Steve Balmer's thoughts on Apple, from our Charlotte newspaper.

[Melrose]

Because you have a short attention span and base major decisions on how sharp the person talking about them looks and sounds? Oh and the fact that you've already made your mind up before they've even opened their mouth.

It's amazing how people read into what others say. There was no implication about my attention span. The man is childish and arrogant and he has demonstrated this repeatedly.

It's not out of the line of reason whatsoever to be predisposed to an opinion if prior behavioural patterns show certain qualities. So, yes, largely my mind was already made up - based on other times I've seen how he behaves. It's not that much of an intellectual jump to see why this is reasonable.

He's not always wrong or he wouldn't be where he is today. I just don't like his attitude.

 

[bartzilla]

The man is childish and arrogant and he has demonstrated this repeatedly.

Have you met him? Been in a business meeting with him? Sat and asked him questions? I have.

 

[Melrose]

Have you met him? Been in a business meeting with him? Sat and asked him questions? I have.

Good for you. Really.

 

[OllyW]

The percentage was wrong, I guess, but the way Apple does business now they will never achieve a very high market share.

He didn't get the percentage wrong.

 

[thejadedmonkey]

Ok I'm a little tired right now, and I'm really confused. What's wrong with what he said? Aside from a few numbers possibly being off, I think it was a great interview. He's right to an extent about Apple; don't forget they're his direct competitor and he can't go praising them or anything. I did think however he didn't give Google nearly enough credit.

Nate

I couldn't agree more. Not only that, but he speculated, discussed technologies, and was open. Much better then a fast Q&A after a steve-note "Firewire is for professionals only, blu-ray is a bag of hurt, oh yeah, and Apple rocks while Microsoft is the devil encarnate", etc...

 

[rwilliams]

I fail to see anything wrong with what he said. Everything seemed spot on.

 

[bartzilla]

Good for you. Really.

And now who's being childish?

 

[Mord]

Seemed like a decent interview to me, he's simply using apple's worldwide marketshare which is indeed about 3%. What on earth would you expect him to say "yes we're microsoft, we blow goats."!?

 

[BornAgainMac]

The Mac is what it is but what about the market share of Smart phones and music players? Why would a niche player be dominate with those products?

 

[Loge]

Apple's world market share is around 3.4%, so he's not that far off.

Most people reading the article will probably assume he means US market share.

 

[masterofbuckets]

Ok I'm a little tired right now, and I'm really confused. What's wrong with what he said? Aside from a few numbers possibly being off, I think it was a great interview. He's right to an extent about Apple; don't forget they're his direct competitor and he can't go praising them or anything. I did think however he didn't give Google nearly enough credit.

Nate

my thoughts exactly.