Ballmer keeps talking, says Android "looks like version one"

Steve Ballmer's whirlwind UK media tour ahead of the Professional Developers Conference just keeps giving us sound bite gems: first it was Windows Cloud, then Zune on Windows Mobile, and now Stevie's taking shots at Android and the G1. Calling Microsoft David to Google's search Goliath, Ballms said that he wasn't worried about Android because it won't be "attractive" to other handset manufacturers because it's "version one... and it looks like version one." Not only that, but he apparently thinks Google's going to sit still, saying "they've got one handset maker, we've got 55. They're available through one operator, we've got 175." True for now, sure, but we know Android isn't going to languish on a single handset on a single carrier for long -- and we're pretty certain Steve knows that HTC and T-Mobile aren't exactly minor players, regardless. Still, it's some masterful bluster from a master of bluster -- now if he'd just back it up with Windows Mobile 7, we'd be way more inclined to believe him.

[Via Cool Smart Phones]

[Dan Fruzzetti @ Oct 2nd 2008 8:08PM]

The difference here being that Google cares about profit, customers, function, and principle (at least to a point) as compared to microsoft only caring about profit and caring for shareholders.

[brandon @ Oct 2nd 2008 8:49PM]

Guess what, Steve??? Nobody will make your "Jesus phone" in your lifetime. No matter what, it will always be "too difficult to use, not intuitive enough, too bulky, etc....."

Get over yourself. It's good enough.

[Ignacio Magana @ Oct 2nd 2008 9:04PM]

this guy is annoying

[Sergio @ Oct 2nd 2008 10:36PM]

You are annoying!
And a world without Windows would be terrible!

[Quix @ Oct 2nd 2008 10:39PM]

That Steve Ballmer is a billionaire is one of the universe's cruelest jokes. EVER.

I can see this guy harassing kids as a movie theater manager maybe, but billionaire? Laughable.

[Millah @ Oct 3rd 2008 4:39AM]

Lol...Ballmer is really terrible at talking about competition, he gets so offended by any kind of competition and gets defensive immediately, and makes himself look like a clown in the process. Why does he always cite his number against his new competition like Apple and Google, when they just got in the game. Things he forgets to mention are the enormous gains the competition is making on them, while Microsoft is having enormous declines especially in Windows Mobile.

Funny he should say Android "looks like version one" because Androids "version one" looks, operates, and innovates a million times better than Windows Mobiles "version 6" and years and years of experience. What a joke.

[lgespee @ Oct 2nd 2008 8:10PM]

The difference here being that Google doesn't have to yell for "Developers, developers, developers, developers!".

[jorvay @ Oct 2nd 2008 8:35PM]

Damn right. Plus we'll probably see new and impoved versions a lot faster. Just look and windows vs. linux-based operating systems. We're waiting for the seventh true iteration of windows. I'm on the ninth edition of Fedora...which split off from Redhat after 10 versions, for a total of 19 iterations. Open source stuff moves fast.

I wonder what'll come first: WinMo7 or Android 2.0?

[PeterF @ Oct 2nd 2008 9:18PM]

Does it matter how fast it moves? Linux doesn't do anything more then Windows can.

[jorvay @ Oct 2nd 2008 10:30PM]

Maybe true, but it doesn't do any less...except hog resources and cost money...and crash (yes they've improved this, but i still crash both my vista and xp boxes while my linux box remains indestructible).

[Fitz @ Oct 3rd 2008 12:25AM]

Sorry but I haven't had my WinMo phone crash in 3-4 months. Sure, its not the best interface out there, but that's why there's a ton of shells to install over it. WinMo is OK, it's not spectacular nor garbage, but it does work just fine.

My 2cents

[Muhammed @ Oct 2nd 2008 8:12PM]

I love that guy.

[gkrules @ Oct 2nd 2008 8:46PM]

Your mom looks like version one.

[Freakin Ijit @ Oct 3rd 2008 6:26AM]

His comments ring totally of those of Palm's CEO, Ed Colligan, who said something like:

>>> "We've got years of experience in developing smartphones. [Apple] isn't simply going
>>> to walk in and come up with anything interesting"

when first discussing the iPhone.

[)law( @ Oct 2nd 2008 8:15PM]

He looks constipated in that pic 0_0 ...

[601210 @ Oct 2nd 2008 9:23PM]

On the contrary, he looks like he just sent off a big one.

[Goatee Man @ Oct 2nd 2008 11:18PM]

I don't think I've ever laughed harder at two posts. I love you both.

[Ethan @ Oct 2nd 2008 8:16PM]

They should do the honourable thing and write a version of mobile office for it. Before they're forced to by the inevitable uptake of this system.

[Kamokazi @ Oct 2nd 2008 8:18PM]

And make it easier for corporations to adopt it? Hahaha...funny. That's one of their biggest edges over RimOS...much better Office file support.

[Metkis @ Oct 2nd 2008 8:16PM]

Oh Ballmer, you've always looked like version one. :-)

[Howmanoid @ Oct 3rd 2008 10:17AM]

Didn't version 1 have hair (and sweat less)?? This version looks like it's about to blue screen all over the place.

[Jon2309 @ Oct 2nd 2008 8:17PM]

Dear engadget.
Please stop posting pictures of Steve Ballmer like that. I keep laughing and spitting Coke all over the monitor.
Yours, Jon.

