With Sinofsky Exit, Microsoft Loses Its Steve Jobs

Farhad Manjoo pulls no punches when it comes to the departure of Windows chief Steve Sinofsky from Microsoft: It's like FDR firing Dwight Eisenhower on D-Day. Of course, both Sinofsky and Microsoft are trying to paint this as a mutual, amicable decision, but that's ridiculous, Manjoo writes on Slate. Sinofsky was fired because "he was a jerk." But "so what?" Manjoo wonders. Sinofsky was also the guy who could have, finally, brought Microsoft into true competition with Apple—and he's reminiscent of the abrasive Steve Jobs in more than just his attitude.

Sinofsky was behind both Windows 8 and the Surface tablet—and even if you don't like the Surface, the two products "represented Microsoft's D-Day, its bold attempt to beat back Apple's post-PC invasion," Manjoo writes. And "Sinofsky deserves all the credit (or blame) for Microsoft’s new path," forging ahead "single-mindedly and almost single-handedly." He won few friends while doing so, but he got the job done. Who cares if Microsoft will now enjoy a more harmonious environment? With Sinofsky gone, the company "is rudderless at a time of intense competition." Click for Manjoo's full column. (More Steve Sinofsky stories.)