Gates, Ballmer recall first talks of departure

When Bill Gates first broached the topic of stepping down from the helm of Microsoft with Stephen Ballmer two years ago, Ballmer recalls being quiet and contemplative and then heading off on vacation, where he pondered the possibility of Gates not co-leading the company charge. For the next two years, the two business leaders talked on and off about the corporate move, mapping out roles and responsibilities and investigating what the actual impact would be on the giant tech titan. All that talking and discussion will be key, they say, to making a successful transition happen in two years.

For more on the inside look at Gates' big decision:
- see this article at BusinessWeek