Microsoft is a fascinating company to watch. Financially, the firm performs better than the vast majority of tech companies in the world, generating billions of dollars in revenue and profits every year. But when it comes to customer perception, it doesnt enjoy the admiration it once had for its technical prowess and growth potential. In fact, these days many still call the company the "Evil Empire," while others view it as an aging giant thats slowly but surely being taken down by more innovative competitors. At the center of this image problem is Microsoft CEO Steve Ballmer. For years, Ballmer has led the company through the ups and downs of being a technology company. But he has watched as Microsofts stock price has remained relatively stagnant over the years while more nimble competitors, such as Google and Apple, have passed it by. The train wreck that was Vista, the decline of Microsofts mobile business, and to his credit, the resurgence of Microsofts flagship operating system with Windows 7, have all occurred on Ballmers watch. But along the way he hasnt done much to help Microsoft regain its image as an agile, innovative company with a vision for steady growth into the distant future. As a result, the time has come for Ballmer to go. The list of people that might be able to replace Ballmer is long. But when its all said and done, only one person can supplant the Microsofts CEO: its co-founder Bill Gates. – …