Steve Ballmer on MacBook Air and Apple

[Eraserhead]

The problem with Ballmer is that he makes these stupid comments, like this and the ones on iPhone, and now its doing extremely well, especially on web share. Given that Windows mobile has the second largest web share, its clear that it is a strength of Windows Mobile too.

As a whole Microsoft's biggest problem right now is lack of interoperability, they seem to have to fight every single open standard with their own product (e.g. Silverlight and Zune), they are also slowly allowing their Mac version of Office to die, now that may not seem like a big deal but it does mean all their eggs are in one basket (Windows).

The other issue is that for the first time there are three companies who together challenge everything MS is doing, and are arguably better in their respective fields. They are IBM, Apple and Google. IBM is good at business (as they always have been), Apple at consumer, and Google at web. If they make their stuff work with each others stuff as well as Windows, Microsoft is in for a bumpy ride.

 

[clevin]

they seem to have to fight every single open standard with their own product (e.g. Silverlight and Zune)

are there open standards for these two? What are those?

 

[Eraserhead]

are there open standards for these two? What are those?

Well I suppose there isn't an open standard for the Zune, but its competing against the iPod "just because" especially as the market is about to shrink as it merges with the mobile market so I don't really see the point.

For Silverlight there is SVG for example.

Though to be honest they are both crap examples of open standards, but they do illustrate that MS has to compete with everything, rather than staying with what they are good at.

 

[clevin]

Well I suppose there isn't an open standard for the Zune, but its competing against the iPod "just because" especially as the market is about to shrink as it merges with the mobile market so I don't really see the point.

For Silverlight there is SVG for example.

Though to be honest they are both crap examples of open standards, but they do illustrate that MS has to compete with everything, rather than staying with what they are good at.

well, I agree M$ is competing against everything, on the front of apple, google, and mozilla.

I think better examples of open standards should be ODF, W3C, which, M$ is actually compromising, IE8 and Office 2007 are both moving closer to open standards.

Im no expert on silverlight, My impression is that silverlight is competing against Flash, Quicktime, JAVA FX. IMHO, those are all non-open (maybe JAVA FX?), I think opera and Mozilla are proposing some type of open standard in this area.

Back to topic, Steve Ballmer isn't stupid, its unimaginable that he could presiding M$ for so long without some real capability.

We can argue about CEO's personality, but we should not underestimate his capability, I just do NOT think he is anywhere near as stupid as some people are implying.

 

[Eraserhead]

I think better examples of open standards should be ODF, W3C, which, M$ is actually compromising, IE8 and Office 2007 are both moving closer to open standards.

True, but only because they are being bought kicking and screaming, I suppose it shows some foresight though. My feeling is that its superficial, but we shall see.

Back to topic, Steve Ballmer isn't stupid, its unimaginable that he could presiding M$ for so long without some real capability.

We can argue about CEO's personality, but we should not underestimate his capability, I just do NOT think he is anywhere near as stupid as some people are implying.

Why in gods name would you criticise the MacBook Air on stage like that, why not just ignore it.

 

[digitalnicotine]

We can argue about CEO's personality, but we should not underestimate his capability, I just do NOT think he is anywhere near as stupid as some people are implying.

I absolutely do not think Steve Ballmer is stupid by any stretch. Bizarre? Yes! Amusing at times? Yes! But stupid? Not a chance. Bill Gates is way too anal retentive to leave the reigns to an idiot. While many of us may not be Microsoft fans, nobody can honestly say that Microsoft didn't change the world in many good ways. Whether or not some of their conquering methods were opportunistic, unethical at times, and sometimes even downright ruthless, Microsoft is one of the most successful companies in history. And since Steve Ballmer is in command, due props for his success, as it can't be denied. Having said that, he's still goofy and cracks me up.

 

[Eraserhead]

I absolutely do not think Steve Ballmer is stupid by any stretch. Bizarre? Yes! Amusing at times? Yes! But stupid? Not a chance.

I think he acts like a fool in front of the press sometimes, but he is usually clever with what he says so he doesn't look too bad.

I also agree that MS have been successful so far.

 

[IJ Reilly]

Though to be honest they are both crap examples of open standards, but they do illustrate that MS has to compete with everything, rather than staying with what they are good at.

This is Microsoft's fundamental problem. They have never really been good at competing in areas where they don't start with an advantage.

Back to topic, Steve Ballmer isn't stupid, its unimaginable that he could presiding M$ for so long without some real capability.

