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.

[MarkAnderson Posted Jul 15th 2009 5:54PM]

@Tsing

So what? I asked who had it first, not who made it work best but thanks for playing!

@Mark

Yes as do Apple and, indeed, everyone else. What's your point?

[reidme Posted Jul 15th 2009 6:46PM]

Glad you agree with me, even if you still don't get it, and who said anything about Apple? I don't have time to educate you on the history of technological innovation. Suffice it to say Microsoft's contribution is incredibly weak, especially given the size of their resources. I'm not saying they have never produced anything of quality, just that they have never produced anything original. You'd better get back to defending MS against all negative commenters, I'm sure its a full-time job.

[y3n0 Posted Jul 14th 2009 11:16PM]

Brought to you by Steve Ballmer, nurturer of FUD marketing for Microsoft.

[pcwolff Posted Jul 14th 2009 11:25PM]

Wait so because Google has Android out and Chrome OS in the works...that counts as two operating systems? Well then I believe Microsoft has both Windows Vista and 7 right? I mean I have two computers one running Windows 7 RC and one running Vista...man Microsoft sounds like you guys need to gain a little more "focus"

[(Unverified) Posted Jul 15th 2009 6:59PM]

Ballmer's comments are quite funny. It's ironic, but if you took his comments about MS and Bing and made them from Google, they would exactly describe what they need to do for Chrome OS to be successful.

Both of these companies are quite similar and are competing in the same areas more and more as time goes on.

I wrote a small blurb about it here:

http://www.chrome-os-blog.com/ballmer-talks-chrome-os-bing-163/

[(Unverified) Posted Jul 14th 2009 11:32PM]

I wish they would do a very stripped down OS in which you could just download the stuff you need for your hardware.

[(Unverified) Posted Jul 14th 2009 11:38PM]

Like Microsoft or not, both Google and Apple have really started to push Microsoft around in a way that they aren't used to. Personally I hate Windows, but even if you're a die hard Windows fan, you should be glad that there are companies like Google and Apple around. Microsoft has been too used to being the only choice in a lot of these markets so they stopped pushing innovation in new products, and basically just try to put in safe guards to keep their massive market share. Now that there are a few good alternatives, I hope that Windows starts making some actual innovations, and start making some better products. You've already seen what Apple has done to the phone market. Even if you hate the iPhone, after the iPhone came out, all the other companies scrambled to keep up. I hope that Chrome OS does the same thing to the Windows market. Competition is good. Google doc's has already made Microsoft offer a free online version of office (coming next year). Lets see where this takes us!

(P.S. Engadget makes a really good point about how hypocritical it is for him to talk about how Google should just have 1 version of OS. lmao)

[say592 Posted Jul 14th 2009 11:52PM]

@Tonicboy
They are ninja security guards, and you just didnt see them.


Sadly, I cant say I have ever encountered either of them.

[blogwhitesitescom Posted Jul 15th 2009 12:10AM]

I have some issues with the way Microsoft is doing business.

First off all Apple is doing it right. They have the following
Mac OS
Phone OS
Server OS
This neatly targets each market like it should, and is successful as a result

Microsoft is taking the GM route in their marking, taking the same product and changing body panels, then declaring they have made a new product. As a result they have

Server 2008 Web
Server 2008 Standard
Server 2008 Enterprise, Datacenter, ect
Windows 7 Home
Windows 7 Professional
Windows 7 Ultimate
Winows Mobile 6.1/6.5 ( actually a different product )

Would it kill them to just have Windows 7 and Server 2008?

[MarkAnderson Posted Jul 15th 2009 2:27AM]

I wish people who don't understand market differentiation would just shu the fuck up. Seriously.

And Apple 8%? More like 4.5%, mirite?

[tuaamin13 Posted Jul 15th 2009 8:28AM]

No one is ever declaring the various versions of the OS to be new products.

What it's closer to is looking at (a car) and then deciding if you want the chrome rim package, the upgraded sound system, or both. If you don't want the upgraded sound system, you don't have to buy it.

What a concept!

[(Unverified) Posted Jul 15th 2009 10:25AM]

ProSports, you seem to have the business sense of a piece of cold salmon. But, since MS has about 90% of the market, while Apple has less than 10%, it looks like MS knows what it's doing better then you do.

[Viros Posted Jul 15th 2009 12:10AM]

@Tonicboy

I too can attest to this, as I was at the Lincoln Square movie theaters one night in Bellevue and Gates was just standing out front of the restrooms, likely waiting for Melinda and/or his kids to come out. No security guards at all. Actually the lack of security is why I was SURE it wasn't him until I looked again and got a better look. Of course, Joshua Walters's ninja security guard idea would explain things....

