Steve Ballmer was interviewed by German newspaper “Die WELT” in an article published yesterday and some questions touched on Apple Computer, Inc. Martin Stein has provided an English translation on his weblog, “Martin Stein’s Publishing Weblog.”
Stein prefaces the Q&A section with, “After asking Steve if he has a ‘Apple Computer,’ he says that he does not have a Mac nor a iPod. ‘Of course, I have to know the devices. We have to know what the competitors do,’ [Ballmer said].”
Die WELT: But couldn’t you just buy a Mac without hesitation since Apple opened up their machines for Windows?
Ballmer: No, we prefer real PCs.
Die WELT: Was it a satisfaction that Apple had to give in?
Ballmer: Honestly, I don’t think that it is that important. Actually, it is relatively expensive if a user gets a separate Windows OS for his Mac. Not a lot of people will do this.
Die WELT: Apple is leading in the Music business as well. Does this bother you?
Ballmer: No question, it would have been better if the iPod would have been a Microsoft invention. The device is really popular. Apple didn’t invent anything new. They just combined existing technologies in a smart way. They succeeded to create a nice package which bundles Music services, devices and software.
Die WELT: Is Apple’s success reason enough to copy them?
Ballmer: This wasn’t the last word in this competition. Over the next years, a lot of things will happen in the market of portable devices. Who wants to carry different devices to listen to Music, to play games, to take pictures or to communicate with others? A small, integrated device will master many functions. We won’t be simply watching this development.
Die WELT: Is Apple unbeatable?
Ballmer: Which company would be able to compete with Apple at these days? It can only be Microsoft or Apple stays without any serious competitor. I think, everybody deserves some competition.
Stein’s full article here.
[Thanks to MacDailyNews Reader “LinuxGuy” for the heads up.]
Die WELT’s full article in German here.
MacDailyNews Take: Yes, Die WELT, Apple “gave in.” Whatever. Embrace, then extinguish. In a head-to-head Mac OS X vs. Windows XP comparison — exactly what users will get with new Macs with “Boot Camp” and soon, Mac OS X Leopard, running Windows and/or Windows applications — even with people steeped in Windows’ upside-down and backwards “experience” for years, we’re quite confident that we know which platform most people will choose to use most often.
So, Ballmer prefers “real PCs?” What is that supposed to mean? Ballmer should just state, “I am pompous know-nothing asshat.” It achieves the same purpose with a bit more clarity.
Oh, now Microsoft’s going to compete with iPod+iTunes? Haven’t they been trying to do so for the nearly half a decade since Apple debuted the iPod? With what exactly will Microsoft compete? Vapor? Some also-ran third-party online music outfit; aren’t hundreds of Microsoft WMA-based failures enough? That piece of crap Origami that even the OEM’s CEOs can’t figure out how to operate? Microsoft can’t even copy correctly; they never could. Microsoft can’t even get the warmed over, slipping-for-years, stripped-down mess Windows XP SP3 that they’re going to try to sell as “Windows Vista” out the door, towel-less Microsoft employees are on the verge of mutiny, Microsoft shares tumbled 11.4% on Friday, their biggest one-day drop in 5 years, and Ballmer thinks he can compete with a lean, mean Apple that been firing on all cylinders for years now? Ballmer, along with the vast majority of the world and most of Wall Street, are in for quite a shock. The jig is almost up, Monkey Boy. Enjoy your golden parachute ride.
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Ballmer: “Actually, it is relatively expensive if a user gets a separate Windows OS for his Mac. Not a lot of people will do this.”
He is correct about this. The only people that will do it will be a small fraction of Apple owners that need to have that Windows program.
For just a little more money than a version of the Windows OS one could buy or build their own Windows PC.
Windows owners aren´t going to buy a Mac to run Windows – why would they want to spend the $200 for Windows OS to put on a Mac when they already have a Windows computer that runs Windows?
the missing question:
Die WELT: so who did steal your eye-brows anyway?
Ballmer: DEVELOPERS DEVELOPERS DEVELOPERS
Queezzie,
Because, when the time comes to buy a new computer, why buy a Windows-only PC, when you can get one that does both Windows and Mac OS X for just a bit more? A lot of people are intrigued with the Apple Mac possibility: now they finally have a clear path and justification to do it.
I know an Apple reseller. Since the Boot Camp announcement, sales have “skyrocketed” and are “multiple times better than ever,” according to my friend.
Watch what happens.
queezzie,
also if you made a pc youd still have to buy windows :s, plus who buys windows anyway?? none of the pc users i know!
Steve “Since the Boot Camp announcement, sales have “skyrocketed” and are “multiple times better than ever,” according to my friend.”
First, I have talked to a few stores and they don´t see any huge jump in computer sales since bootcamp was announced. Is there a huge jump in copies of Windows XP, too, to going in those Apple computers?
