News Bombshell : Steven Sinofsky Quits Microsoft- First Casualty of Windows 8?

[vijayninel]

Bombshell : Steven Sinofsky Quits Microsoft

First Casualty of Windows 8 ?

Steven Sinofsky -the man behind Windows 8, Surface and Appleisation of Microsoft has quit/has been removed from Microsoft barely three weeks after launching of Windows 8 and Surface. Steven Sinofsky was the president of Microsoft Corp.'s Windows division and had worked in Microsoft for 23 years. This is probably the biggest departure since Steve Jobs was ousted from Apple or Bill Gates left Microsoft.

As Jay Greene noted in his excellent article last month Steven Sinfosky had been in conflict with other Microsoft executives, including Chief Executive Steve Ballmer for sometime now and this could have played a role in his departure. However I think the real reason could be that the Windows 8 strategy which is the brainchild of Sinfofsky is not working. I got some indication of this yesterday when Microsoft CEO Steve Ballmer told a french newspaper that Surface sales are "are starting modestly." Starting Modestly !!! as far as I know Ballmer he would have declared Surface to be a grand mega success if it had sold a thousand pieces. If he is saying sales are just starting to be modest then it could be a indication that its not selling well.

I had predicted last year that if the Windows 8 strategy fails, Steven Sinfosky would have to quit Microsoft and also put it on record some months back

Originally Posted by vijayninel The backlash from customers and shareholders will likely cause a major shakeup within Microsoft. Steve Ballmer and Steven Sinofsky (the architect of this fiasco) are probably going to lose their jobs. I could speculate more but lets leave it at this for now.

There is no doubt that Windows 8/Surface was Sinofskys idea but If sales dont pick up from moderate soon then Ballmer will have to resign as well and there will be a major shakeup in the company.

I think this is a very positive development for Microsoft and Windows users in general. Sinofsky had no confidence in Windows and was trying to make Microsoft into the company he looks for inspiration - Apple. Lets see if his successors have the ability to do the right thing and undo the damage done.

[ManISinJpr ♦]

Yes I know about it and also posted links in your profile, but all said and done, you were very critical of Steven, weren't you, comparing him to jobs and even his clothes as being copied..

there is a negative sign to this but no company has a legacy of only one or two persons without which it cannot survive.. so let us wait and watch !

[vijayninel]

Originally Posted by ManISinJpr you were very critical of Steven, weren't you, comparing him to jobs and even his clothes as being copied.. there is a negative sign to this but no company has a legacy of only one or two persons without which it cannot survive.. so let us wait and watch !

It was so obvious that he was desperately trying to portray himself as the new Steve Job's of Microsoft. Job s started the trend of having a signature dress (turtleneck shirt and jeans). Jobs did this in order to build a cult around himself. Sinofsky couldn't copy that verbatim so he settled for a V neck sweater over T-Shirt which looked similar to Jobs Turtleneck. In any case who cares what Sinofsky wears. The real damage that he did was trying to convert Microsoft into Apple and making Windows a closed system tightly controlled by Microsoft.

His departure is actually very good news for Microsoft - if they admit the mistakes and have the courage to reverse them that is.

[ManISinJpr ♦]

^^ Yes, but he was a super talented and intelligent guy ! that is the truth.
The replacements would have to be very good in the things that they do.. for them to be remembered and liked..

[vijayninel]

Originally Posted by ManISinJpr ^^ Yes, but he was a super talented and intelligent guy ! that is the truth. The replacements would have to be very good in the things that they do.. for them to be remembered and liked..

If he was so intelligent then why is he getting the boot? I think he was a super dumb copycat. He may have impressed some people with his long, boring, nonsensical blog posts but you cant impress all the consumers with that.

[vijayninel]

OMG Julie Larson-Green is taking his place now ... talk about Jumping from the frying pan into the fire. BTW Mary Jo Foley has a interesting alternative view here. She argues that his departure is unlikely to be because of poor sales and was mainly due to internal politics. Sinofsky's departure from Microsoft: Politics or products to blame? | ZDNet

While I will concede that internal politics may indeed have been a significant factor, they would have kept him if sales were going very well. Infact there was talk about making him CEO if the product does very well. So I think this is a result of internal wars + an argument about poor initial sales of Surface/Windows 8. I wonder if any chairs were thrown around.

