Eric is still at Microsoft as Senior Vice President, Technical Strategy, but he's lost some luster since Bill left. He was one of Bill's guys.

Eric and Bill are both tech guys. Ballmer is a sales guy and the board typically likes the CEO to be a sales guy. I don't see them making Eric the next CEO.

>One of the names mentioned has been Eric Rudder's. I sat next to him for three days at an event in Redmond before VFP 3 was launched, a project he led. He played Minesweeper like a demon without missing a thing. He reported directly to Bill Gates in a group of about five. Maybe he is gone now.