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back to article Ex-Windows chief Sinofsky flogs brains to Valley startups

Microsoft’s former Windows chief Steven Sinofsky is re-inventing himself in Silicon Valley as an investor and startup mentor. In his role as a newbie at Silicon Valley venture capital firm Andreessen Horowitz, Sinofsky is now an advisor to file-sharing service Box. Co-founder and chief executive Aaron Levie blogged that …

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  1. Fihart

    No explanation necessary.

    " Sinofsky left Microsoft abruptly and without explanation midway through the launch of his own big products, Windows 8 and the Surface tablet PC.....".

    4 0
  2. Anonymous Coward
    Anonymous Coward

    What qualifies this guy to give advice?

    This is the guy who presided over a couple "meh" versions of Office and then finally the version with the ribbon that nobody seems to like. Then he went to Windows and ultimately [almost] released the version with Metro that nobody seems to like.

    I would pay to have him NOT advise me.

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    1. Anonymous Coward
      Reply Icon
      Anonymous Coward

      Re: What qualifies this guy to give advice?

      Perhaps he should open a restaurant? That might finally teach him that getting rid of the menu from everything doesn't always work.

      6 0
  3. Bob Vistakin
    Linux

    An adviser to Box, eh?

    "Guys - regarding boxes: I'd advise you always have a spare one."

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  4. JayKay

    Ladies & Gentlemen, I preset exhibit A

    http://allthingsd.com/20121016/grinding-it-out-see-steven-sinofsky-turn-surface-into-a-skateboard/

    I rest my case.

    1 0
  5. Tannin

    Insurance loss

    Why would anyone want someone with this appalling record? Putting Sinofsky in charge of a product that the public is supposed to like and actually *want* to buy ... well, it would be like redecorating your art gallery with a bottle of petrol and a match.

    Insurance loss anybody?

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    1. jason 7
      Reply Icon

      Re: Insurance loss

      This is the problem you get when you employ 'very wealthy' project managers with cast iron golden boot contracts.

      License to dick around.

      Use someone who has something to lose or someone that say a $2 million bonus for success would make a big difference to.

      The Sinofsky/Mattricks of the world we can well do without. You had your turn now go play on your yachts and quit bothering us.

      2 0
  6. RobHib
    Windows

    Pipe Dreaming

    I was thinking, with Ballmer's exit, would it be nice if Microsoft purged itself of all this dead wood.

    We might then get the products that we'd dreamed about.

    ...But I'm dreaming again.

    1 0
  7. Dragon Leaves
    Meh

    Shill

    So bullshit apart, just like a well managed casino sits a pretty girl to an empty table to lure the suckers, so a well managed startup gets a famous head to lure investors.

    0 0
    1. MacGyver
      Reply Icon
      Holmes

      Re: Shill

      But this is like sitting a corpse at the table and duct-taping snakes to it.

      This is the guy that gave us all the things people hate about modern day Microsoft software products, and his "my way or the highway" attitude made sure that there was no voice of reason around to stop him. Office 2003 though 2010 and Vista through Windows 8 was this guys legacy.

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  8. jason 7

    Have to admit...

    ...I wouldn't rush to return his call.

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