CE-Oh no he didn't! Part XLVIII: Mandriva CEO slams Ballmer in blog rant

Microsoft's Steve Ballmer is certainly no stranger to our CE-Oh no he didn't! series, but Mandriva's CEO François Bancilhon now looks to have turned the tables, with him targeting Ballmer in an open letter on his blog. Causing all his ire is a recent deal Mandriva made to install its Linux distribution onto 17,000 Classmate PCs sold to the Nigerian Government, which Nigeria says they will follow through on, only to replace the OS with Windows afterwards. Bancilhon, as you might have guessed, is laying the blame for the sudden change of heart squarely on Microsoft, and Ballmer specifically, saying "Wow! I'm impressed, Steve! What have you done for these guys to change their mind like this? It's pretty clear to me, and it will be clear to everyone." Bancilhon went on to ask, "How do you call what you just did Steve, in the place where you live?," adding that, "In my place, they give it various names, I'm sure you know them." Bancilhon then busted out the ever-reliable "how do you feel looking at yourself in the mirror in the morning?" line, before closing things off by saying, "You have the money, the power, and maybe we have a different sense of ethics you and I, but I believe that hard work, good technology and ethics can win too."

[Via Yahoo News/PC Magazine]

[DaLa @ Nov 1st 2007 11:44AM]

Engadget, please rename the column of this type to, 'CE-Doh!'

[Andrew Stone @ Nov 1st 2007 3:01PM]

It seems to me that we could just... you know... not care who uses what OS?

I don't know about the rest of you, but i don't walk down the street and get all tingly in the giblets if I see somebody using OSX of Windows or Linux or whatever else.

I get that Engadget does this to push pageloads for their advertisers, but come on guys... does this really matter? Isn't your OS of choice kind of like your team of choice or your color of choice?

Boxers or briefs; advantages to both but I go boxers, and I'm not pissed at those of you rockin whitey tighties right now...

[Andir3.0 @ Nov 1st 2007 3:28PM]

Yeah, but with underwear, colors and sports teams, you have a choice and you can freely switch to boxers or briefs on a daily basis.

With the operating systems, you can't just load in Linux tomorrow and continue your daily routine. This isn't the fault of Linux mind you. It's the fault of allowing a company to maintain it's hold on market share. If Microsoft were forced to follow a standard model and allow other people to mimic that model, then it would be like your underwear comparison. As it is, you cannot run Microsoft Office on Linux without going through patched in libraries. You also cannot load up your favorite game in either Windows, Linux, or OSX because it happens to use a proprietary 3D acceleration library only available on Windows. If Microsoft were forced to open all their "defacto" standards so that other companies can create an operating system that will run programs written on those standards, then, and only then, can Microsoft finally play on even ground.

[3rdsun @ Nov 1st 2007 3:33PM]

It should be renamed CE-Oh yes he did.

[nutbastard @ Nov 1st 2007 11:50AM]

I wouldn't worry - they'll get through a dozen Windows installs, realize they still have 16,988 left to do, come to their senses, and say, "fuck it

[Dave @ Nov 1st 2007 11:52AM]

...and yet with all of his unscrupulous endeavors, Microsoft's stock is *still* flat. LOL@STEVE what a joke!

[John @ Nov 1st 2007 11:55AM]

Actually, Microsoft's stock has gone up about 25% in the past month. But if you knew that, then you would actually be informed instead of just pretending, eh?

[Dave @ Nov 1st 2007 12:04PM]

compare and contrast...

http://finance.yahoo.com/q/bc?s=MSFT&t=5y

http://finance.yahoo.com/q/bc?s=AAPL&t=5y

[Dave @ Nov 1st 2007 12:13PM]

http://finance.yahoo.com/q/bc?s=GOOG&t=5y

[Chris @ Nov 1st 2007 12:17PM]

This is easier:
http://finance.yahoo.com/q/bc?t=5y&s=AAPL&l=on&z=m&q=l&c=msft

[icfleming @ Nov 1st 2007 12:53PM]

What the f@#$ does apple stock performance have to do with an incorrect statement that MSFT has been flat? You see that makes you stupid twice:

1) not know what you are saying
2) not understanding the rebuttal

[Golferal @ Nov 1st 2007 1:00PM]

Why exactly would you compare MS to Apple's stock when the story had absolutely NOTHING to do with Apple? Are you that much of a douche Cupertino fanboy?