His number one capability is being an old FOB (friend of Bill). He came into Microsoft on the ground floor. It's difficult to imagine him being much more than a middle-manager anywhere else. Let's put it this way, when the book is written on this chapter of Microsoft's history, there isn't going to be much of a section on Steve Ballmer's vision.

 

[Queso]

And since Steve Ballmer is in command, due props for his success, as it can't be denied.

Have you noticed that the start of Microsoft's era of malaise and Gates' handover to Ballmer roughly coincide? That man is the best friend Microsoft competitors have. He's constantly mentioning Google, Apple, Linux, any competitor in any field Microsoft supposedly lead in. He gives free publicity to the lot of them, and at the same time his own ship is lurching from side to side seemingly without direction.

Don't put him down folks. Whilst he is in command Microsoft is effectively hobbled, and that's great news for Apple.

 

[clevin]

well, don't make judgement that lightly. Thats all I can say. Other than handful of goofy things, we actually don't know very much about him after all.

 

[netdog]

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• Genuine Windows Vista Business (32-bit version)
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• 120GB (5400 RPM); Serial-ATA hard disk drive, Toshiba MK1237GSX
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• 12.1-inch diagonal widescreen high brightness display, 1280 x 800 (WXGA) Transreflective backlit LED
• Intel Graphics Media Accelerator 950 with 64MB
• Intel Wireless13 WiFi Link 4965AGN12 (802.11a/g/n)
• Bluetooth 2.0 + EDR
• Weight starting at 2.4 lbs.
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• 64GB SSD Model with similar specs - $2999 USD

It can be whittled down to 1.7 lbs by getting a 1/2-sized battery (similar to the new IBM), getting the SSD, dropping the optical, etc. Interesting that the marketing blurb touts it at 1.7 lbs, but every order page clearly states in the specs "starts at 2.4 lbs." and there is no way to order anything lighter than 2.4 lbs directly from Toshiba, at least in the USA.

 

[Diatribe]

Have you noticed that the start of Microsoft's era of malaise and Gates' handover to Ballmer roughly coincide? That man is the best friend Microsoft competitors have. He's constantly mentioning Google, Apple, Linux, any competitor in any field Microsoft supposedly lead in. He gives free publicity to the lot of them, and at the same time his own ship is lurching from side to side seemingly without direction.

Don't put him down folks. Whilst he is in command Microsoft is effectively hobbled, and that's great news for Apple.

I have to agree, he is not a bad manager but someone that lacks the vision and the capabilities to take Microsoft to the next level. As long as he is there they will only live off of Office, Windows and their server software. And Windows is slowly but surely dying if they don't do anything, which leaves, Office and their server software. Not much for a company this size...
Again, this won't be happening for a while but they're doing their best to screw up their advantages.

 

[Eraserhead]

which leaves, Office

Assuming the next version of iWork adds Error Bars to Numbers and Citations to Pages I can say without a doubt that in the 17 years I've been using computers, that I would have been able to use iWork every step of the way, now most of that was at school, but it means that Office is less relevant than ever.

 

[surferfromuk]

He's just crapping his pants since Windows market share has dropped 2% in the last year alone to the Mac.

Continuing that trend means effectively there is crap all other than 'bad mouthing' that he can do to avoid a further 10% erosion over the next 5 years before Microsoft manage to release a new O/S - which will very likely suck anyway.

Add to that Apple's acceleration of iPhone added to whatever else Apple continues to release ( ie new O/S - new touch hardware ) I would speculate would pretty much indicate that Apple could easily pick up another 5%, 10% even 20% on top of that...

That means by 2012 Apple could easily be at 25-30% market share - I'd suggest that's what is know as an irreversible critical momentum - after that mass adoption will occur rapidly...

 

[Redneck1089]

Barking is just one of Steve Ballmer's talents, remember... he did the monkey boy dance a few years ago.

http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=1274983729713522403

Hilarious! Hahaha.

 

[netdog]

Oh yeah. Ballmer is scared cr@pless. Share price aside, Microsoft will be minting money for some time yet.

 

[Queso]

He's just crapping his pants since Windows market share has dropped 2% in the last year alone to the Mac.

Continuing that trend means effectively there is crap all other than 'bad mouthing' that he can do to avoid a further 10% erosion over the next 5 years before Microsoft manage to release a new O/S - which will very likely suck anyway.

Add to that Apple's acceleration of iPhone added to whatever else Apple continues to release ( ie new O/S - new touch hardware ) I would speculate would pretty much indicate that Apple could easily pick up another 5%, 10% even 20% on top of that...

