Steve Ballmer (Photo: tabacco.blog-city.com)

Steve Ballmer took over as Microsoft’s CEO in January 2000 as Bill Gates became the company’s chairman and chief software architect. In a few days, Ballmer will assume the company’s highest position. Gates has earlier announced his retirement from his daily function at Microsoft to focus more on philanthropy.

As Bill Gates’ partner for almost 30 years, many believe that Ballmer deserves the position, can do the task, and can establish his own identity. Gates has the technical genius and invincible determination, while Ballmer is a perfect salesman and a competition addict. For a long time, they maneuvered the company and achieved unprecedented success in their own field.

Although he will still be Microsoft’s chairman, Gates stated last month that he will only spend 20 percent of his time on the company’s projects. In other words, he will not anymore work as a full time employee.

“I’m not going to need him for anything. That’s the principle,” Ballmer told the Journal a few weeks ago. “Use him, yes, need him, no.”

But despite the impressive credentials of Ballmer, there are still industry observers who are apprehensive of his capacity to lead without Gates.

“He’s still doing a sales job and not focusing enough on the rest of the business,” said Enderle Group analyst Rob Enderle. “Ballmer has neglected Microsoft’s operations and failed to make tough decisions, such as firing underperforming executives.”

Forrester Research Inc. CEO George Colony notes a decline of Microsoft’s appeal in the market since Bill Gates detached himself from the company to concentrate on charity work.

In a blog post last week Colony stated: “Why hasn’t Microsoft caught Google? Why has Steve Jobs clawed his way out of his grave to be adored once again? It’s because Gates over the last five years has moved on to philanthropy — and taken his formidable legacy with him.”