And who says they are converters are Windows PC owners? They could be Apple users that have been sitting on the fence as to whether to buy a Windows computer, but now they don´t need to buy a Windows PC. (Which I think is the real reason for the release – a defensive move by Apple to halt PC sales by Apple owners.)
And how many people are really buying a computer because of a Beta program – bootcamp? Not me, I am waiting for Longhorn and the real un-beta thing.
He prefers a “Real PC”?
I’d rather have a “Virtual PC”
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just use an old install disc of XP, ….sure it isn’t legal, but windows is reality should only cost 99 cents/ download, as it is a huge piece of crap. The only group of people who need to actually spend money on a new copy of windows are businesses.
Queezzie: simple .. buy the Mac, use existing Windows CD, done
I’d rather use a typewriter than windows
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Andy, are you saying Apple people would use a pirated copy of Windows in their Apple? I know you can´t use an OEM version of XP in Apple.
Queezzie: not all results will be the same .. depends where the reseller is located
WIne does not require a M$ license and will allow Mac users the ability to run programs not currently on the Mac. It is also not vulnerable to the many Windows security problems. Best of all, it’s free.
Don’t be stupid, support Mac developers. Better yet, if you can code, volunteer on a open source project. Ballmer is a putz.
At the very least people will learn how overpriced Windows is.
(U.S. Office Depot prices)
$199.00 for the “home” full version
$299.00 for the “professional” full version
$299.00 for total crap. And then they want to charge you EXTRA to keep you computer virus “free”
I feel ripped off just thinking about it.
No wonder it get priated.
“We won’t be simply watching this development”
Well, yeah, you will. Until there is one that does well enough for you to blatently steal from them by either buying out the company/product or creating your own POS “solution”.
MW: Microsoft has done this a hundred thousand times
For the most part You can´t use the XP that came with one´s PC computer – I tried it. Most Windows computers come with an OEM version. (Depends on which manufacturer one buys their PC from.)
Maybe some do offer a full-blown version with the computer. Mine didn´t.
Like Apple website says:
“A bona fide installation disc for Microsoft Windows XP, Service Pack 2, Home or Professional (No multi-disc, upgrade or Media Center versions.)”
Truth is, Queezie, that as long as steve Ballmer is running things at Microsoft, that company will continue on a gentle but inexorable slide.
PLEASE, take a look at the earnings and stock price of MSFT over the last five years if you dare.
Everyone–from investors to users to MSFT’s own employees–has lost faith in that man, and yesterday’s dumping of the stock is ample and further proof thereof.
Yeah, just keep waiting for Vista, but keep in mind that even when (if?) the consumer version ships, it will STILL be a beta offering. Very few informed, experienced Windows users will touch that thing until the first Service Pack is released.
And by that time “Leopard” will be so far ahead of whatever features “Longhorn” touts that stockholders will DEMAND the MonkeyBoy’s ouster.
Just wait and see.
I wonder if Ballmer can turn on a light-bulb if he puts one in his mouth
Simply: “Queezzie: not all results will be the same .. depends where the reseller is located”
That´s exactly the point I was making.
Other than those that wanted to do it just to see if they could do it, I don´t know of anyone that has actually bought a new Mac just to put Windows on it.
If I wanted a Windows computer I think it would be better just to buy a separate computer and not worry about any problems that a Windows OS on my Apple might cause.
I am surprised that there are no reports or stories of viruses on Windows-running Apples.
Did he play Fester in the Adams Family movies?
Hey Ballmer you twonk!
An Intel Mac isn’t a real PC? Running XP on this puppy sure looks and feels like a real PC (although with 10 times the build quality).
MS are in trouble and he knows it. If Leopard does manage to implement the Windoze API, the tumbleweed will be blowing about the Redmond campus like so much confetti. Even if not, we’re still got Boot Camp and Parallels.
New verb: to Ballmer – the ability to talk utter bullshit while keeping a straight face.
MW: perform – as in Macs perform better!
Love it. They can’t advocate buying Macs even when they run windows because Apple will grow and people will see what they’ve been missing all along. Too funny.
Just a clueless moron…
queezie–a defensive move by Apple to halt PC sales by Apple owners.)
Do you mean–peecee BUYS by Apple owners? Words mean things. Ask Rush, now that he’s been cleared.
But who would really want too…
Ballmer:They succeeded to create a nice package which bundles Music services, devices and software.
MacDailyNews Take: A “nice” package? A NICE package??!? You wouldn’t know nice if your pompous, slaphead over-donughted fat ass fell in a VAT of nice, you incomprehensible fscktard! You goddam stinking nazi bastard!! You foaming at the mouth, chair throwing PIG!!! You stinking lame-brained zoophiliac pedophile LIZARD!!!! YOU SCUM!!!!!!