After 30-plus years of running Microsoft, Bill Gates is stepping down from his post as day to day leader of the company in a culmination of a phased withdrawal by Gates of himself. First, Gates handed over chief software architect duties to Ray Ozzie. Craig Mundie took over as chief research and strategy officer. Then, the fiery and often frightening Steve Ballmer was tapped to take over as CEO.

Considering Gates' role as a major business and pop-culture figure, it's understandable that the media, in light of this very public pseudo-exit, is opining about Gates' legacy and Microsoft's future as if the man had died. Let's take a dip into the media and the blogosphere to see what's being said about Gates, his "retirement" and Microsoft:

"'His legacy has to be as one of the shrewdest businessmen and technologist of the 20th century,' said Michael Cusumano, a professor at MIT... he became known as a bare-knuckles businessman and manager, sometimes dismissing a suggestion as 'the stupidest thing I have ever heard.'" [Mail on Sunday]

"It is almost unthinkable that any one human could pick up where Bill Gates leaves off... He is credited by analysts and academics for the emergence of software as a moneymaking industry" [AP]

Some say his wealth and famous opportunism are reminiscent of the robber barons of yore. Yet here is a man who has set a goal to eradicate malaria. Rich as he is - his net worth is an estimated $50 billion - you can't call the man greedy when he has pledged to give back to humanity all but a tiny fraction of 1% of that fortune. [Fortune]

Within popular culture he has also come to symbolize the public perception of what a computer geek should be: bespectacled, skinny -- and very, very successful. [CNN]

Gate's retirement certainly marks a turning point for the company that is struggling to build and monetize its Internet properties and facing increasing competition from the likes of Apple and Google. Whether the company will be re-energized by the management change, or whether it will continue its slow slide into irrelevance, remains to be seen.

Gates, for his part, will be focusing on running the charity he started with his wife, the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, which works on fighting diseases such as AIDS and malaria in the third world and handing out micro-loans to help people in developing nations build businesses and livelihoods.

What will Gates' legacy be? Will he be remember more for his philanthropic good deeds? Or for the anti-trust lawsuits and charges of anti-competitive business practices? Only time will tell. His impact on the computer industry can not be understated however, without Bill Gates we would still be mired in a world of incompatible computers. For a fascinating run-down of major Bill Gates stories over the past couple of years, be sure to check out Engadget's compendium of Bill Gates stories. [Source: AP]

Most users of Microsoft Windows have had days where they wanted to throw their computer out of a real window; days where the thing just wouldn't cooperate and had to reboot 15 times just to install whatever piece of software or update they are trying to get. Those aren't fun days, and Microsoft's co-founder Bill Gates isn't immune to them either, as shown in a scathing e-mail originally revealed during an anti-trust suit against the company. The e-mail was just republished by the Seattle Post-Intelligencer in a retrospective on Gates, whose last day at Microsoft is Friday.

The e-mail was sent by Gates in 2003 and recounts his troubles trying to download and install Windows MovieMaker and Microsoft Plus. In an e-mail that spans a full five pages, he tells of having to run Windows Update, make multiple downloads, wait through many installs and reboots, and watch as his system is cluttered with meaningless garbage -- all just so that he can install that one app he wanted. At the end of it all....well...read for yourself:

"So after more than an hour of craziness and making my programs list garbage and being scared and seeing that Microsoft.com is a terrible website I haven't run Moviemaker and I haven't got the plus package."

Mind you, this was back in 2003, and there have since been many changes made to both Microsoft.com and to Windows, but the next time you're swearing at Windows, just think about this e-mail and remember that you're not the only one. [Source: seattlepi.com]

While being the child of Bill and Melinda Gates no doubt has its share of perks, financial security may not necessarily be one of them. Bill Gates has promised that he will leave his vast $58 billion fortune to the charity started by him and his wife, the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, and not to his offspring.

