I noticed "quietly" too. Makes me wonder what would motivate the submitter to add that word? What spin is that trying to achieve?
I’m not a fan of Microsoft the corporation, nor of Mr. Gates’ business tactics, but I cannot deny feeling a lump in my throat. This departure really does represent a changing of the guard, at least as much as him ceding the CEO’s chair to Ballmer.
This feels like the end of one of the most important eras in the information revolution.