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Satya Nadella – Microsoft's CEO

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Re: Satya Nadella – Microsoft's CEO

#101

Post by rbanffy »

michaelhoffman wrote: post #11

John W. Thompson was once general manager of the division of IBM that produced OS/2[1], which was soundly defeated by Microsoft. I wonder how he feels about being chairman of Microsoft now given that previous experience. [1] Around this time, he reported to an executive named John M. Thompson, hence the use of middle initials.

Another way you can read it is with a comparison with Stephen Elop and Rick Belluzzo. Could he have intentionally mis-managed OS/2 leaving the space open for Windows 3, being then rewarded by a position at Microsoft's board?

I know nothing about his career or his decisions WRT the OS/2 product, but, after having a closer look at the other two, a pattern of executive placement as an offensive weapon starts to form.

edit: minor clarifications

Re: Satya Nadella – Microsoft's CEO

#102

Post by kvb »

skywhopper wrote: post #71

I hope the new CEO has the courage and the power to set out a vision and stick to it for more than just a few years in a row. Microsoft under Ballmer has been a study in short attention span. Changing themes, names, and directions every three to five years. When I was a Windows sysadmin back in the day, it was incredibly frustrating to build anything on the Microsoft platform because by the time you wrapped your brai…

I'm not sure this is a helpful diagnosis - Microsoft didn't have a short attention when it came to tablets (as you say, they pioneered them, and they haven't abandoned them), they just didn't get the form factor right, and many of the Live services have just been rebranded. Likewise, Apple has also demonstrated a short attention span at times. Remember Ping?

Re: Satya Nadella – Microsoft's CEO

#104

Post by batmansbelt »

raverbashing wrote: post #85
moron4hire wrote: post #64

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I understood the Foundation's primary problem to be figuring out how to efficiently spend all of their money they are required to spend every year without accidentally funding Al Qaeda. Does Gates have to be around for that?

I don't know, but unfortunately I am very skeptical of NGOs, and charities It looks like 80% of the money goes for "management" and the rest goes to the actual people in need. Not to mention the contracted "fundraisers" that are paid poorly. (I have nothing against the fundraisers per se, they're usually college kids trying to make some money)

It's true that governments are much more efficient at delivering funds than charities. It's an economy of scale. Also governments have a lot more oversight than charities do.

Re: Satya Nadella – Microsoft's CEO

#105

Post by swashboon »

Udo wrote: post #79
wil421 wrote: post #70

Earlier quoted context omitted.

You must not work in the corporate world. Microsoft has a massive foothold in enterprise: email, instant messaging (lync), excel, word, visio, project, even sharepoint and those are just the pieces you can see not to mention whats going in the backend. Being one of the only Mac users in my office I constantly have to find work arounds for everything. Sadly they will be relevant for a long time we have almost 30,000 p…

> You must not work in the corporate world. That's an interesting assumption. > Microsoft has a massive foothold in enterprise There is nothing in my comment to suggest otherwise. On a meta note, I've been getting these "corrections" a lot here on HN lately, I'm just not sure why that's happening. Am I just too sensitive? Should I be more explicit in my comments? I'm not being touchy, I'd really like to know. > I do…

> I can't even remember when I last used any MS product

> Microsoft has a massive foothold in enterprise

> You must not work in the corporate world

You said you never interact with MS products, those products have a massive foothold in the corporate world, therefore you probably do not work in the corporate world.

If you are doing corporate work, not just software development (though even that too) in a corporate setting but business analysis, etc., and you do not use powerpoint/excel/visio then you are very much outside the norm.

>On a meta note, I've been getting these "corrections" a lot here on HN lately, I'm just not sure why that's happening.

The "corrections" as above, are an attempt to offer a different opinion that counteracts yours because it is seen as outside the normal expirience people are having and since you are getting them often I would think that is because there are many aspects of your comments that are outside the norm.

>Am I just too sensitive? Should I be more explicit in my comments?

I don't think so, your comment seems to add a valuable perspective from someone who does not use MS products in their daily activities, pointing that it is possible when surrounded by the right work culture.

Re: Satya Nadella – Microsoft's CEO

#106

Post by timrichard »

Udo wrote: post #73
fromdoon wrote: post #61

Just asking, how can a new CEO change Microsoft's directions. Or What suggestions would you give Satya, if you were to meet him today?

I'd say, from my armchair: take a long hard look at what's really happening out there, step out of your bubble. Stop this ridiculous attitude towards competitors and open source, at least long enough to see what they have to offer. Get your people some Macs, get your server people exposed to some Linux, get them some iPhones and iPads and Android devices, and make them see why you've been losing ground. Those competi…

I think they did get some iPads at one point :-) http://www.theregister.co.uk/2013/01/07/ipad_theft_microsoft...

Re: Satya Nadella – Microsoft's CEO

#107

Post by majkinetor »

gretful wrote: post #46
leobelle wrote: post #30

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Man, a fully functional supported bash-like terminal on Windows would be heaven sent.

I'd take bash over PowerShell any day. The whole Windows philosophy makes building stuff out of disconnected smaller parts harder than it needs to be.

That is not PS problem but community problem. PowerShell is years ahead of bash. Bash community is decades ahead.

Re: Satya Nadella – Microsoft's CEO

#108

Post by izolate »

dudus wrote: post #65
Aqwis wrote: post #23

The most interesting thing on this page is that the videos are hosted on YouTube.

this might be a good sign.

I don't want to jump to conclusions, but after watching the video I have a really good feeling about Satya. He doesn't strike me as a neurotic Microsoft evangelist salesman like Steve Ballmer.

I would love to see Nadella's Microsoft get more involved in open source projects, and win back some developer love that has become lost in darker years.

Re: Satya Nadella – Microsoft's CEO

#109

Post by canistr »

MartinCron wrote: post #98

A part of me was hoping for an outside technologist, as I'm almost instinctively suspicious of anyone who could grow and thrive in the dysfunctional stack rank regime, but this is so much better than the CEO of a soft drink company, for example.

Stack ranking is largely attributed to Lisa Brummel, Executive VP at MSFT. And it's been stated in many articles that stack ranking caters to the top 10% and nobody else.

Re: Satya Nadella – Microsoft's CEO

#110

Post by sbt »

skywhopper wrote: post #40
fro wrote: post #14

Earlier quoted context omitted.

A step down from chairman, but a step up in involvement. Gates says he will be "substantially increasing the time that I spend at the company."

I hope that this is just doublespeak to reassure people who think Gates is important to Microsoft's future success. Personally, I think both Microsoft and the world would be better off if Gates stepped away completely and focussed all of his efforts on the Gates Foundation's work.

I agree, I find it difficult to see how Gates lurking around would be productive for Microsoft. A new CEO needs to establish their own direction and rapport among employees, but the mere presence of Gates could prove too much in the way of politics there.

I think Bill Gates is brilliant, but if I was a major shareholder in MSFT, I would have him focus all his efforts on his foundation.

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