Although stock prices weren't even mentioned or implied in the story (nor does quoting them support any relevant position), you should have at least used some Linux stock quotes. But that wouldn't make sense to you, would it?

[Mike Cerm @ Nov 1st 2007 3:37PM]

Google's and Apple's are ridiculously overvalued. They're both in Bubble 2.0 territory.

Also, comparisons are pointless because GOOG, AAPL, and MSFT are all in completely different industries. Microsoft is a software company. Google is in advertising. Apple is a consumer electronics company.

[Mike Cerm @ Nov 1st 2007 3:38PM]

Google and Apple stock are both ridiculously overvalued. Definitely in Bubble 2.0 territory.

Also, comparisons are pointless because GOOG, AAPL, and MSFT are all in completely different industries. Microsoft is a software company. Google is in advertising. Apple is a consumer electronics company.

[parlotti @ Nov 1st 2007 11:56AM]

Speaking as an African linux user, I don’t think MS won anything though it may look like a great victory. The number of pirated copies of their OS in Nigeria effectively makes this victory worthless. Yes they shall get a few government contracts and many students wont be given the freedom to choose a decent OS and would end up being shoddy techs. The only loss here is to the students and workers who would carry on not knowing that there are indeed better alternatives.
Victory eh? They just handed the first few hundred Cd’s to their demise. Wait till the real Nigerian racketeers looking to make a fast buck get hold of a few of those disks. Burn and spread shall begin and there goes their target market for ordinary consumers.
If they are indeed smart they would leave the African market to the open source guys. The open source sells support and basically charges next to nothing for the OS itself (the cost of the optical disk and manuals). Their business model suits Africa just fine… “OS free and support for sale”. But come in with MS's restrictive licensing and you are beckoning to pirates to make a fast buck off you.
Mandriva there is nothing to bother about. Anyday now those MS OS disks would surface in the black market prepackaged and cracked for the convenience of the customer and there is nothing MS can do to enforce proper use out there.

I grew up using windows. Did all my cisco tests and work on Xp in fact. But a few blue screens and the need to explore nudged me to try linux and i have never looked back. 7 distros and and 3 years later here I am still strong with a 275 day record uptime on one of my machines.

[zorg @ Nov 1st 2007 12:02PM]

You give the pirates too much credit. MS believes it can handle them. Linux is the only real threat to the monopoly. Even if MS never gets a dime out of Nigeria, strangling another OS is worth the effort. What MS wants is Nigerian users who know no other OS. Pirates are just their helpers in that struggle, part of the cost of doing business.

[Prasand J. @ Nov 1st 2007 1:21PM]

"and would end up being shoddy techs"

Smh @ that. There's a reason why more PC users know more about computers than the average Mac user. Macs make it easy, that's Apple's goal. Which is good ... but with PCs, when things fuck up ... you're pretty much forced to learn your way around it trying to fix things.

Though I understand this isn't about Apple versus MS. I'm doing this to frame the point. Though it may be less bug prone, an open-source OS has a significantly larger learning curve to fix. Thus making Windows, the perfect training wheels for future techs ... ironically giving them more frequent real-world examples of shit to fix, lol.

Your entire rant failed miserably.

Smh @ emotional IT guys.

"Did all my cisco tests and work on Xp in fact."

Ironic, no?

An excessively emotional IT guy seems like an oxymoron. Shouldn't you have some form of good logic? Blame the shoddy techs on their poor thinking, and as far as I'm concerned ... with thinking like that, you're one of them.

[Rususeruru @ Nov 1st 2007 1:22PM]

For years Microsoft has allowed pirated copies of Windows to float. It has little to do with the profit of initial licensing. Microsoft is banking on familiarity. They have already done this in many Asian markets. They let the pirated OSes float for years, wait a while then try to slam the infringement hammer down. It's just bait and trap.