Gates -- who is officially stepping down as the chairman of Microsoft next Friday -- said of the decision that he and his wife made, "We want to give it back to society in the way that it will have the most positive impact."

The money will go to fund educational and health projects around the globe, which is certainly a much more positive use than buying a yacht for the kids. [Source: Daily Mail]


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Some Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) students have begun to track the carbon footprint of different lifestyles in different nations. As you may have guessed, Americans don't fare too well. Apparently, even the most power conscious yankees use at least twice the energy of the average person around the world. There is a oft-cited statistic that says if the entire globe used power like we do, we'd need five Earths to compensate for it. MIT Professor of Mechanical Engineering Timothy Gutowski says, "Regardless of income, there is a certain floor below which the individual carbon footprint of a person in the U.S. will not drop."

Because carbon footprint impact tends to rise with income, it may come as no surprise that the worst carbon criminals are the super-rich -- Bill Gates and Oprah Winfrey are specifically named. Perhaps more remarkable, however, are the numbers: the MIT folks estimated Bill Gates' impact at 10,000 times the national average.

Bill, dude, easy on the AC, okay? We know it's hot. [Source: TG Daily]

Bill Gates joins the likes of Barack Obama and Hillary Clinton as a highly public figure utilizing the career-oriented social networking site LinkedIn to allow others to connect with him and ask questions.

Following Microsoft's investment in Facebook, Gates also set up a profile on the more casual site, but has admitted that he doesn't use the profile any more because he grew tired of fending off literally thousands of friend requests from complete strangers. LinkedIn, on the other hand, offers filtering options, limiting how people outside your immediate network are able to connect to you.

Gates says he plans to use the profile to help draw attention to LinkedIn's new cleaner and more customizable design and answer questions, such as how to best encourage young people to pursue careers in science and technology.

From AOL News

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Bill Gates is getting really good at spending his money.

The multi-billionaire, Guitar Hero-playing head honcho of Microsoft recently announced a $306 million donation in grants to develop farming in poor countries, meant to lead the charge of corporate responsibility.

The announcement drew quite a bit of attention from the finance posse at the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland, particularly the standing ovation Gates received for his announcement at the suggestion of U2 frontman Bono.

"The challenge here is to design a system including profit and recognition to do more for the poor," Gates said, calling for a new form of "creative capitalism."

We say free copies of Windows Vista for all the farmers.

From CNN


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Last June, Microsoft chairman and head geek Bill Gates announced he was going to start taking a somewhat less involved role at Microsoft, the company he grew from a simple partnership with Paul Allen into a global computing powerhouse. He's set to step down most of his Microsoft day-to-day work in June of this year to become a full-time philanthropist, and Engadget's Ryan Block snagged an interview with him to discuss the move.

Much of the interview focused on last year's Steve Jobs vs. Bill Gates interview in which the two industry moguls surprised many by being very jovial and affectionate towards each other. In this new interview Gates backed that up, saying: "I am very sincere that Steve has unique skills that I just don't have at all and it's been phenomenal to see how he has been able to make a difference with what he's done."

However, the main focus was on Gates' big upcoming transition from cut-throat businessman to globe-healing philanthropist. His Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation was recently given a huge injection of cash from investment baron Warren Buffett, and with billions of dollars in cash to spend, Gates hopes to help improve the lifespans and overall health of the poorest people in the world, delivering modern health care to those without.

So, best wishes to you, Bill. You may be of nearly retiring age now, but we'll always think of you as a dreamy youth sprawled on a wooden desk full of computers.

From Engadget

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Waiting for Microsoft founder Bill Gates to arrive at the Venetian Hotel in Las Vegas for his final CES keynote address last night was like expecting a rock star Mr. Rogers to parachute in from the sky to greet us mere mortals. Members of the press and electronics industry insiders began lining up in droves hours before the event's appointed start time, creating snaking lines of readers, thinkers, dozers, gabbers and moaners from the assemblage. A palpable sense of anxious expectation permeated the air, carrying the persistent thought, "What is he going to say?" from person to person via emotional osmosis. Or maybe that thought was actually more like, "This is nuts. The presidential candidates only dream of this kind of attention, and here we are," as if we wanted to tell ourselves, "You have no power over me, you have no power over me," like Jennifer Connelly did in the fantastic movie 'Labyrinth.'

