Microsoft had a moment of history appointing their third CEO, Satya Nadella.  The crowd commentary was in full force and we captured it “on the record” via the new CrowdChat app which is in beta preview.

In a flash mob #microsoft crowd chat held today from 9 am to 3 pm PST on CrowdChat.net/Microsoft, the crowd was buzzing in the social channels about the future of Microsoft.  The overall tone was very positive around the fact that Satya Nadella is technical and “code aware.”  This means that he won’t suffer internally at Microsoft as he works to navigate the modern enterprise.

I spoke with Silicon Valley venture capitalist at Ignition Partners and long time Microsoft employee Frank Artale at length about the newly minted CEO.  “I met him in 1992 and he’s the right guy at this time in Microsoft history” says Artale.  “He’s code-aware and a passionate learner which allows him to speak at the level of the software and hardware engineers.  He expects everyone on his team to drive to a decision where they are accountable and [Satya] won’t tolerate any of the dreaded middle managers who hold things up.”

The official crowd transcript on #Microsoft CEO News

Bill Gates is back

On the role of Bill Gates, Artale says “anytime Bill Gates focuses on Microsoft is a good thing.  More importantly, Gates understands end user computing and the need for developers to have easy to use tools.”

According to our analysis Microsoft needs to build up muscle in the area of connecting with developers who we not born on the Microsoft develop platform, connecting to enterprises with Azure, and fixing the mobile piece fast – and not just product, but partners.

Overall the crowd likes this new configuration of an Indian-born-American who on his own merits earned the position among his peers and outside competition. There is hope in the air for the next chapter for Microsoft.  We will be watching.

Other Microsoft veterans feel positive

Other Microsoft people that I talked to are positive and the general sentiment is summed up by Brad Silverberg an ex-Microsoft techie and executive who penned a guest post today on CNET. He wrote:

“Satya has reinvigorated Microsoft’s server and tools business. He’s done a remarkable job getting Microsoft to move fast on the cloud and begin staking out a strong position against difficult competitors, such as Amazon. Most of all, he recognized that the world has changed and that to be relevant and become a leader again, Microsoft needs to embrace those changes and offer solutions for customers that fit in that new world. Whereas once open source was regarded as a cancer at Microsoft, Satya has found a way for Microsoft to add value while supporting new standards, like Linux, Hadoop, Ruby on Rails. It’s exciting to see Microsoft play well in this new world and offer differentiated solutions.  Relevancy, not longevity, is what Satya said was important. I couldn’t agree more, and when I read those words from him, I knew he was the right person to lead the company in this critical next stage.”

@theCUBE Commentary: Here is my video commentary after the announcement