[dj-kenpo @ Nov 1st 2007 1:32PM]

the nice thing about linux is, because it's open source, Nigerians could actually modify it to suit their specific needs. instead, they can have the : this is the way we roll in america" approach. now shut up and by coke or you don't get your vaccines.

[Todd @ Nov 1st 2007 11:56AM]

All's fair in love and war, and OSs have always been at war. Bancilhon needs to chill or fight back.

[zorg @ Nov 1st 2007 11:58AM]

It concerns me that I increasingly find myself agreeing with someone who signs himself "nutbastard."

Having the original install is very important. Although Ballmer is working overtime to exterminate Linux on EEE PC, OLPC, and Classmate, the presence of machines with a non-Windows original install allows for Linux tech support, the absence of which has been a cornerstone of the Microsoft monopoly.

Having someone with the *responsibility* to update Linux drivers when the firmware changes is an important hole in the dike. Eventually, even the third richest corporate entity in the world will be hard-pressed to plug all the holes.

Now, if only there were a way to make Exxon and GE (the two richer corps) want to eat Microsoft. Then Linux might be free to grow.

[shawn @ Nov 1st 2007 12:12PM]

GE is too busy fighting iTunes with its new "Hulu" site to go after Microsoft. Not having been to Hulu yet, I wouldn't be surprised if it only supported Microsoft itself. (like Netflix and the BBC)

[Jerry @ Nov 1st 2007 12:03PM]

I wonder how long this will go until someone defends MS?

[Andir3.0 @ Nov 1st 2007 12:54PM]

Your apparently new to the internet. Let me explain how this happens.

1. Bad Microsoft news is posted.
2. Internal MS email sent out. Immediate break declared to allow internet browsing. Monkey boy himself makes announcement on the PA in loud annoying way.
3. Rampant fans declare, "Business is business!"
4. Anti-Microsoft folks (of which I'm a part of, I guess) spout of on how Microsoft is evil.
5. Internal MS folks finally figure out how to open IE.
6. Fans declare, "Microsoft is a good company, Bill gates gives money away"
7. Someone addresses Bill Gates as though he still works for Microsoft.
8. Internal MSers fail to find article on MSN, switch over to Firefox, search Google.
8. The same fans that declared MS a good company because of Bill berate these people for saying Bill has anything to do with MS.
9. Internal MSers finally post how Linux/OSX sucks (even if it has nothing to do with the article) and how MS is the only OS that can run ____.
10. ... bah, I think you get the idea by now. Every article it's the same thing over and over.

[John @ Nov 1st 2007 1:17PM]

This is the internet. If you're going to make a list, it has to involve:

3. ???
4. Profit

FYI, if you're going to try and bash any company, try and do so with at least a modicum of wit and style.

[Justin @ Nov 1st 2007 1:19PM]

You have an extremely vivid imagination, Andir. As if it weren't enough from your posts in the Armadillo article, telling me essentially that I lick John Carmack's balls for fun, now you suppose that everyone who doesn't like Linux and OS X and says so is on Microsoft's payroll.

I like Linux for my own personal use, but I think it would suck as it stands now as a widespread OS. The typical user just wouldn't be able to handle it. As for OS X, it's Linux without the teeth, as I understand, so that makes it better for the typical user, but not for me. Also, I like games and Windows + Ubuntu already do what I want while OS X just doesn't seem to bother either with software support *or* hardware support for anything remotely new re: video cards, so what's the point?

I'm really trying hard not to be insulting, but seriously, I just don't want to stoop to your level.

[Andir3.0 @ Nov 1st 2007 1:27PM]

I never said "everyone" I included fans on the list. Your reading skills are getting worse. First you didn't read the Lander articles, not you skim my post and pick out only what you want to read...

[TheCow5 @ Nov 1st 2007 12:06PM]

Fear not Bancilhon, hard work, good technology and ethics will win out in time, and that is Linux.
As long as Apple’s stays in third place I will be happy; there legs have been kept too tightly close for far too long and should stay that way.

