft and the spinoff companies which pin their businesses on Microsoft products. The IT industry is more than 4T$.

]]> http://channel9.msdn.com/Forums/Coffeehouse/1362-How-essential-to-Microsoft-is-Bill-Gates/13c38d3eee924d7289289dea0111d8ec#13c38d3eee924d7289289dea0111d8ec Sat, 10 Apr 2004 14:57:14 GMT http://channel9.msdn.com/Forums/Coffeehouse/1362-How-essential-to-Microsoft-is-Bill-Gates/13c38d3eee924d7289289dea0111d8ec#13c38d3eee924d7289289dea0111d8ec Jeremy W 23 http://channel9.msdn.com/Niners/Jeremy W/Discussions/RSS Coffeehouse - How essential to Microsoft is Bill Gates? Who is a Bill Gates?
Why a ? We don't aware psyche, becos we didn't comprehend he. He is man who make modern world, but Bill don't CRY "I MAKE IT", He said: "Go to Future and I am man who give peoples blessedness."
I was sending e-mail to Bill Gates (Billg@microsoft.com). He don't repled my. I said, "Some peoples didn't bay Microsoft Product now for FULL cost, But they can bay it on-the-cuff, for 20% now, other to 12 mouns."
Bill Make it, but he can Blow up it

]]> http://channel9.msdn.com/Forums/Coffeehouse/1362-How-essential-to-Microsoft-is-Bill-Gates/3227dcddb0204b1eb9739dea0111d91d#3227dcddb0204b1eb9739dea0111d91d Sat, 10 Apr 2004 15:55:20 GMT http://channel9.msdn.com/Forums/Coffeehouse/1362-How-essential-to-Microsoft-is-Bill-Gates/3227dcddb0204b1eb9739dea0111d91d#3227dcddb0204b1eb9739dea0111d91d V4us 23 http://channel9.msdn.com/Niners/V4us/Discussions/RSS Coffeehouse - How essential to Microsoft is Bill Gates?
eagle wrote:
Bill Gates 2.0, his clone will ascend to Chairman and Chief Software Architect, Microsoft Corporation around 2030.


Cloning is both illegal and immoral. It is not happening. How would you feel if you were a clone, merely a copy of another person, with that person's shoes to fill? Also, cloning is not like in the movies, it does not create a perfect copy of a person as it is a different organism that will have different experiences throughout its life and will start from day 1 like you did when you were born.

Just my two cents on why that isn't happening. It is more likely that one of his children might take his place.

]]> http://channel9.msdn.com/Forums/Coffeehouse/1362-How-essential-to-Microsoft-is-Bill-Gates/e39a3fe07a8642b2aec99dea0111d94a#e39a3fe07a8642b2aec99dea0111d94a Sat, 10 Apr 2004 16:00:44 GMT http://channel9.msdn.com/Forums/Coffeehouse/1362-How-essential-to-Microsoft-is-Bill-Gates/e39a3fe07a8642b2aec99dea0111d94a#e39a3fe07a8642b2aec99dea0111d94a Shining Arcanine 23 http://channel9.msdn.com/Niners/Shining Arcanine/Discussions/RSS Coffeehouse - How essential to Microsoft is Bill Gates? Jeremy W., I see, my bad. Good point.

]]> http://channel9.msdn.com/Forums/Coffeehouse/1362-How-essential-to-Microsoft-is-Bill-Gates/2c48732750e1484683f59dea0111d976#2c48732750e1484683f59dea0111d976 Sat, 10 Apr 2004 18:35:59 GMT http://channel9.msdn.com/Forums/Coffeehouse/1362-How-essential-to-Microsoft-is-Bill-Gates/2c48732750e1484683f59dea0111d976#2c48732750e1484683f59dea0111d976 billy 23 http://channel9.msdn.com/Niners/billy/Discussions/RSS Coffeehouse - How essential to Microsoft is Bill Gates? I'm sorry, I was wrong, thanks for pointing out what really goes on

]]> http://channel9.msdn.com/Forums/Coffeehouse/1362-How-essential-to-Microsoft-is-Bill-Gates/01ccae92edba4181a5ea9dea0111d9a4#01ccae92edba4181a5ea9dea0111d9a4 Sat, 10 Apr 2004 19:52:38 GMT http://channel9.msdn.com/Forums/Coffeehouse/1362-How-essential-to-Microsoft-is-Bill-Gates/01ccae92edba4181a5ea9dea0111d9a4#01ccae92edba4181a5ea9dea0111d9a4 machocomacho 23 http://channel9.msdn.com/Niners/machocomacho/Discussions/RSS Coffeehouse - How essential to Microsoft is Bill Gates? billy, naw, I wasn't clear, sorry for the confusion Smiley

]]> http://channel9.msdn.com/Forums/Coffeehouse/1362-How-essential-to-Microsoft-is-Bill-Gates/0632978f2a2f47628e999dea0111d9d0#0632978f2a2f47628e999dea0111d9d0 Sat, 10 Apr 2004 22:42:21 GMT http://channel9.msdn.com/Forums/Coffeehouse/1362-How-essential-to-Microsoft-is-Bill-Gates/0632978f2a2f47628e999dea0111d9d0#0632978f2a2f47628e999dea0111d9d0 Jeremy W 23 http://channel9.msdn.com/Niners/Jeremy W/Discussions/RSS Coffeehouse - How essential to Microsoft is Bill Gates? Bill is watching you. He think about you... Mr. Gates don't understand you. You don't understand Bill.

]]> http://channel9.msdn.com/Forums/Coffeehouse/1362-How-essential-to-Microsoft-is-Bill-Gates/41e42bf1ba3b4986b37a9dea0111d9fc#41e42bf1ba3b4986b37a9dea0111d9fc Sun, 11 Apr 2004 13:17:49 GMT http://channel9.msdn.com/Forums/Coffeehouse/1362-How-essential-to-Microsoft-is-Bill-Gates/41e42bf1ba3b4986b37a9dea0111d9fc#41e42bf1ba3b4986b37a9dea0111d9fc V4us 23 http://channel9.msdn.com/Niners/V4us/Discussions/RSS Coffeehouse - How essential to Microsoft is Bill Gates? Bill if you read It, PLS See history in you e-mail programs. And you see ...

]]> http://channel9.msdn.com/Forums/Coffeehouse/1362-How-essential-to-Microsoft-is-Bill-Gates/f79efff1d40840c8a7599dea0111da28#f79efff1d40840c8a7599dea0111da28 Sun, 11 Apr 2004 17:15:18 GMT http://channel9.msdn.com/Forums/Coffeehouse/1362-How-essential-to-Microsoft-is-Bill-Gates/f79efff1d40840c8a7599dea0111da28#f79efff1d40840c8a7599dea0111da28 V4us 23 http://channel9.msdn.com/Niners/V4us/Discussions/RSS