What a week for Microsoft. There have been two huge executive departures in less than seven days.
First up: celebrity blogger Robert Scoble—the guy who humanized Microsoft. Scoble took off for Silicon Valley to work at new-media startup Podtech.net. Then just a few days later, founder and Chief Software Architect Bill Gates announced his impending departure from day-to-day oversight. Scoble will be out of Microsoft within a few weeks, but it'll take two years for Chairman Bill to cut the ties.
On the surface, it may seem specious to compare Gates to Scoble, but there are some significant similarities. And each will leave Microsoft a lesser place, albeit for different reasons. Which departure hurts more? Here's my take on the Gates vs. Scoble smackdown:
Value to Company over Past Three Years
Gates: A few keynotes; inexorable Vista delays; inexcusably bad Windows One Care; inexplicable tablet PC launch; Origami
Scoble: Channel 9; revealed a kinder, gentler Microsoft; gave the Waggoner-Edstrom PR firm fits; evangelized Vista and Tablet PC (but we won't hold it against him)
WINNER – Scoble
Amazingly, largely because of Scoble's transparent blogging (and with a little help from Sergey, Larry and Eric), Microsoft is no longer viewed as the dark force, or the borg, or the evil empire.
Recent Appearances and Visibility
Gates: Occasional industry keynote; with Bono at World Economic Forum; scripted interviews
Scoble: Every darn blogging, vlogging and tech conference he can get Microsoft to pay for; social functions with a vaguely tenuous relationship with Vista; channel 9 host
WINNER – Scoble
Sure, Gates has reached more people, but Scoble has reached more of the right people, with the right message for Microsoft.
Respect
Gates: The guy gets no respect. Spencer F. Katt has been calling him Chairman Bill for years, and then there's Billy, Boy Billy, and Billy the Gates.
Scoble: As far as I know, no one has ever called him Bobby, Billy-Bob or Bobby the Sco.
WINNER – Scoble
Sure, pictures of yourself with glowsticks sticking out of your orifices isn't the traditional way to gain respect, but for some reason it works for Scoble
Who's Happiest to See Him Go
Gates: Steve Ballmer, Ray Ozzie, Larry Ellison, Steve Jobs
Scoble: The entire Microsoft PR team, both internally and at WaggEd. Oh, and Steve Ballmer and Eric Schmidt.
WINNER – Toss-up
Sure, Steve will finally have Microsoft all to himself, and without that sniveling Scoble around to question his decisions publicly, it'll be a brave new world for the Monkey Dance guy. And Microsoft flacks at WaggEd will get more sleep, now that the Scoblerter (an ear-splitting klaxon that rang whenever a new Scobelizer post popped up) will be silenced for good.
Who's Saddest to See Him Go
Gates: Tech pundits; Berkley breathed; Microsurfs who spent years aping Gates' mannerisms, including rocking back and forth, arrogantly dismissing lesser colleagues and sporting that bottomless collection of grimy eyeglasses
Scoble: Niall Kennedy (blogger and new Microsoft hire will probably be the next "Scoble"), Mini Microsoft (threw in the blog towel just a few weeks ago), Mary Jo Foley (our own Microsoft Watcher)
WINNER – Gates
Let's face facts: When you've been lionized in Bloom County and Outland as a skirt-chasing social reject, you've made the big time. What will Opus, Milo and Bill the Cat do now?
Why the Move
Gates: Tired? Burned Out? Not fun anymore.
Scoble: Family. Burned Out? Not fun anymore.
WINNER – Toss-up
Their reasons for leaving are probably more similar than you might think at first.
What's Next
Gates: Plans to work full-time on his foundation, where he's donated the bulk of his fortune, and wiped out River Fever, among other amazing things. As John C. Dvorak says, he goes from "Chairman Bill" to "King Bill."
Scoble: Podcasting at Podtech.net.
WINNER – Gates
By a mile! Clearly Scoble will do wonders for Podtech.net. There's low-hanging fruit all over the Web site. But nothing compares to the great work Gates' foundation is doing. They wiped out River Fever, for heaven's sake! And with Gates more involved, the sky's the limit.
OVERALL WINNER: Scoble
Whatever disagreements you may have had with Bill Gates and Microsoft, he's been redeemed by all the tremendous work he's done at his foundation. The world will be a better place with Gates spending more time and more money trying to solve the world's problems—instead of building a better browser. But when it comes to Microsoft, it's a toss-up. All the PR people and all the marketing money couldn't change Microsoft's indelibly bad perception around the world. Through simple conversations, honesty and openness, Robert Scoble managed to turn that impression upside down in just a few years. Ray Ozzie is a worthy successor to Bill Gates on the technical visionary front. Whoever comes after Ballmer will surely run the business in the best way possible for shareholders. So, what about Microsoft's reputation as a kinder, gentler company? All that may just flutter away in Scoble's wake. And that's why, for Microsoft, losing Robert Scoble might just be a more damaging blow than Bill Gates' departure.