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Looks like Uncle Bill is moving on to less-stressful pastures. This was announced to Microsoft employees just a few minutes ago and so far the stock price is unchanged After Hours. That makes me wonder if MSFT's precipitous stock drop in May was due to some knowledge about this.
Bill Gates Begins Transition Away From Microsoft
Seeded on Thu Jun 15, 2006 4:54 PM EDT
Article Source: FT.com- Enjoy this article? Help vote it up the 'Vine.
- Public Discussion (19)
I screenshot my browser when CNN.com's headline was "Bill Gates Steps Down from Microsoft". They've since changed it to a less-dramatic "... Leaving Day-to-Day role."
- 2 votes
#1 - Thu Jun 15, 2006 5:12 PM EDT
(OK, way off topic, but the "verbing" phenomenon has always fascinated me.)
You've never been asked, "could you screenshot that for me?"
Yep, and I've also been in conversations where someone reported having googled, photoshopped, ebayed, dugg, or flickrd something. In fact I'm more surprised at some of the tech/software words that haven't been turned into verbs, like Flash -- "Let's flash that presentation" seems a natural but I've never heard it.
- 1 vote
Screencap, yes. Screenshot, no. Screenshot is the noun. You show someone a screenshot that was screencapped (thus shortened to capping in some circles). Clearly this isn't the end-all be-all, but it's how I've heard it used more often than not.
I'm all about using these goofy noun-cum-verbs. Facebooked, myspaced, etc. Flickrd is a little much, though. Just because they delete the e in their name doesn't mean you should delete it from the suffix. .)
Fwiw, Wikipedia lists alternatives for screenshot
as screendumps, screencaptures, and, erm, screenies. I will refuse to take a screenshot/screenshoot anything for anyone who calls it a screenie.
I'm a big grammar nerd, so I wonder if there's any distinction in words that are only verbs in the imperative mood and nouns in most other cases. Any thoughts?
I would imagine Microsoft will survive without Gates at the helm. There are enough intelligent people running the company that it can and will continue.
Some fresh blood might be good for Microsoft.
#2 - Thu Jun 15, 2006 5:43 PM EDTIt's too little too late.
Yeah, MS will survive, but I suspect their relevance will continue to decrease. While Linux, unfortunately, is not quite ready for the average consumer, MS is about to update 3 billion computers with an OS that will most likely be buggy and full of holes. Windows may not yet be dead, but I would argue that Office has been dead for two years. When Writely launches, that may be the last nail.
- 1 vote
#3 - Thu Jun 15, 2006 7:25 PM EDTYou're right. Web services that used to be desktop applications (Google this, Google that) will leave only one thing uncertain: what standards will replace those that Microsoft had formerly monopolized?
As for the OS, I look at Ubuntu and I think to myself that GNU/Linux is more than capable for the redefined desktop job, so long as hardware support can be sustained.
Speaking of Linux, this just makes me wonder if or how Slashdot is going to replace their cherished Gates/Borg avatar.
This isn't surprising in the least. I fully expect Mr. Gates to move his enormous wealth from Microsoft stock to gold, land, and foreign currencies in anticipation of the coming war with Iran. One need only need look at the recent activities of Berkshire-Hathaway mogul and world's second richest man Warren Buffett to see what's happening.
For the sake of your own financial survival, this might be a good time to consider getting your money out of the dollar. It's teetering on the precipice and is about to collapse.
Do any of you know what I mean when I say 'petrodollar'? How about 'dollar hegemony'? If you don't know what these things are, I suggest you read the speech entitled "The End of Dollar Hegemony" made by Rep. Ron Paul in the House of Representatives a month or two back. It should be required reading right now for anyone interested in knowing why we attacked Iraq, why we started the War on Terror, why we tried to stage a coup against Venezuelan president Hugo Chavez in 2002, and why we are currently ramping up support for a war with Iran, which could have dire consequences.
This is a signal, folks...pay close attention to what's going on here.
You've been warned, so don't be surprised.
- 1 vote
#4 - Fri Jun 16, 2006 4:36 AM EDTBill Gates is stepping down from his role as Chief Software Architect, not pulling all his stock out. He's still the biggest shareholder.
- 1 vote
This decision is probably also an indication that Mr. Gates might feel as if the Democrats stand a pretty good chance of taking back the house and senate this fall, which could mean a crackdown on trusts like Microsoft. But more likely, he is following Mr. Buffett's lead and getting away from the dollar altogether, moving toward commodities, foreign currency, and foreign companies.
#5 - Fri Jun 16, 2006 4:40 AM EDTGiven his legacy, it will take along time to truly see the back of Gates. A pity.
- 1 vote
#7 - Fri Jun 16, 2006 9:17 AM EDTHats off to Bill Gates. Regardless of how you look at him as a businessman, he is making waves as a philanthropist. His foundation has an asset of $29 Billion. Need I say more?
- 3 votes
#8 - Wed Jun 21, 2006 5:00 AM EDTYou said it. IE6 is a demon from hell, but nobody can argue that the man doesn't pull his weight in the world.
- 2 votes
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