[Alex Padilla @ Oct 2nd 2008 8:31PM]

Woooo!

[iEye @ Oct 2nd 2008 8:46PM]

Darn it, I could go for a refreshing soda right now, but all I have is ice in the freezer, and I am too lazy to go down the street .3 miles to the grocery store to buy some no-name soda...

That would involve putting the key in the ignition then turning it... to lazy... then I'd have to drive it.... then part it back in the driveway...
I'd rather take my bike.. but it is -2 out... too much dressing... sweater, shoes, coat...
This is why I have no girlfriend.. last 5 said I had no passion....

[lawyer bird @ Oct 2nd 2008 8:57PM]

mac user == no passion?

[Jon2309 @ Oct 2nd 2008 9:21PM]

Troll == No intelligence?

[Johan S @ Oct 2nd 2008 8:17PM]

Version 1 of Android looks better than version 6.1 of Windows Mobile.

Ballmer should stop dissing others and produce a version of Windows Mobile (and regular) that isn't crippled and doesn't have performance issues.

People are switching to Microsoft's competitors in droves, and they aren't switching back.

[Dan @ Oct 2nd 2008 11:26PM]

Windows Mobile? Crippled?
Let me tell you about a crippled OS....

[Robert @ Nov 8th 2008 3:53PM]

you sir, are an idiot... congradulations!

iPhone

[JohnTitor @ Oct 2nd 2008 8:18PM]

Android is version, what's the argument?

[JohnTitor @ Oct 2nd 2008 8:19PM]

version 1*

[24 @ Oct 2nd 2008 8:22PM]

This is just to make Goolge to show what it has up its sleeve to add to windows 7

[eltoro2827 @ Oct 2nd 2008 8:22PM]

blah at android, i crap all over it.

[iEye @ Oct 2nd 2008 8:23PM]

Same Jack-Ass who laughed at the iPhone...

Him and Kevin Rose should go trick or treating together...

[Sergio @ Oct 2nd 2008 10:39PM]

We all still laugh! Just silently beacause you guys are a big fruity MASSSS.

[Ridgecity @ Oct 2nd 2008 8:25PM]

Every time I see this guy, I wonder how he can be one of the richest men in the world. Actually I feel he just was at the right moment at the right time, just like porn movies when a plumber goes into a house with a really horny M.I.L.F....

[Laughing Man @ Oct 2nd 2008 8:30PM]

I love how Microsoft brushes off new competition as, "They aren't us." No S*#t. Thanks to open source help, Andriod's version 2 will be a huge leap. Then version 3 will be plain scary to Microsoft....I a betting on about 4 months to having Microsoft slinging mud. Anybody want odds?

[Robert @ Nov 8th 2008 3:53PM]

you open source losers can improve android all you want... it still will never be half an iPhone.

[lolento @ Oct 2nd 2008 8:37PM]

that's hlarious...WinMo 6.1 looks like it's from the stone age

[GON @ Oct 2nd 2008 8:40PM]

Can't argue here. Android for the time being, lacks certain functionalities of existing operating systems, but like such operating systems, it is a work in progress. Everything will come together soon enough. We all knew Android wouldn't have it all day one anyway.

[Perspective @ Oct 2nd 2008 8:41PM]

Ballmer s just a walking parody. . .it's almost sad at this point.

[Chris @ Oct 2nd 2008 8:44PM]

Wow, Microsoft calling themselves "the little guy", whats the world come to?

[1 @ Oct 2nd 2008 8:45PM]

think about it open source may sound good look at the iphone people are writing programs for this phone and Jobs is turning it down some of them because it mite compete with the iphone programs. Open source open up doors for some one to write there own UI.

[leithal @ Oct 2nd 2008 8:46PM]

Didn't he say no one would by an iPhone too?

[Decoy @ Oct 2nd 2008 10:08PM]

I remember that. He laughed at the price saying no-one would buy it.

[bobdole @ Oct 2nd 2008 8:47PM]

"They've got one handset maker... They've got one carrier... "

The same could be said of the iphone a year ago, and no one can say that's been an unsuccessful platform... I'm sure if any manufacturer would have loved to port the platform to their phones, even in version 1.

Ballmer is just completely talking out his ass here, hoping to spread FUD about android.

[Mark Tomlin @ Oct 2nd 2008 8:51PM]

Yeah, he should talk, version 7 of his OS looks like version 6 and crashes more then version 5.
Where as a Google product while doing everything you need it to do, does it well, but has a terrible user interface for the first few updates.

[simon @ Oct 2nd 2008 11:52PM]

You've tried WM7? Please tell us all about it.

[Bayard @ Oct 2nd 2008 8:55PM]

So that's all he's got?
Note to Mr. Baller... your shit is so old and crappy looking that there was simply no way on earth I would run it until I saw the HTC plug-in stuff, which looks cool. Your stuff is not only beyond ugly, but simply UN-USABLE without stopping what ever you may be doing and busting out a tiny stylus and 'going to work'.
In other words, I think for your own good, and the good of the MS stock my father owns, you shut your stupid mouth and get busy re-inventing your wares before you are just plain too old and too worthless in the face of your competition. V2 of Android will be developed enough to shame win mobile 6.1.
Further, from what I have seen of v7, your guys still just do not understand interface. Unbelievable.

[Bruce @ Oct 2nd 2008 8:56PM]

Why does Microsoft let this guy out?