We, the technology tsar's press corps, were finally herded into the Venetian's enormous ballroom, where we... waited. For an hour. When the moment of truth eventually came, there were no lions or fireworks, just good old William starting off his talk with a hilarious video of his last day at work – one which he begins by absentmindedly leaving his briefcase on top of the car (Bill Gates drives a Ford Focus?!) and ends in the same fashion, nothing left of his legacy except a box of spilt office supplies strewn across the Microsoft campus and Bill none the wiser. During his last full day of "work," he looks toward the future, begging various celebrities like Bono from U2 and the Daily Show's Jon Stewart for a role in their respective gigs.

Of course, Mr. Gates touched on Microsoft's achievements, the success of Windows Live and the popularity of Vista (no... seriously). He disclosed the big news of the night, the various deals Microsoft has secured for delivering more SD and HD content over the Internet on Xbox Live from media giants such as ABC, Disney, Showtime, and MGM, and a partnership to deliver 3,000 hours of internet-accessible footage from the 2008 Olympics with NBC Universal's MSN. What this means essentially is the Bill Gates is okay with HD-DVD's inevitable demise and is gearing up for the eventual decline of Blu-ray, since Microsoft wants to be at the head of the eventual HD downloading revolution.

The discussion of future Microsoft technologies, however, kept everyone's inner circus lover at the most attention. Interconnecting and personalizing applications was a big theme, as well as developing natural user interface with touch, gesture and voice commands. He illustrated his vision by showing us (again) innovations like Microsoft Surface – essentially a PC with camera software and touch screen technology to change forever mundane activities like shopping and design.

The Zune was not lost in the shuffle, as the new music social networking application called (what else?) Zune Social made an appearance. Gates even rolled out a true prototype from the lab, a visual recognition device eventually meant for cellular phones that recognizes people and places, and uses the information to integrate things like internet purchases, restaurant reservations and GPS technology options into one platform.

Ever the showman, Bill Gates had to end the night with laughs. Although he and the President of Microsoft's Entertainment and Devices Division, Robbie Bach, strapped on Xbox guitars to settle a debt by way of a 'Guitar Hero' matchup, it was just pretend, it turns out. Instead, ex-Guns N' Roses guitarist Slash and a hot gaming champion faced off on stage, sparing everyone the embarrassment of watching Gates try to play. While Gates had supposedly owed Bach money before the bet, Slash ensured that Gates walked away into the night $20 richer.

If you want more details, you can read over the Engadget live blog here, watch the full video of the Gates keynote here. Or, check out our very own Switched slide gallery from the keynote below.

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Bill Gates himself was published today on the BBC site, with a brief essay called, 'The Skills You Need to Succeed.' What startling revelations does the founder of Microsoft have to share with us? What insights does one of the patriarchs of the modern computer industry have that can deepen our understanding of what the modern job market is looking for in an employee?

• "In almost every job now, people use software and work with information to enable their organization to operate more effectively."
• "A solid working knowledge of productivity software... has become a basic foundation for success in virtually any career."
• "Communication skills and the ability to work well with different types of people are very important too."
• "I also place a high value on having a passion for ongoing learning."

Oh. Dear. God. Bill Gates has turned into our high school guidance counselor. We really don't want to pick on Bill Gates too much here but, excuse us -- what was the point of this little article?

Now, to be fair, Mr. Gates' meditation on the obvious isn't the only example of a supposed business genius babbling like a freshly thawed caveman. Martha Stewart recently felt it necessary to explain, in her typical condescending tone, that the typical young person "accesses their information in many different ways... The world has changed." Are cell phones and the Internet still that fascinating, Martha? Apparently, yes, since she seems to favor those over her own magazines such as Blueprint, which she shut down this week.

