Ballmer keeps talking, says Android "looks like version one"
By Nilay Patel 
posted October 2nd 2008 8:04PM
posted October 2nd 2008 8:04PM
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]
It's not V1. It's V 0.85 Beta 1. There is nothing apealing about the phone. I tried to like it. It blows.
People need to realize that there's "Public" Steve Ballmer, and "Private" Steve Ballmer.
Publicly, this is the equivalent of corporate smack talk. What did you expect him to say? "Android is awesome, and we're shutting down the WinMo team"...?
Privately, Steve is a smart guy and you can bet that he's studying this and pushing the WinMo team harder.
And yes, Steve Ballmer is wack(y), but that is fine for a CEO. You WANT a leader who has a personality. Right or wrong, as a leader, you have to take a stand on something (or things)--people will decide for themselves whether or not they want to follow, but commitment is a NECESSARY component of leadership. And regardless of what you think about Ballmer's opinions (or the way he expresses them), there can be no doubt that he is 100% committed to the success of Microsoft.
A few years ago, Firefox wasn't installed on any computers anywhere, and now it has 25% of the market (or there abouts). So what happened to IE's reign? Maybe something similar to this? Microsoft said "oh no one uses that, look how many people use IE!"
Let him first bring out Windows Mobile 7 before commenting on Android. Latest story says Windows Mobile 7 is pushed far to 2010!
Regards,
Pocket PC Live!
It's here: http://www.pocketpc-live.com/top-stories/windows-mobile-7.html
I live only a couple houses down from Balmer and I got a job at our local Tully's to make some extra spending money during high school. I recently got a G1 and I was showing it off to some of my coworkers, Steve walked by as three of us were hudled around it, im just glad he doesnt think that its a threat when no one is really interested in it! haha ...Steve.... he never tips either