Whaaaaaaaaaaaa?

I think that's a reasonable reaction, though after looking at varous media sites it's being played as no surprise. Maybe I just missed a meeting. I think if I read Steve Jobs was standing down I'd be Whaaaa?ing.

I'd like a bit more reaction than the "oh yes no big deal blah blah" how dull.

oh, can I be the first (even if it's not true)

BILL GATES SHOCKER, LEAVING MICROSOFT!
Getting out before the ship sinks!

(conspiracy theory; "I'm going before I'm stabbed in the back and pushed out, Balmer keeps breathing on me. Scobbie showed me the light. I didn't want my name on that Vista thing")

On hearing the news, Steve Jobs clicked his heels.

: )

Gates has been spending much of his time for the last few years on his Foundation while Balmer et. al. have been running MS. For the last decade, Gates has held more of an emeritus position than anything else. I don't see his "retirement" as some are calling it, as making that much of a difference. With all due respect to stuartea above I just didn't find the news too surprising. BG doesn't need the hassle of being in the MS spotlight any more and he wasn't that involved in running the company. If I had a few billion $$ in the bank and more coming in each day I'd probably do the same thing.

I don't find this very surprising, either. Bill Gates has never been "on a mission" in the computer world. He also hasn't been spearheading anything new in 10 years or so. He's made a ton of money, so why wouldn't he retire? Gates hasn't been all that active in the industry lately, anyway.

If Steve Jobs left Apple, then yeah, I'd be shocked. That's because Steve Jobs has always seemed like he was "on a mission". He's OBSESSED with the industry, the "next big thing", and Apple. And he really is directly responsible for most of what Apple is today. I don't see him leaving the industry unless he's A) forced out in one way or another, or B) physically incapable of working.

If Jobs were to retire of his own free will, he would probably do it slowly. He'd delegate more and more duty of the course of 5 or 10 years, and then leave when he was confident he wasn't needed anymore. And I think that's exactly what Gates has done.

Unfortunately, I don't think Bill's absence will have any major effect on Microsoft.