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Would Steve Ballmer Leave Microsoft After Win 8?

By - Source: Tom's Hardware US

Ballmer's been around for every version of Windows so far.

Bill Gates will forever be the number one name attached to the company, but the powerful locomotive that steams ahead at Microsoft is clearly Steve Ballmer.

So surprising it is, then, to read a rumor that says that Ballmer will step down from his position at Microsoft following the release of Windows 8. Website Windows8update.com said it received a tip from a source that says that the current Microsoft CEO will resign sometime after the launch of Windows 8.

The source said that, regardless of whether or not Windows 8 is a success in the marketplace, the new OS release will be Ballmer's final accomplishment.

Again, to be absolutely clear, this is just a rumor from an unnamed tipster, so at this point it serves as little more than just an interesting conversation point.

So who would be next in line to lead Microsoft if Ballmer were to ride off into the sunset? It could very well be Windows President Steven Sinofsky, who lead the team on Windows 7 and is overseeing development on Windows 8.

Ballmer has been the CEO of Microsoft since January 2000. His time at the company stretches back to 1980 when he was the first Business Manager hired by Bill Gates. After 32 years at the company, could Steve Ballmer be thinking about retirement?

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Top Comments
  • 25
    salgado18 , June 19, 2011 11:20 PM
    Quote:
    Website Windows8update.com said it received a tip from a source that says that the current Microsoft CEO will resign sometime after the launch of Windows 8.

    But the son of my nephew's neighbor's dog heard from someone involved in the gardening of a friend of Bill Gates' cousin that maybe he might be thinking about something more or less around the slightly oposite idea of the one he had earlier. Which could mean perhaps.

    One up for rumours...
  • 24
    phatboe , June 19, 2011 11:08 PM
    Ballmer needs to go, MS needs a fresh face with a new attitude and fresh thoughts.
Other Comments
  • 24
    phatboe , June 19, 2011 11:08 PM
    Ballmer needs to go, MS needs a fresh face with a new attitude and fresh thoughts.
  • 3
    proton9 , June 19, 2011 11:12 PM
    ^+1
  • 5
    nebun , June 19, 2011 11:16 PM
    there are way to many old people in these big businesses, they need to go, the younger generation need the jobs....
  • 0
    sykozis , June 19, 2011 11:20 PM
    Ballmer stepping down would be the best thing for MS. Unlike Apple, Microsoft can't survive by reviving dead markets...or by entering markets late. They also can't survive by releasing products and almost immediately dropping all support (Kin anyone?) because initial sales were poor due to a poorer software design. Microsoft needs to start innovating...and quickly, but that won't happen with Ballmer running the show.
  • 25
    salgado18 , June 19, 2011 11:20 PM
    Quote:
    Website Windows8update.com said it received a tip from a source that says that the current Microsoft CEO will resign sometime after the launch of Windows 8.

    But the son of my nephew's neighbor's dog heard from someone involved in the gardening of a friend of Bill Gates' cousin that maybe he might be thinking about something more or less around the slightly oposite idea of the one he had earlier. Which could mean perhaps.

    One up for rumours...
  • 4
    fir_ser , June 19, 2011 11:33 PM
    salgado18But the son of my nephew's neighbor's dog heard from someone involved in the gardening of a friend of Bill Gates' cousin that maybe he might be thinking about something more or less around the slightly oposite idea of the one he had earlier. Which could mean perhaps.One up for rumours...

    LOL.
  • 2
    fir_ser , June 19, 2011 11:40 PM
    The replacement of Steve Ballmer should be a youthful person with new ideas to push Microsoft forward.
  • 7
    ares1214 , June 19, 2011 11:59 PM
    He's done pretty good so far, but I would like to see some new good ideas, not to mention that the whole tile idea for mobile and W8 looks rather...lame.
  • 6
    malphas , June 20, 2011 12:09 AM
    Steven Sinofsky is pretty good, Windows, Windows Live and IE have all become half-decent products since he took the reigns.
  • 1
    Terrance , June 20, 2011 1:07 AM
    Ballmer should go as CEO. MS needs to stop its half-hearted attempts at new products and come to Jesus about the company's mission. It can either do a few things very well or a lot of things poorly. I'm a long-time shareholder, and even I don't have a clear idea of what MS intends to do to compete.
  • 3
    Yuka , June 20, 2011 1:07 AM
    It's going to be hard for MS to replace him, that's for sure.

    Now, a new head will mean a new direction. IMO MS can't change it's direction so easily, because of Share Holders, so a new Face will only mean that. If the real people that decides where the company will be headed doesn't change, it just won't. Unless, that is, the new CEO can change the minds of the Directory.

    Cheers!
  • 5
    TheDuke , June 20, 2011 1:08 AM
    Steve Ballmer isn't a very good face to have as the face of a company
    Doesn't look very appealing to the masses. Also on those keynote speeches, they shouldn't have someone with the most obviously fake smile talking for 40 minutes. It looks so excruciatingly bad.
  • 2
    bison88 , June 20, 2011 1:10 AM
    Microsoft needs Bill Gates back the same way Apple needed Steve Jobs. The visionary and creative spirit just isn't the same and until both CEO's manage to find someone with similar spirits both companies will continue to deteriorate once there CEO's leave for good.
  • 6
    clonazepam , June 20, 2011 2:31 AM
    They should be recruiting a youthful person who has yet to finish college, owns Apple products, but dreams of something better, and can hit a bong like a Hoover. A police record is not necessary but recommended.
  • -1
    clonazepam , June 20, 2011 2:45 AM
    c'mon I love Microsoft. I thought it ^ was funny.
  • 6
    Kileak , June 20, 2011 3:07 AM
    They need a very short and soft person as CEO. The company's name being Microsoft.

    Perhaps a kitten?
  • 4
    JOSHSKORN , June 20, 2011 3:27 AM
    Hell I'd step down too if I released a product (Windows 8) and forced everyone to upgrade to it from something that actually worked (Windows 7).

    Have we all seen the video for Windows 8? Is this necessary for a Desktop? Come on, now.
  • 1
    carlhenry , June 20, 2011 3:36 AM
    salgado18But the son of my nephew's neighbor's dog heard from someone involved in the gardening of a friend of Bill Gates' cousin that maybe he might be thinking about something more or less around the slightly oposite idea of the one he had earlier. Which could mean perhaps.One up for rumours...

    this can't be TRUE! i've never heard of a dog that can talk!
  • -4
    coupe , June 20, 2011 3:44 AM
    phatboeBallmer needs to go, MS needs a fresh face with a new attitude and fresh thoughts.


    Windows 7 is awesome and Windows 8 is the biggest change since windows 95. Google is your friend.
  • 5
    CaedenV , June 20, 2011 3:57 AM
    Ya, this being the same Balmer who wanted to move all OS and Office suites to a subscription base... He can go
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