With Windows 8 barely out of the womb, this isn’t the best of news. He was the driving force behind the newest MS OS.

Julie Larson-Green who was a lead engineer of Windows 7 has been promoted to lead all Windows software and hardware engineering. Tami Reller will take on managing the business side of Windows. Good luck with that, Ms. Reller. Business hasn’t been embracing Windows 8.

MS hasn’t revealed Sinofsky’s reason for leaving and stated it was a “mutual decision”, not being a “team player” has been rumored. Sinofsky had nothing but good things to say about Microsoft.

“The timing of Sinofsky’s departure is surprising, given that it comes just weeks after the launch of Windows 8. Microsoft’s Windows 8 launch event was seen as underwhelming in some quarters, as it was a missed opportunity to connect with customers on changes to the new operating system. That was hardly the only bump with the Windows 8 debut. After a strong initial weekend of upgrades to Windows 8, some reports indicate that customers are responding slowly to Windows 8, particularly with some of its interface changes.” -  James Niccolai PCWorld

Maybe it's really about a good OS whose time really hasn't come just yet. Most folks don't rush to embrace change. Most folks don't really understand computers and learning "what they need" to do their work and interact is all they want. While younger people embrace connectivity and colorful change and being "with it", older folks (like me) like familiarity with the OS and a lack of having to learn something new, for better or worse.

Well, many saw Steve Sinofsky as Ballmer's "heir apparent". I guess that's not to be.

Source:

http://www.pcworld.com/article/2013853/windows-head-steven-sinofsky-leaves-microsoft.html