Ballmer also served during the toughest time in Microsoft&#x27;s history. He took the reigns right before the final ruling in a massive antitrust lawsuit that literally almost broke the company apart[0]. The DOJ continued to have oversight over Microsoft until <i>2012</i>[1]. I&#x27;m sure Microsoft would have loved to make much bolder decisions during that decade (particularly when it comes to hardware), but they were hardly in a position to do so legally[2].<p>A lot of the good things Microsoft has (deservedly) received praise for recently under Nadella were started under Ballmer&#x27;s tenure. Yes, he is not personally responsible for everything that goes on at the company, but it&#x27;s important to keep that in mind.<p>[0] While the decision was reversed on appeal, Microsoft was literally ordered by the courts to split itself into separate companies: <a href="https:&#x2F;&#x2F;en.wikipedia.org&#x2F;wiki&#x2F;United_States_v._Microsoft_Corp.#Judgment" rel="nofollow">https:&#x2F;&#x2F;en.wikipedia.org&#x2F;wiki&#x2F;United_States_v._Microsoft_Cor...</a><p>[1] <a href="http:&#x2F;&#x2F;arstechnica.com&#x2F;information-technology&#x2F;2011&#x2F;04&#x2F;department-of-justices-long-oversight-of-microsoft-to-end&#x2F;" rel="nofollow">http:&#x2F;&#x2F;arstechnica.com&#x2F;information-technology&#x2F;2011&#x2F;04&#x2F;depart...</a><p>[2] Incidentally, the Surface, which now appears to be Microsoft&#x27;s attempt to clean up the wild west that OEMs have created, was announced right at the end of the DOJ&#x27;s oversight. I cannot believe that this is a coincidence.