[Olu O @ Nov 1st 2007 12:19PM]

is it me or is engadget very anti-microsoft???

[Mike @ Nov 1st 2007 12:56PM]

Or maybe they just call it as it is and your opinion is out of whack?

[Andir3.0 @ Nov 1st 2007 12:56PM]

It's better than being pro-monopoly. ;)

[Justin @ Nov 1st 2007 1:20PM]

They're not just anti-Microsoft, Olu, they're anti-everything that isn't Apple. At least lately it seems they're bashing them equally, though, so I'll take what I can get.

[zorg @ Nov 1st 2007 3:18PM]

I see where you're confused. This is not an "anti-Microsoft" site. This is a "consumer" site. We consume. We consume gadgets. Whatever gets in the way of our consumption gets bashed. Microsoft more than anybody gets bashed because it's the original anti-consumer company. But Apple and even the "do no evil" Google have their days of bashing here. Just wait until iPhone or Gphone has a bad day.

[HenryJonesJr @ Nov 1st 2007 12:20PM]

@Jerry

I'll do it. Maybe the Nigerian Government felt that getting the most commonly used OS in the world on their Classmate PCs will do the most benefit for the underpriviledged children they're trying to help. If they're trying to get them relevant in a digital world, tying them to a niche OS, no matter how much "better" it may be, doesn't seem to be the way to do it. It's a bit like English being the language of business...Windows is the language of technology and if you want to be successful you should probably speak it. While that may change in the future, it's true now, and maybe THAT'S why Nigeria chose Windows. I suppose that's not as fun the Microsoft bashing though.

[DON @ Nov 1st 2007 12:28PM]

yup. Nothing beats bashing MS. Especially when folks finally test an alternative and find out that their product is for the most part a rip off.

[Mort @ Nov 1st 2007 12:33PM]

Very true,

"A survey of 1,400 CIO's by Robert Half in August 2007 asked the
question: "Which technical skills are most in demand within your
organization?" Leading the pack was Windows administration (73%),
followed by Network administration (70%), Database management (60%),
Firewall administration (55%), Wireless network management (52%),
Business intelligence (34%), ERP implementation (22%), Microsoft .NET
development (22%), CRM implementation (18%), Linux administration
(18%), Unix administration (18%), and XML development (18%)."

http://itmanagement.earthweb.com/career/article.php/3708361

The guy's "Open Letter" was a joke that stopped just short of "You
did something bad! We know you did it! Don't deny it! We won't say it
though... it is that bad!"

Instead of whining, maybe he could back it up with... oh I dunno...
FACT instead of baseless accusations.

Windows (while being buggy, slower, more expensive) is still the
dominant OS. Give the kids the best opportunity to succeed.

And yes, I use Linux (Arch) and XP.

[Jerry @ Nov 1st 2007 3:30PM]

I dont doubt that, but thats just the point I would rather see things change across the board. At the desktop level windows is dominant and no once is denying that fact, but at a server level linux is competative. It can be used by any user at this point and the open architecture would actaully allow these students to develop and not just use there operating system ( I realize we are talking grade school kids but you have to start somewhere) and more to the point why would they do this in a backhanded way instead of just ooooo i dont ORDERING THEM WITH XP?


Andir3.0- If your gonna post a reply to my comment dont you think you should open up your comments to response as well? NOT MY FIRST TIME ON THE INTERNET, my point was that every time some accuses MS of doing something shady agaisnt the little guy a MS fanboy will be here to defend them.

YES winders will run programs that do not run under Linux BUT there is always a linux program that will accomplish the same thing

[johnzilla @ Nov 1st 2007 3:34PM]

Yeah, that's the way to improve your country...follow what everyone else is doing. Has anyone ever considered that trying to be like everyone else might be the problem? Wouldn't it be cool if all of these people needing tech skills to "be relevant" developed their own tech and used it to leapfrog everyone else instead of letting some huge corporation tell them what they should be doing?

