Amazon

Buzzworthy

Blogs

The Microsoft Blog

« Intel makes news for avoiding Windows Vista | Main | Audio: Bill Gates says so long to Microsoft »

On the scene: Microsoft's farewell to Gates

Steve Ballmer and Bill Gates at the event. (Photo: Microsoft.)

Microsoft is holding a town hall meeting here in Redmond this morning to send Bill Gates off into the new era of his life. It starts about 9 a.m. It's clearly a big moment for people at the company -- including Microsoft CEO Steve Ballmer, who is already working the crowd with a big grin, bouncing around and snapping his fingers. More than 800 employees are here in a big conference room, and more will be watching on a webcast.

Stay tuned for more as the event unfolds.

Update, 9:20 a.m.: Gates waited behind a black curtain, arms crossed and pacing, as Ballmer introduced him. He walked in to a standing ovation, grinning, and introduced his wife, Melinda, and his children in the audience. He talked about the company's history, including the "David and Goliath" battle against IBM, saying with a smile that he thinks that story came out the right way. He talked about the competitive landscape, saying that he thinks it's still right for the company to focus on software.

"We have so many opportunities to surprise people," he said.

He acknowledged that it won't be easy to move on, given how natural it has become for him to work at the company over the past three decades. Sometimes, when he's driving his children, Gates said, "If I forget and start thinking about work a little, I start driving to Microsoft. They say, 'Dad, dad, what are we going to do at Microsoft?' "

More notes and quotes from the event:

Gates on Microsoft's growth: The idea isn't to be big, but to be lean and agile, while still in a position to tackle tough challenges: "I don't think we'll double (in size) again, but you know, I've been wrong before."

In Microsoft's early days, Gates explained, one reason to bring Ballmer aboard was to help with recruiting: "I hired my friends, which was a small set, and that wasn't going to get us there," he said, to laughter.

Asked about his biggest mistake, Gates said the key thing in software is to accurately anticipate new bends in the road. He said Microsoft was ahead of the curve in areas like the graphical user interface, but he also acknowledged that it has been behind in other areas, such as Internet search and advertising: "When we miss a big change and we don't get great people on it, that is the most dangerous thing for us," Gates said. "It's happened many times. It's OK, but the less the better."

Gates said he has been asked how he can leave when Microsoft is facing such big challenges: "Well, there's always intense competition. I think the company is stronger today than it's ever been," Gates said. "That's very clear to me. The depth of IQ in this company is phenomenal. Now, we don't always get it to add up. We get a tiny bit of subtraction sometimes, and that's one of our challenges."

Gates: "To steal a sentence from Steve: I love this company."

Ballmer cited the challenges Microsoft and Gates have tackled in the past in a manner that seemed designed to embolden the company's employees for the ones they're facing now:

"It's actually more fun to come from behind. For us, that's more fun. That's when you really surprise people. It's actually harder. And a lot of the people who work for the company now have never done it, but we had to do it in some of those cases. We went toe-to-toe with the biggest, most powerful computer company in the world ... Windows vs. OS/2. And we beat 'em. (Applause.) When we look at the challenges that we have today, we'll have our professional accomplishments. And we'll have a chance to come from behind, and we'll have a chance to surprise people -- and we'll have a chance to do it all over again."

At one point, Gates referred to his e-mail rant that we published this week, and poked a little fun: "One of the newspapers had some e-mail that I sent about how maybe Windows could have been better at something, and they said, 'This is a shocking e-mail. Shocking!' And I said, 'What do you think I do all day? Sending an e-mail like that, that is my job. That's what it's all about. We're here to make things better."

Update, 11:15 a.m.: See this post for audio of Gates' concluding remarks, his final comments to Microsoft employees before ending his full-time role.

Note: For anyone who's interested in listening, I'll be on KUOW-FM/94.9 at 1 p.m. today, along with Mary Jo Foley, participating in a program about Gates' departure from his day-to-day Microsoft role.

You can also listen to the show online.

Posted by at June 27, 2008 8:54 a.m.
Categories: Bill Gates, Gates 2.0

Comments

#144655

Posted by LinuxIsBest at 6/27/08 10:44 a.m.

Alright, give him the gold watch and out the door!

Report violation

#144664

Posted by unregistered user at 6/27/08 11:39 a.m.

Better is the enemy of good.
Where is the real "better" that the good (parts) of MS could far-ranging conquer?
Is there one?
Fact: Microsoft did change the world. We must live with both: the world and MS, too.
So, let's roll...

Report violation

#144685

Posted by River1 at 6/27/08 1:07 p.m.

Bill Gates is now going to assume the role of the world most generous and powerful philanthropist.

Report violation

#144700

Posted by unregistered user at 6/27/08 1:35 p.m.

The world is a better place because of Gates' drive, intelligence and acumen.
Seattle and the Puget Sound will benefit enormously for the next century because of him.
And me?? Gates and his team turbo boosted an industry that has provided me a very profitable and exciting career.

Bill, i forgive you the infinite Blue Screens of Death - and wish you ever great challenges and accomplishments in the future. Thanks!!

Report violation

#146429

Posted by unregistered user at 7/3/08 2:52 a.m.

He did good things. No doubt on that. I wish he could do very well with his new venture on helping the poor people. I will be very interested to lean about his success in that area.

As an user, I wish to see some other company like google do one bit more and beat Microsoft. When times change, it is no good for one company for continue its dominance.

Report violation

#149023

Posted by unregistered user at 7/10/08 7:24 a.m.

I love u bill :-)

Report violation

#151549

Posted by unregistered user at 7/15/08 7:17 p.m.

Ballmer you are not going toe to toe with the biggest computer company in the world anymore...You are going toe to toe with all of the little people who you have given No Choice in OS & Software & have screwed. You are going toe to toe with Foreign competition. You are going toe to toe with all of us Linux People! You are fighting now against the world. Wake Up!
Maybe you had values once but apparently you no longer do. Your bid for Yahoo will Fail. You & Icahn are Bullies.
Smart move by Bill to slip out the back door...Because now you are the Face of MS & will be blamed and crucified... Now everyone knows who was Bullying people all of these years. It was YOU Ballmer... Your ship will sink...

Report violation

! Login below to post a comment.

Unregistered users, sign up now

Or post anonymously (About this feature)

RSS
Headline widget

BLOGGER BIO

Joseph Tartakoff: P-I staff reporter

FEATURED COMMENT

Microsoft, you really need to start looking for revenue elsewhere. Resorting to bribing users to use your products and services is just plain embarrassing.
-- Reader on Microsoft offers 'perks' to search users