I don't know a lot about Nadella, but he seems like a huge leap away from Ballmer. Indian cricketeer who hustles but at least looks like a nice guy...Could be hugely positive for them. Pretty cool.

I, personally, want Microsoft to succeed. Not so I can go back to a Windows computer (neverrrr) but so I can buy whatever they create after Windows.

Sincerely I feel like buying some MSFT stock, first time in a decade.

Replacing Steve Jobs would be much tougher assignment.

Don't forget to deactivate Ballmer's badge and get some fresh air into the boardrooms :)

merge with https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=7177388

It's a good choice because he will probably nurture the successful part of Microsoft that he spent he career nurturing. Microsoft will make a lot of money for decades to come.

It's a less than great choice because Microsoft's approach to finding The Next Big Consumer-oriented Thing has been wasteful, yet too conservative. Too conservative in terms of looking beyond Windows and PCs, but too lavish in spending on attempts that flop. Maybe Nadella will be more careful about splashing out lots of money building too many Surface RTs. But that's only half the problem.

This "first interview as CEO of Microsoft" is boring as watching grass grow, 100% corporate newspeak. Surely great material for playing buzzword bingo though. Take all human potential, excited about learning new things, tremendous inspiring opportunity, the primary focus is to take innovation forward, everything becomes digital and software driven, unbounded opportunies, pick unique contribution, yadda yadda yadda. Oh FFS

Regarding all the positive comments, I think the previous guy was so bad, and the new guy mostly nondescript, that people are projecting all their hopeful wishes onto the new guy.

Really, a lot like what seemed to happen with Bush and Obama.