I have stated for a long time now – even before Bill retired – that until Steve Ballmer decides to finally take his billions made while at Microsoft and disappear to some deserted island Microsoft will pay the price for his <cough> leadership </cough>. It would seem that besides Mini-Microsoft at least one other person feels the same way.

In a post the other day Boris Veldhuijzen van Zanten at The Next Web says the same thing but goes one better by giving three reasons Ballmer should retire.

That is a bold statement so I will repeat it: Steve Ballmer is on his way out.

Let me tell you why I think that Steve Ballmer should and will retire from Microsoft (or announce his retirement) in January 2010.

1: in January 2010 Steve Ballmer will have been the CEO of Microsoft for exactly 10 years
2: in that time Microsoft has lost more than half of its stock value
3: there isn’t a single product or service that was launched under Ballmer that is successful today

Shareholders have been patient with Ballmer. Compared to the shareholders at most other companies they must have been comatose.

Nicely put Boris.