"[Gates] was a very strong figure who ruled with an iron fist, and he didn't have the velvet glove either," she said. "They have to focus more on integration and interoperability and issues with open-source. It will be interesting to see who else they will bring in and can they attract really edgy, young talent who can help them more successfully penetrate new and emerging markets."

Gates is "a brilliant strategic thinker [who] revolutionized the industry," said John Halamka, CIO at both CareGroup HealthCare System and Harvard Medical School. "However, it's clear that Microsoft has not competed well with market innovations from Google, Linux and the next generation of thin Web-based applications."

"Microsoft needs to transform itself, and new leaders in day-to-day operations may create opportunities for radical change," Halamka added.

"Its an end of an era," said Dan Agronow, chief technology officer at The Weather Channel Interactive in Atlanta. "When have we ever used PCs and not had Bill Gates involved in some aspect of their creation or future promise? I think it signifies a tipping point for Microsoft.

"He's the individual that's the embodiment of Microsoft. When you think of Microsoft, you think of Bill," Agronow said. "I think now Microsoft will be viewed more as a corporate, faceless, entity similar to IBM. I don't see it as good or bad; it's more sad."