My thoughts exactly. If it brings back the start menu and removes the hideous Metro Start Screen I am all for Satya whatever his/her name is. But seeing as he is for The Cloud, I am think this is leading us more and more away from Windows.
Perhaps Bill can keep these bastards on a short leash from ruining his legacy.

Scott Guthrie is now in charge of Nadella's previous position. He's a pretty awesome guy too, really like his talks.

You can use Linux on Windows Azure. :p

What about NSA working with Microsoft? Or do they lack any kind of authority to use the system? I'm no security expert but I've seen quite a few people on the net writing "closed source security is flawed security".

Aside from privacy and security issues it seems like a good idea. Remote cloud servers and working in virtual environment seems to be the future.

Many things from Microsoft's web stack are actually open source. Here's something related to Azure, for example: https://github.com/WindowsAzure

If you are scared about NSA stuff, you can always use Azure's European data centers to store your data. And, data does not get in contact with other regions unless you specifically want that for geo-redundancy or something else. Besides, if your data is on US soil, all they need is a warrant and they'll access it, just a few hours of delay, so I don't see why mentioning the NSA is relevant (same goes for other countries in which your data is stored).

I will never in my life have any of my software/games on a "cloud" server, I refuse. 100% on my hard-drives or bust.

It is still unclear to me what MS is trying to offer for phones and tablets that Google and Apple are not offering already. Just trying to copycat their success is not enough.

When you ask a MS representative, he says "Microsoft Office!". What the ever heck that is supposed to mean anyway, as if I really wanted to edit my work excels on a crummy smartphone or tablet. And home users, ie. the very people who made Apple and Google so big on mobile devices, care even less.

I've always liked Nokia phones' car navigation system (even back in Symbian OS), especially for its offline features, so that would be the main reason for me personally to choose e.g. Nokia Lumia (with Windows OS). But on the other hand, I prefer Android as it allows buying and installing software from non-default places too, like Humble Bundle from where I have lots of Android games now. For me Android is the PC of mobile devices, and Android phones resemble PCs in some other ways too, like being able to replace your default OS with another one (like the Cyanogen Mod).

I think MS foolishly thought that all the millions of PC users would gladly jump to walled-garden Windows RT, just because it is also from Microsoft. Think again.

It is not relevant where the data is "physically", but who controls it and who has access to it. Unless you are really suggesting that MS will be unable to see and hand over data from e.g. the European servers to whoever they want.

I don't give a flying fuck about the cloud, I fucking hate mobile toys-driven markets and I won't touch a remotely-controlled "app store" even if they paid millions of dollars to do so.

The only thing I want from Microsoft is a working Windows for my PC. Off-line working, all the cloud-bullshit disabled. If they'll continue to make this kind of OS, I'll still be their customer. Otherwise, they can burn in hell asap with Nadella, Gates and everyone that's in Redmond.

Exactly. We have to assume that agencies like NSA can work behind or through laws so to protect the data you store on other servers will require tools that isn't made by the same company that stores them.

I am not so sure as to what to make it and it looks like they played it safe. While his credentials are sound and he may well be a lot better than Balmer (well, he did not set the standards very high now, did he?)... Microsoft needs someone who can give them a veritable edge. They have significant resources and all they need is the right man for the job. Thus someone new, with a fresh outlook would have been ideal. We'll just see how this one pans out though.

My only complaint about the whole, "Windows everywhere" philosiphy is the fact that desktop/laptop OSes will have this interface clearly made for Tablets/Smartphones. Thats not innovation thats just laziness that they cannot make an appropriate interface for desktops.

I am open to corrections.

That concern while quite valid, it can be said for every web service. I think the idea of creating a trust between services and users / partners plays a big role here. Everything done on the Internet is being done based on that "trust". For all we know, GOG can be storing our credit cards' information and waiting for their opportunity for world domination.

Thus I think that the physical location of the data is something to be more concerned about, as it can be something that we directly influence, although in a way, it is still based on that same trust.
According to Larson, one of the goals long-term is to somehow produce just two "consumer-facing" OSes (if I remember this correctly). One for x86 that would offer everything that it offers now, and the other for ARM which would be a more locked-down version. Thus, in a way, merging WP and Windows RT into one.

We'll have to see how this turns out.

Oh man, I expected Richard Stallman to be the next Microsoft's CEO.

Well, maybe next time.