@Mort:

I think is quite funny when people do not see the irony in the high demand for Windows administration skills. There is such high demand for those skills because Windows servers and clients need to be fixed all the time, not because Windows is so popular. The corporate staff that manage our Windows servers is 3 times as large as the group that manage our Linux servers, yet we have double the number of Linux servers. Hmmmm.....

[Andir3.0 @ Nov 1st 2007 4:35PM]

@Jerry: It was a joke, and the art of debate is having the last word that has no retort. Although this isn't a debate, not all conversations have to be open ended.

[Andir3.0 @ Nov 1st 2007 4:36PM]

@Jerry: It was a joke, and the art of debate is having the last word that has no retort. Although this isn't a debate, not all conversations have to be open ended.

[huh @ Nov 1st 2007 6:44PM]

@Mort: that's obviously a bogus report when you consider that .NET is used for less than half of development, the remainder being Java and other systems.

[steve warshaw @ Nov 1st 2007 12:39PM]

OOOOOHHHH you guys want to play the stock game. Well... Ok...

Goog @ $717 per share Is valued at 222 billion with a float of 312 million shares

AAPL @ 188 per share is valued at 165.25 with a float of 872 million shares

MSFT @ 37 per share is valued at 350 billion with 9.36 BILLION share float

You idiots are comparing ants to elephants. It takes much more money to move microsoft stock. Does that make it an inferior company? No. In fact, MSFT is the cheapest stock of the bunch right now, and if it weren't for morons like you crying about Microsofts dominance the stock would be much much higher. Quit hating Microsoft because it's popular; I can tell by your posts you have not one good logical reason to dislike Microsoft other than that's what everyone else is doing. LAME

MSFT @

[Mike @ Nov 1st 2007 12:58PM]

...And not at all because Microsoft as a company sucks? Right. Good call, buddy.

[DON @ Nov 1st 2007 2:47PM]

point of correction.Most folks don't bash MS out of hate for their popularity. But shelling out cash and not getting adequate support when time comes makes people angry in most cases. Most people have legitimate reasons for gettin pissed and ranting, So stop hurling irrelevant insults around. Getting a product from a tech savvy sales rep is great. but being put on hold by some thick-accented Indian tech-support guy half way around the world while losing money by the minute sucks big time. Its the day to day fuckups that they are raving about. Give the same task to a small band of linux firms and you can get a good nights sleep. Catch my drift?

[steve warshaw @ Nov 1st 2007 1:06PM]

Tell me MIKEY, have you ever worked at Microsoft? Have you been to Washington and seen what Microsoft has done for the economy there? Are you aware that Microsoft employees (excluding Bill G) give more money to charity than any other for profit company in the world? Did you know that Microsoft gives its employees that most comprehensive (and expensive) health insurance available?

So I ask you again genius, have you EVER worked there? Or better yet, give me 10 facts that as you say makes "Microsoft suck as a company."

[mike @ Nov 1st 2007 1:27PM]

Sorry. I don't argue with Believers, but I like how you capitalized MIKEY, insinuating an ultra-condescending tone. It was pretty clever, that you took my name, added a 'Y' and capitalized the whole of it. I felt the angst. No.. really. It was impressive.

[steve warshaw @ Nov 1st 2007 2:27PM]

you don't argue because you don't have an argument. You call me a believer when you are a follower. The difference between my belief and and your faith (which is what you're doing when you follow something without any information) is that me belief is based on facts and experience and your faith is based on.... Well, you let me know when you figure it out.

By the way, were do you work that is so much better than Microsoft?

[mike @ Nov 1st 2007 2:49PM]

:)

[CosterMonger @ Nov 1st 2007 2:56PM]

STEVEY WARSHAWY

"me belief"

*priceless*

[Andir3.0 @ Nov 1st 2007 3:01PM]

Microsoft may not be a bad place to work for, but you have to question _your_ ethics when you walk into a company that abuses it's market share to crush competition and squelch any innovation. Sure, your living in the lap of luxury, but your strangling your entire family in order to do so. And if you can't see that (or you view my last sentence at a personal perspective [not your direct family, I'm talking about the global family]) then you really need to take a step back and try to see the bigger picture here.