[wewtaco Posted Jul 15th 2009 12:42AM]

Developers, developers, developers, developers, developers, developers, developers, developers, developers, developers.

[(Unverified) Posted Jul 15th 2009 12:51AM]

Ballmer; Open mouth insert foot.

If Steve B. had just a bit more knowledge, he would understand that Android is for phone/mobile devices, whereas Chrome is intended for desktop/laptop/netbook devices. This is what Google has stated. However, both being open-source, anyone is free to make either work on any device they want.

I think Apple's approach is the most versatile and probably the most efficient in terms of internal development times. With each new advancement in either, the other can benefit from it.

[(Unverified) Posted Jul 15th 2009 1:29AM]

"I will KILL GOOGLE"

[(Unverified) Posted Jul 15th 2009 1:51AM]

For some reason Ballmer always makes me think of Dick Cheney... Am I alone in this?

[Zodiac Posted Jul 15th 2009 3:36AM]

You're right. They are hunting buddies! :)

[(Unverified) Posted Jul 15th 2009 2:23AM]

A Jax old man.

[besi Posted Jul 15th 2009 2:26AM]

ballmer getting balder

[(Unverified) Posted Jul 15th 2009 3:06AM]

Lets not forget about the 10 different versions of Windows Server 2008.

[(Unverified) Posted Jul 15th 2009 4:38AM]

Ballmer's tailor can't make up his mind...

[CJ Posted Jul 15th 2009 7:51AM]

Hey Nilay:

Is it a sub-consious desire, or do you spend hours finding the worst stills of steve ballmer that you can?

Oh, that's right, you're the only writer left that hasn't gotten over their bias.

[Tsing Tao Posted Jul 15th 2009 10:44AM]

A quick google search

http://images.google.com/images?client=safari&rls=en-us&q=steve%20ballmer&oe=UTF-8&um=1&ie=UTF-8&sa=N&hl=en&tab=wi

There are very few pictures of ballmer that arent hilarious. Maybe you need to get over your brainwashed MS bias? HMMMM?

[CJ Posted Jul 15th 2009 10:51AM]

You do realise that Google works by the most viewed pages and images, right?

So the most viewed images are first, and since everybody likes making fun of Microsoft...

Oh, and as for my "Brainwashed MS bias", take a look, six months ago, almost all of the Engadget writers had some pretty impressive anti-Microsoft bias, and people started calling them out on it, so they mellowed out. Except Nilay, he threw down his 'Lawyer Card' and started handing out bans to anyone who disagrees with him.

Actually, I won't be suprised if I get banned for this little call-out.

[Professor Kaos Posted Jul 15th 2009 8:02AM]

Steve balmer must burn his eyebrows off or pluck them like a girl, we never see him with any lawlz

[(Unverified) Posted Jul 15th 2009 8:45AM]

WHERE ARE HIS EYE-BROWS?!?!

[Rem DX Posted Jul 15th 2009 9:30AM]

Why hasn't synn been high ranked to heaven yet?
Patel, you really just wanted to show off how biased you are against Windows didn't you?
Why do you keep choosing to write Windows articles then?

When you want a desktop/laptop/netbook OS - Used to be XP, then it was Vista and now it will be Windows 7. They are upgrades.
When you buy a smartphone - Windows 6.1, then Windows 6.5 soon to be Windows 7 next year. Once again upgrades.
When you buy a GPS device - No one actually changes OSes in their GPS device and it has whatever the hell the manufacturer puts in it.

Since when were upgrades multiple OS versions?

[Kid Red Posted Jul 15th 2009 9:35AM]

Monkey Boy somehow escaped from his cage and found himself in front of a microphone again?!

[(Unverified) Posted Jul 15th 2009 12:29PM]

wow who could've guessed it - something about Steve Ballmer and engadget ACTUALLY posts some silly pic of him - original- who'd have thunk it. i'm all for M$ bashing, but the same annoying joke over and over again = fail.

[Aaron CT Posted Jul 15th 2009 6:43PM]

Microsoft needs to stop extending the timeframe for Windows XP and just shut it down. Regardless of Vista's level of success, it's been long enough.

[macdoc Posted Jul 17th 2009 6:30AM]

Monkey Boy is clueless...

[(Unverified) Posted Jul 24th 2009 9:15PM]

Sometimes I wish Steve Ballmer would just shut up. Actually that is most of the time. I am pro Microsoft, but I just can't handle any of the crap that comes out of his mouth. He is so stupid. There is no reason to bash other companies. Let's not turn into Apple here.