Engadget Podcast 168 - 10.25.2009: The Engadget Show 002 with Steve Ballmer
By Trent Wolbe 
posted October 25th 2009 8:58PM
posted October 25th 2009 8:58PM
Hosts: Joshua Topolsky, Paul Miller, Nilay Patel
Special guest: Steve Ballmer
Produced by: Chad Mumm
Directed by: Michael Slavens
Music by: Bit Shifter
Hear the podcast
00:01:22 - Steve Ballmer hasn't seen the Courier video, promises Zune integration in next WinMo release
00:38:40 - Bit Shifter
00:41:37 - Windows 7 Launches
00:46:45 - Apple's Magic Mouse: one button, multitouch gestures, Bluetooth, four-month battery life
00:47:50 - Unibody MacBook (late 2009) review
00:52:50 - iMac line updated with 16:9 displays, quad-core Core i5 / i7 model
00:52:48 - Barnes & Noble Nook dual-screen reader officially announced... for real
00:59:00 - Spring Design Alex: dual-screen Android-based e-reader (Update: not for Barnes & Noble)
01:00:05 - Motorola Droid
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Contact the podcast
1-888-ENGADGET or podcast (at) engadget (dot) com.
Twitter: @joshuatopolsky @futurepaul @reckless @engadget
This is great and all, but I want a real podcast too.
And Josh, take the commentators advice about the show. (i,e Don't oiss off CEOs)
sheesh, give them a break already.
I would, but I just hated how he kept mentioning Apple.
Apple is a serious threat to Microsoft.
Of course they'd bring it up.
Yeah, but Josh brings Apple up very fanboi style and it sounded/looked very awkward --> Steve was all the time correcting Joshs mistakes.
It's clear that Josh is knee-deep in the applesauce. He is critical, often lacking factual argument, of Microsoft and anyone who poses competition to Apple. His questions of Ballmer were laced with snippy, disrespectful quips while his criticisms of the new Mac were appologetic and delivered with kid gloves.
Nilay and Paul seemed to be fairly objective in their criticisms of all the subjects discussed, but Josh showed why he should never say anything on Engadget about products that don't have an apple emblazoned on them.
I always know when you've posted a new podcast because it stalls out my RSS reader - I just get an spinning ball of death. I'm not sure why you insist on attaching the MP3 file to the feed, but it basically knocks my RSS reader out of action - I literally have to remove the engadget RSS feed and add it back a few days later.
The devil's advocate himself.
I'm sure you'll get Sata-err I mean Gates on here as well, won't you.
it was a good interview. good questions were asked that i think a lot of us found relevant to what a lot of people wanted to know. funny how ballmer talked about users who switch from xp to 7...haha that was comical
Nilay is a Kindle fanboy. I, personally, prefer the Nook.
Quite the opposite, actually -- while I have a Kindle 2 and think it's great at what it does, I just don't find it to be all that interesting or relevant. Ebook readers in general seem like a solution in search of a problem to me.
Sorry, not interested.
HOWEVER, are YOU interested in a FREE* trip for four to the BAHAMAS?!
Yes
Gosh, those pants were tight. *shudders*
You could just hear how tight they were by listening to the podcast?
I liked the show in general, but you really need to work on letting the person you are interviewing talk. Try re-wording your questions a bit shorter and make it one, clear, and important point. Also, it would be nice if you asked about stuff that Ballmer could actually talk about rather then obscure leaks that he must be tight lipped on.
Oh, and maybe dress a bit more professionally instead of emo pants
Love what you guys are doing and the podcast show, great quality.
But was I the only one a little annoyed when the three of you were talking over each other?
I know you all have good stuff to get out in a short amount of time, but c'mon guys!
Keep up the good work though
whats that supposed to mean that he hasnt seen the courier video???? i so want that device!!!!
i couldn't get through the interview with ballmer. that dude has a horrific voice.
Glad that you guys are doing a show now, but couple things:
1. Let people talk. The most annoying aspect of the show is that all of you talk on top of each other. Its like watching a tech version of The View. It puts a frown on my face.
2. Lighting is creepy. There are too many shadows that fall on people's faces. Yeah, there are cool glowing pieces of furniture, but you shouldn't sacrifice proper lighting to show that the tables glow.
3. Never ever ever wear those pants again.
Good luck with the show!
Here's some thoughts on the show.
Keep the questions short and sweet. You had long drawn out questions that could have been a sentence instead they were 5 to 6.
In the show Josh talked more than there interviewee. (At least that's what it felt like).
You repeated the questions a couple of times (What's your favorite feature of windows 7) he had to answer it twice.
Overall it seemed very amateurish, and agressive towards the interview.
For lack of a better venue to ask: Where's this week's podcast?