Steve Ballmer calls Chrome OS "highly interesting," says Google "can't make up their mind"
You just knew Microsoft CEO Steve Ballmer would have some choice words about Google's Chrome OS at today's Windows Partner Conference, and he didn't disappoint, saying that while he finds the project "highly interesting," the late-2010 ship date and existence of Android have him wondering exactly what it's supposed to be. "I don't know if they can't make up their mind or what the problem is over there, but the last time I checked, you don't need two client operating systems. It's good to have one." Snap. Of course, Microsoft is shipping six different Windows 7 SKUs, can't quite get rid of XP, and sells Windows Mobile, Windows CE, and Zune in the handheld space, but the man's got a point -- the real question is whether he's smiling or just baring his teeth in rage.























I don't see his teeth in that picture
Perhaps it's a cropped imagine.
Hint: ------ Dentata
-----------
I'd love to believe I'm the not only person whose mind went directly there.
No, you wouldn't. They're the last thing you see before you die.
Yeah, that's certainly a cropped imagine all the people.
Wow, "cropped imagine." Imagine that.
That's a heaping serving of Chrome FAIL OS Ultimate 64-bit for me.
I'm not sure exactly what Ballmer would be upset about anyway. As was discussed in the latest Engadget podcast, Chrome OS is not a threat to Windows, it's a threat to all the other Linux variations that are trying to get a foot in the door of the netbook arena.
why is Steve Ballmer all the way over on that side of my screen?
Because he's about to be pushed off.
Did you break the internets again?
Same man who said Apple wouldn't very many iPhones.
The whole thing?
Aplle wouldn't what??!?
I accidentally the whole thing
He said "Apple wouldn't very many iPhones"!
Don't you plain English?
this article's commentors' engrish fails.
lrn2engrish, plz
kkthxbai.
I accidentally the whole iPhone!
ooh! mad-lib time!
Apple wouldn't [DEFENESTRATE] many iPhones
ok your turn!
OK... let's see...
Apple wouldn't [TERMINATE] many iPhones
it needs to rhyme right?
wait, what
Kojo and Bradford just accidentally the entire meme
What is this I don't even
I am pretty sure he means, "The same man who said Apple wouldn't sell very many iPhones."
Oh man.....
Microsoft needs to take a page from apples book and standardize on OS!!!!!!
I'm not fanboying, but objectively, they seem to be doing pretty fine.
What does "standardize on OS" even mean? If your company has 90% of the market, doesn't that make you the defacto standard? Also, I didn't think there was a OS standard out there... but someone can definitely fill me in if there is.
@Kevin
It means one operating system, Such as Leopard
Not like windows business, windows professional, windows home......etc
I hope you get the idea.....
You do realize the reason MS has 90% market share instead of apple's 9%, is that by making different versions of it's software, MS allows it's customers to decide what best fits their needs.
I'm sorry you can't decide between Win7 HP and Pro, some of us don't have that problem.
Maybe you can standardize your OS when you only have about 7-8% of the market, but when your operating system is running on 90+% of the market, it's nice to offer your customers some options. Like most people won't need the advanced networking stuff that's in Pro, so they don't include it and give the people a cheaper price for not having it. But some people do want that stuff, so they can spend the extra cash. And businesses need all the network stuff plus all the permissions, bulk licenses, and more, so they need their own version. Mac users are the only people I have ever heard complain about a company giving you more options on how to use their product.
1) Apple sells OSX and OSX Server. In addition, there is a not-so-clearly-labeled OSX Family Pack, which is really just multiple licenses for vanilla OSX.
2) For 95% of the Windows demographic, there is one version of vista/7. The one that comes preinstalled on your PC. I'm not a huge fan of the multitude of skus, but if I'm inclined to purchase windows, I guess having the choice ain't such a bad thing.
3) XP, Vista, and 7 are all versions of NT. A good Apple comparison would be Tiger, Leopard, and Snow Leopard. You can still find Tiger for sale places, it's still supported. Not what they want you to buy, but there's a niche that can/will do it. People who want to run GL apps for PPC on an Intel mac can't do that reliably after ~10.4.6, for example.
