As a field general, Grove could be inspiring, temperamental, irascible, charming. Intel fought and beat fierce competitors, including IBM, Motorola, Apple, Advanced Micro Devices, Sun, Cyrix, Texas Instruments, and a host of Japanese Intel-wannabes. Today, the company holds sway over 90 percent of the microprocessor market. Although an engineer by training, Grove was equally talented in management and business strategy. He not only taught Intel that lesson, he taught it to the entire industry as well.
Companies succeed only by being the first to obsolete their own products.
Apple had a 10-year advantage over Windows, but allowed Microsoft to catch up. Intel has consistently ramped up performance on the x86 line while keeping prices on an aggressive down ramp. Not today, but Intel ensures there is a need for ever faster chips by underwriting development of cycle-hungry applications including PC video and graphically intensive games. Despite competing in a notoriously cyclical industry with huge capital requirements, Grove commanded a tight financial ship. Even with Grove stepping aside, Intel is not likely to miss a beat, at least in the short run.