Oh brother. Perhaps Bill and Martha should take Bill's own advice and get some of that "ongoing learning." This modern world can be a scary place.

From BBC and ValleyWag (via Geeksugar)

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There is one sure fire way to make the normally quiet and geeky Bill Gates a little peeved -- question his company's record of "capitalizing on the innovation of others." According to the Seattle Post-Intelligencer's Todd Bishop, that's exactly what a blogger, Jonathan Snook, did at a small meeting between the online-citizen journalists of the tech world and the founder/honcho of Microsoft at the company's headquarters in Redmond, Washington.

This line of questioning, which essentially accused Microsoft of copying other people's inventions, sent the bespectacled founder into a tirade about how Microsoft does all the stupid things first, and that other companies, learning from Microsoft's mistakes, are able to build perfect versions of a particular product or service (and subsequently get the credit for being innovators).

Gates declared that what Microsoft does is the baseline for the entire industry, and whatever it doesn't do is the innovation. And by that definition everyone else is innovating. That's a pretty innovative, if not a little sarcastic, save/explanation.

But seriously, Gates cites IPTV and tablet computers as two areas in which Microsoft is leading the pack. "Is anyone else doing tablet computers?" he asks.

We understand Gate's being upset, and he makes some good points in his sarcastic rant about everyone borrowing from each other (with particular attention paid to Apple of course). But we do have to question some of his claims.

Sure, there are plenty of Microsoft Office and Word clones out there, but Word was far from the first word processor on the PC. Microsoft's entry only got copied after it crushed the competition, namely Wordperfect and Lotus. We racked our brains trying to think of where other companies had blatantly copied Microsoft and actually came up empty. If you've got any examples, be sure to leave them in the comments, in the meantime make sure to check out the gallery below of Microsoft's other "me too" products and services (including everything from Zune and Xbox 360 to the original Windows and MSN, which were inspired by the early Mac OS and the product of our parent company AOL, respectively).

How about you? Do you think Microsoft's reputation as a copycat is deserved, or is Bill Gates right when he says that his company does, in fact, innovate?



From SeattlePI

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Despite the general hatred toward Microsoft this country tends to exude, it's hard not to admire Bill Gates, a meek guy who started from scratch and turned himself into the richest man in the world ($60 billion at last count). However, the Chinese are taking that admiration to a whole new level according to a poll from 'Self' magazine. Bill Gates was chosen as the second most desirable sperm donor by Chinese women, beating out Brad Pitt and David Beckham.

But, Gates couldn't capture the top slot. That honor went to 45 year-old Chinese actor/singer Andy Lau. You might (not) remember him from such films as 2002's 'Golden Chicken' and 2003's 'Running on Karma.' And, of course, who can forget 1992's classic 'GameBoy Kids'?

From Engadget

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Next week at the Wall Street Journal D5 conference in San Diego, a very public conversation, which is being touted as nothing short of history making, is set to take place. Apple's Steve Jobs and Microsoft's Bill Gates will take to the stage for a 75-minute "joint interview" to talk tech.

The conference itself is aimed toward corporate executives hoping to learn a thing or two about technology and business from those who have had tremendous success with both.

This will be the first time Jobs and Gates will share the stage together (in person) since 1983. According to WSJ, the two will trade barbs over, "Issues such as whether it is wiser for a company to partner or build everything itself. Or the primacy of software versus hardware in personal computers. Or which is more important: how easy it is to use a product or what it can do once you figure out how?"

The two will then be laced up in boxing gloves to compete in a gladiatorial no-holds-barred, tooth-and nail fight to the death.

In the interest of full disclosure, it's very possible we've replaced certain facts in this article with things we'd like to see happen. But, we'll leave it to you to figure out which ones.

From Boing Boing

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