4) Ballmer is putting more spin on the multiple OS issue than Federer can put on a tennis ball. You *can* install Android on a netbook, *but Google does not intend or encourage the practice*. It is a mobile "device'" OS. It's to compete in the smartphone segment. Chrome OS is more of a competitor to Ubuntu and Moblin. If you want, you technically *can* install Windows CE on a PC. So, in a sense, MS is in the exact same boat as Google.
DISCLAIMER: /me uses macs and PCs, but hates misinformation.
Does Windows CE still count as an OS at this point?
Microsoft isn't pushing two different operating systems for the same device.
Netbooks. Google has both Android and Chrome OS for Netbooks. WTF?
XP, Vista, and now WIndows 7... plus all the assorted versions of each?
Yeah, different versions of the same thing. Of course they make new versions as technology progresses. Chrome and Android and two completely different things.
@mike.
How dare they introduce newer versions of a program. Bastards.
Android is an open source OS designed for mobile devices, which can include netbooks. Given its nature Android is prety adaptable to different kinds of devices.
Chrome OS seems to be a web based OS which...... can also include netbooks but i think it meant for computers rather than mobile devices.
yes there is some overlap, but i think theres a clear distinction between the 2.... for now anyway.
who knows, maybe in the future we will have a chrome android :-p
google isnt pushing android for netbooks
The multi SKU Windows isn't different OS's, I'm surprised engadget would suggest that. It will confuse the market but that's a different issue.
As for netbooks, I'm fairly sure it's the OEM's who are pkaying with that not google saying that's what it's for.
Next people will be suggesting the iPhone 3GS 32GB black and 32GB white are different versions, and the 16GB 3GS, completely different.
All the versions of Windows 7 are in fact, Windows 7. And you can run the same applications as you do on Vista and XP, which are more or less the same thing as far as developers are concerned.
If you could run all the same Flash/Silverlight apps on your windows mobile, android or symbian OS, the OS would be largely irrelevant. Personally I was looking forward to the day we could write apps once, not having to write them in Java, Objective C, Flash, Silverlight, etc separately.
@MioTheGreat: Actually, Google has never officially even considered the possibility of Android on netbooks. And no one really knows what Chrome OS will be like, so it's fair to say they haven't got conflicting systems at this point.
the picture is all right-aligned or whatever
Are you seriously still on the "six versions of windows 7" thing? Sure, there are technically 6 versions, but people are only really going to have the choice between 2. Get over it already. Also, comparing the zune to windows mobile is like comparing the ipod classic's OS to the iPhone. OMG THE CHOICES!
And really? Windows CE? How many devices still use that?
Lots -- in addition to all the GPS units out there, all those new Tegra-based smartbooks and handhelds like the Mobinnova Elan run CE.
A better example might have been how Win2K, ME, various flavours of NT, 98 (and 95?) overlapped at different times. Not a company with focus, Microsoft.
Oh, and like Fake Steve says: Google are the New Borg.
It would be nice if Patel would get over himself and his slant and just report. It doesn't take much to understand Ballmer's point or to understand the difference between the multiple Microsoft operating systems and their roots and what Google wants to do.
Back then it was pretty much business and consumer, Hawkman.
Patel,
You are still pretty clueless, and miss the point.
As another poster noted:
"Microsoft isn't pushing two different operating systems for the same device.
Netbooks. Google has both Android and Chrome OS for Netbooks. WTF?"
Nilay: I know you're not a dumb person, so please lay off twisting the facts.
As a potential buyer, you're NOT gonna run through all six versions of Win7 at the time of purchase. This lie has been exposed several times in the comments section by now. Just. Stop.
XP can't be treated and ISN'T a different operating system. It's just an older version. People who aren't ready for a 2009 Yamaha R6 buys an R6S, which is basically the 2004 R6. Same difference. If you know about the existence of the two versions, you've already made your mind up about which one you want.
Both WinMo and Zune are built on top of the CE platform and are two different solutions with little overlap. Win CE is offered to clients who want to build custom solutions to fit their own needs. It can power anything from a cheap PMP to advanced GPS systems because it's a platform and not an end solution.
You are free to prove me wrong with facts, if you got any.
I think ol' Balms was stating that Chrome OS is basically the same product as Android...except less functional.
You mean like windows 7 is just like vista only without all the bugs?
You're both completely off.
I'm not sure if you're trolling or attempting to sound enlightened, so I'll just leave it at that.
Try reading the article on more time.