[alapshah]

Yes, he is Chairman, but not involved on a day-to-day basis. Note that in the link you posted the most recent article wrt microsoft and bill gates is in June 2008

If he was really running the show I think things would be very different (ie they wouldn't have f'd nearly everything up like ballmer has)

[1010011010]

You're right. He's "only" the Chairman.

[jbm]

Kim Il Sung is also the eternal president of North Korea, but I doubt he is having a direct impact on the governance of the country.

It is a ceremonial position; no doubt he has some impact (it was implied that he was one of the reasons Microsoft didn't pursue Courier if I recall correctly) but he probably isn't involved in anything beyond vague larger-scale strategies.