On June 27, 2008 Bill Gates will be moving ahead and wrap up the transition out of his day to day role with the software giant he co-founded. This proves to be the ripe context for the Microsoft Chairman to deliver a retrospective view over his life. In the video embedded at the bottom of this article, Bill Gates looks back at the decisive moments in his life related to Microsoft. It is the end of an era for Gates, one which coincides with the availability cut-off date for Windows XP from the retail and OEM channels.

An era concluded with this perspective from Gates: "I have achieved the ideal of what I wanted Microsoft to become." Of course, it started with the vision of a computer on every desk and in every home running Microsoft software, with the Altair, Basic and Windows. Earlier this week, Gartner indicated that the number of PCs in use worldwide is supposed to be 1 billion. It is without a doubt an illustrative example of Gates' vision coming true, especially with over 90% of computers running the Windows operating system.

"Gates will continue to have a role at Microsoft as nonexecutive chairman. In June 2006, Microsoft announced that Gates would transition out of his day-to-day role at the company to focus more of his energy on the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation. The structural changes in leadership happened at that time, with Ray Ozzie taking on the chief software architect role and Craig Mundie the chief research and strategy officer position," Microsoft revealed.

The Redmond company will continue to be run by Mundie, Ozzie and Chief Executive Officer Steve Ballmer. And Gates will continue as chairman, a title he obtained in 1981. However, the Microsoft co-founder will no longer have a say in the direction of the company. Microsoft steps into a new era with Ozzie at the helm, and embarks on Software + Services. Mundie will, of course, be responsible for driving continual innovation for Microsoft while Ballmer will deal with the business aspects. Gates will focus only on key areas, one of which will be the development of natural user interfaces.

"Gates will remain Microsoft’s chairman and will be involved in select projects based on direction from Chief Executive Officer Steve Ballmer, along with Ray Ozzie and Craig Mundie," Microsoft added.