Since Sinofsky and Scott Forstall are now both jobless, maybe they should team up and make a ultra closed OS.

[ManISinJpr ♦]

Well you can have your opinion, it is a personal choice ( just as there are people who have faith and appreciate Hitler, Nathuram godse and others ) but he was the chief advisor to Bill Gates and I would never believe that Bill would have a second rate person as his advisor !!
All the customers can never be made happy and impressed as I would tell you that there are people who Don't like Enzo Ferrari also and Henri Ford too
and what is wrong with Julie Larson?

Originally Posted by vijayninel If he was so intelligent then why is he getting the boot? I think he was a super dumb copycat. He may have impressed some people with his long, boring, nonsensical blog posts but you cant impress all the consumers with that.

[The Knight]

Steven Sinofsky is no longer the Microsoft Windows boss and the official reasons released by the Redmond-based technology still leave room for interpretation. A Microsoft insider, however, told Fast Company that the growing tension between Sinofsky and CEO Steve Ballmer was at fault for the sudden departure of the Windows chief. Although they had the same goals, to make Microsoft the number one company in the technology industry, the two rarely talked to each other directly. Last month, Sinofsky was the first to deliver a keynote at the Windows 8 debut, while Steve Ballmer held the final speech, but the two have never been on the stage at the same time. “I don't know if there is some weird dynamic between those two guys, but they obviously don't get along. Because they rarely spoke to each other except through intermediaries: Ballmer's assistant would talk to [Sinofsky's] assistant. Ballmer had an entourage of suits around him,” the insider explained. What’s more, sources familiar with the matter have hinted that Sinofsky was actually hoping to get the Microsoft CEO role after the official debut of the new operating system. That’s almost impossible, however, since Steve Ballmer has already confirmed that he plans to retire in 2017 or 2018. Surprisingly, Ballmer hasn’t commented too much on Sinofsky’s departure and used the internal memo he sent to Microsoft’s employees to talk about the company’s future. “I am grateful for the work that Steven has delivered in his time at our company. Effective immediately, Julie Larson-Green will lead Windows engineering,” Ballmer said. Sinofsky, on the other hand, thanked everyone at Microsoft and explained that he’s currently seeking new opportunities. “It is impossible to count the blessings I have received over my years at Microsoft. I am humbled by the professionalism and generosity of everyone I have had the good fortune to work with at this awesome company. I am beyond grateful,” Sinofsky mentioned in his very own goodbye letter for Microsoft’s employees.

Windows 8 Boss Left Microsoft Because He Didn?t Get Along with Ballmer - Softpedia

[vijayninel]

There generally seems to be shock and confusion in the tech press as typified by this article on TechCrunch The Next CEO Of Microsoft Suddenly No Longer Works At Microsoft | TechCrunch

I also found this great article which says that my prediction of Ballmer leaving will be wrong Windows RT and 8 sales: Signs point to a major flop | Microsoft windows - InfoWorld

[ManISinJpr ♦]

As it has become a practice, the first article author is a fan and avid praiser of apple !
read his main posts here.. and see he says that he should own apple stock which has tanked more than 20% as I said in another article ( classifying it in bear category )
http://techcrunch.com/author/mg-siegler/
let other writers a chance please

[vijayninel]

USA today says that Sinofskys departure might lead to a return of the Start button on Windows 8 Will Microsoft restore Start Menu to Windows 8?

It seems that Stardocks Start8 has become a huge hit.

[RajaPraveen]

WINDOWS CHIEF SINOFSKY REPORTEDLY QUIT MICROSOFT BECAUSE HE WANTED BALLMER’S JOB

Microsoft executive Sinofsky departure rumor: Wanted to be CEO | BGR

[vijayninel]

Originally Posted by RajaPraveen WINDOWS CHIEF SINOFSKY REPORTEDLY QUIT MICROSOFT BECAUSE HE WANTED BALLMER’S JOB

Yes, I agree this could have been one of the factors but not the way in which BGR is putting it. IMO Ballmer was not happy with Sinofsky for a long time but kept him in hopes of getting good sales. Low initial sales of would have proved to be the tipping point.