That means by 2012 Apple could easily be at 25-30% market share - I'd suggest that's what is know as an irreversible critical momentum - after that mass adoption will occur rapidly...

Sorry to burst that dream but looking at the figures it appears Apple's momentum is actually slowing now in percentage year-on-year growth terms. I can't see the Mac ever taking more than 15% US and 7% worldwide myself. It's off the radar for those that look at the sticker price and always will be. There are also those that simply prefer using Windows.

 

[digitalnicotine]

Have you noticed that the start of Microsoft's era of malaise and Gates' handover to Ballmer roughly coincide? That man is the best friend Microsoft competitors have. He's constantly mentioning Google, Apple, Linux, any competitor in any field Microsoft supposedly lead in. He gives free publicity to the lot of them, and at the same time his own ship is lurching from side to side seemingly without direction.

Don't put him down folks. Whilst he is in command Microsoft is effectively hobbled, and that's great news for Apple.

I love the competition. It's obvious who I'm rooting for, but I don't think Microsoft is waving the white flag anytime soon. If Ballmer doesn't produce, he'll be replaced with someone else. Microsoft is a business, first and foremost, and will do whatever is necessary to maintain their dominance. The competition also has to continue to apply pressure, (no doubt they will). I'll just continue to enjoy the spoils of war.

 

[Queso]

I love the competition. It's obvious who I'm rooting for, but I don't think Microsoft is waving the white flag anytime soon. If Ballmer doesn't produce, he'll be replaced with someone else. Microsoft is a business, first and foremost, and will do whatever is necessary to maintain their dominance. The competition also has to continue to apply pressure, (no doubt they will). I'll just continue to enjoy the spoils of war.

It's only if best buddies Gates or Allen break ranks that Ballmer can be pushed aside. Between the three of them they own an absolutely huge chunk of Microsoft, probably enough to keep him in the job for decades even if Microsoft profits start to completely tank.

Saying that, I really do wish Microsoft would raise its game again. If they push the envelope Apple have to do the same and we all benefit

 

[IJ Reilly]

Oh yeah. Ballmer is scared cr@pless. Share price aside, Microsoft will be minting money for some time yet.

For the record, I don't think he's scared. I think he's intellectually lazy. Running a company that mints money without breaking a sweat is bound to do that to a person. Microsoft's biggest asset in the old days was that they always played hungry. It's difficult at best to maintain that sort of fire in the belly when a company gets large, and doubly so when the dough just keeps rolling in, no matter what you do on any given day.

 

[surferfromuk]

Well, I think you'll find everyone's market share growth has slowed this first quarter so that trend will continue to grow relative to the market.

Additionally, I think a lot depends on how aggressively Apple continues to court the enterprise markets at a 'client' desktop/laptop level. I don't think Apple is ever seriously going to make a stake in the backend server game but they seem to be putting a lot of support into connecting to the enterprise seamlessly all of a sudden - add to that Vmware (in the elegant unity mode) or boot camp for 'PC only apps' and your quickly eradicating reasons to put up with Vista's bollox.

The main thing to consider is that we have really never seen a True long term Apple with Steve Jobs at the helm - back in the 1980's he got screwed out of his own company long before he had chance to make the mac fly. It's a little know thing that he had planned Apple stores even back then...

 

[synth3tik]

Anyone know what kind of Toshiba PC he's likely to be using, if it's supposedly lighter? Just curious.

He is most likely using on of them that over heats and shuts down within 5 minutes.

 

[Queso]

Well, I think you'll find everyone's market share growth has slowed this first quarter so that trend will continue to grow relative to the market.

I'm not talking unit growth, I'm talking percentage growth over previous year. There is an assumption that the Mac's growth over the past few years will continue at or above its previous rate, when in reality it is beginning to plateau. It's still growing, but nowhere near as fast as before.

 

[clevin]

He is most likely using on of them that over heats and shuts down within 5 minutes.

huh, we do need some fun, if not truth.

last laptop doing random shutdown stuff to me, is my MB. not even a 5 minutes rule. totally random, how exciting. lol

 

[surferfromuk]

I'm not talking unit growth, I'm talking percentage growth over previous year. There is an assumption that the Mac's growth over the past few years will continue at or above its previous rate, when in reality it is beginning to plateau. It's still growing, but nowhere near as fast as before.

Maybe, but June/July 2007 it dropped back half a percent before rocketing ahead again...Only time will tell if it's another fluctuation - It's all speculation after all but we can certainly hope, yes?

http://marketshare.hitslink.com/report.aspx?qprid=9