Scoble assails Microsoft

While not entirely surprising, the fact Robert Scoble said Microsoft Sucks must come as another blow for the software giant.

Who’s Robert Scoble, you ask? Probably the most well-known tech blogger in the world, and a recent Microsoft employee (he left them in 2006). I’ve had the chance to chat to Robert at Northern Voice this year and back in 2005. He’s a very approachable guy, and he loves a good conversation. Robert never pulls back.

You can see him up front in the blue shirt in the photo above, front row, ready to pipe up when he has something worthwhile to add to the conversation.

I’ve been criticizing Microsoft for months from a consumer standpoint, and feel validated by Scoble’s remarks. Robert takes aim at the company’s weak offerings in the internet space. Bad search, lack of innovation around RSS, are a couple of his examples.

He criticizes the company for having a sense of entitlement, and takes straight aim at the hubris of Steve Ballmer.

This is yet another wake-up call for Microsoft. Who can give this behemoth a focus is yet to be seen. Is it possible that Bill Gates will return as leader? Or have they groomed a possible successor to Ballmer? I don’t expect to see Steve running the show by this time next year.