Ballmer is pretty tuned in to the tech, but I think he also knows to listen to the hard core guys.

>i think i'll pick it up as well.
>
>the thing that concerns me is that Gates was the guy in charge AND a techie.
>now Ballmer is in charge and not as hard core a techie as Gates.
>
>for example, you want the guy in charge of baseball operations for a baseball team..
>to have been a player, coach, scout etc...
>you want your top baseball guy... to be a baseball guy...
>
>and i think the same applies with building software.
>
>To be more fair to Steve Ballmer I see him as more of a "Gord Ash" type of General Manger ... whereas in Bill Gates we had "Pat Gillick"
>
>Dave.