Google Inc (GOOG), Apple Inc. (AAPL): Why Microsoft Corporation (MSFT)’s Next CEO Won’t Matter

Chipotle Mexican Grill, Inc. (NYSE:CMG) makes great burritos, but the day that someone sets up shop next door and starts giving away food it’s going to be hard for Chipotle Mexican Grill, Inc. (NYSE:CMG) to sustain and much less grow its business. That’s reality, and — let’s be frank — Microsoft is no Chipotle.

Unless Microsoft Corporation (NASDAQ:MSFT) can get ahead of a new product category before anybody else, we’re done here as far as operating systems go. There will be money to be made in devices in services, but largely when Microsoft swallows its pride and starts putting out Android devices of its own.

Don’t laugh. See if that doesn’t happen in three to five years.

You’ll disagree, but let’s play things out.

Close your eyes. Picture your ideal candidate to replace Ballmer. It’s a nice snapshot, but tell me how Microsoft will be more relevant in the future than it is now?

Ballmer wasn’t a bad CEO, and history will vindicate him. It’s not the player. It’s the cards that are being dealt.

Microsoft Corporation (NASDAQ:MSFT)’s next CEO can’t change the future, no matter what that shiny DeLorean in the shopping mall parking lot may have you believe.

The article Steve Ballmer Is Retiring: Why Microsoft’s Next CEO Won’t Matter originally appeared on Fool.com and is written by Rick Munarriz.

Longtime Fool contributor Rick Munarriz has no position in any stocks mentioned. The Motley Fool recommends Apple, Chipotle Mexican (NYSE:CMG) Grill, and Google. The Motley Fool owns shares of Apple, Chipotle Mexican Grill, Google, and Microsoft.

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