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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God! Balmy looks like a dead ringer for Uncle Fester!
Perhaps, when Jobs introduces the world to Leopard August 2006, Ballmer will see what a personal computer is.
The guy must of thought I was a Windows user. He smiled smugly and said no.
Here we go again. 1989 was bad enough the first time.
ANY Apple Store employee who smugly treats any customer should be fired on the spot. That just furthers the “elite asshole” Mac user stereotype.
Boot Camp Is a huge selling point. The Apple Stores should have it installed on floor systems, to at least give demos to people who ask.
I wonder what’ll happen when Boot Camp, or whatever its successor is, ships as part of 10.5. The Apple Stores need to face up to this sooner or later, they can’t smugly ignore it forever.
UNCLE FESTER!! We were wondering were you have been!
Hate to break it to you boys and girls and stevie ballmer, but there are a whole lot of moms and pops out there who still steal windows. About 80% of the “normal” people in Australia buy backyard white boxes from small computer shops who don’t provide proper licenses for windows. 50% of these people get a new version of windows eg vista for their old pc “from a friend”.
So, no, buying a mac and putting windows on it isn’t going to be “relatively expensive” – let’s face it you can’t police this activity – and the other 50% of people will just use their current OEM version from their old machine.
Regarding Apple’s missed opportunities to buyers–
There’s a fine line between allowing Windows to run and “advertising it.” If they have it running, it’s broadcasting the idea that they’ll support it. It would be a bait and switch. It’d be like going to a Ford showroom and seeing a souped up Focus with a Porsche engine– “um… no, we don’t seel that.” “Then why do you have it here?” [crickets chirping]
CompUSA and others can advertise. They’re only retailers. If someone wants a Mac, they’ll get the Mac. If they want a Windows computer, they can get any number of cheapo boxes. My bet is that if the guy’s really interested, he will continue to do some research, find a computer to test it out, then take the plunge with a mini.
On a side note, though– the Apple guy should have discussed the process by which Windows can be installed and that macs are known for their ease of use.
MDN word “power” as in Max Power, dammit.
CHEWBACCA DEFENSE!!
I think the Apple Store Rep missed a great opportunity to sell that PC guy on the Mac platform and inform him how to install Windows.
He shouldn’t be fired, but he should be trained to answer ANY PC questions in a positive way.
If he didn’t have the answers, he should have HELPED him find the answers. That is just good salesmanship and service.
“Having said all that, is it really necessary to refer to Balmer as an “asshat”? “
Necessary? No, Applicable? Yes. Besides ballmer brings this upon himself by throwing stones at Apple. If you are going to take pot shots at another company, be able to back it up. The only thing he is backing up is a truck to the Krispy Kreme factory.
He makes sense… like Apple preferring a real CEO.
Doesn´t all the Bootcamp talk just kill any PowerPC chipped Apples that are left? Who would buy one knowing that one can do Windows with the Mactels?
“If you’re blue
and you don’t know
where to go to –
Why don’t you go
where fashion sits…
PUTTIN’ ON THE RITZ!”
Bet there are more Apple owners putting Windows on their new Apples, then PC owners buying a Mac and putting Windows on it.
——
Windows peecee owner quandry:
Windows XP running computer works great, why should I buy a Mac and put Windows on it?
OR
Windows XP running computer sucks, why should I buy a Mac to put Windows on it when Windows sucks?
@Jay Leno Sucks sez: “At my local CompUSA (western MA) the Apple rep told me quite plainly that he’s witnessed, conservatively, a 15% uptick in Mac sales since the Boot Camp announcement. 15%!”
All those sales could be to current Mac owners, not necessarily Windows PeeCee owners. Mac owners thinking great, now I can run the newest games just like my other game playing friends. Lots of new games just coming out for Windows computers.
And the MacPro notebooks just came out….gee, I wonder if that had any impact on sales?????
@Jay Leno Sucks sez: “At my local CompUSA (western MA) the Apple rep told me quite plainly that he’s witnessed, conservatively, a 15% uptick in Mac sales since the Boot Camp announcement. 15%!”
All those sales could be to current Mac owners, not necessarily Windows PeeCee owners. Mac owners thinking great, now I can run the newest games just like my other game playing friends. Lots of new games just coming out for Windows computers.
And the MacPro notebooks just came out….gee, I wonder if that had any impact on sales?????
@Jay Leno Sucks sez: “At my local CompUSA (western MA) the Apple rep told me quite plainly that he’s witnessed, conservatively, a 15% uptick in Mac sales since the Boot Camp announcement. 15%!”
All those sales could be to current Mac owners, not necessarily Windows PeeCee owners. Mac owners thinking great, now I can run the newest games just like my other game playing friends. Lots of new games just coming out for Windows computers.
And the MacPro notebooks just came out….gee, I wonder if that had any impact on sales?????
@Jay Leno Sucks sez: “At my local CompUSA (western MA) the Apple rep told me quite plainly that he’s witnessed, conservatively, a 15% uptick in Mac sales since the Boot Camp announcement. 15%!”
All those sales could be to current Mac owners, not necessarily Windows PeeCee owners. Mac owners thinking great, now I can run the newest games just like my other game playing friends. Lots of new games just coming out for Windows computers.
And the MacPro notebooks just came out….gee, I wonder if that had any impact on sales?????
What an ultimate insult to Microsoft to have an arrogant asshole like SB running the company! He obviously thinks he’s talking to morons. Who else could possibly swallow what he’s saying???
Microsoft Illuminati: Ballmer’s losing it. What shall we do?
Gates: We will send him on a world tour as our official ambassador.
Microsoft Illuminati: So?
Gates: After several months of well-publicized gaffs, goofs, and gags we will declare him incapacitated owing to the stress of the job.
Microsoft Illuminati: And have him committed?
Gates: Yes.
Microsoft Illuminati: And have him drugged to the gills?
Gates: Yes.
Microsoft Illuminati: And have him lobotomized?
Gates: Already been done.
Microsoft Illuminati: Oh, yeah, forgot that one.
I believe the old addage holds true: Some customers just aren’t worth having. If anyone is seriously too stupid to install Windows on a Mac w/o help then we just don’t need them around. When I first started using Linux (many years ago) I just taught myself how to use it. It’s not horribly user friendly but the layout in Gnome & KDE were simple enough. And the online help was always available when I had questions.
When I first started using Macs, yes, there was a learning curve. But again, it was nothing overly complicated and definitely nothing I couldn’t do on my own.
Honestly. After reading some of the reviews in here on the various articles, how can people possibly be so dumb?! And why were they allowed to survive past 1 year old?
Ballmer man is a vulture, vultures don’t have eyebrows.
Jay Leno Sucks— “At my local CompUSA (western MA) the Apple rep told me quite plainly that he’s witnessed, conservatively, a 15% uptick in Mac sales since the Boot Camp announcement. 15%!”
Who ever heard of a sales rep not stretching the truth on things? Do you ever think he would tell you that sales are bad? “Apple sales suck! And you are thinking of buying one? Well you would be the first in a month!”
He´s looking at you as a sale, he knows you will feel better if you think that everyone is as smart as you and think now is the time to buy the product. Sales psychology. And you bought it.
I resent the fact that I’ve been called a “Monkeyboy[url=”http://homepage.mac.com/hogfish/Personal25.html”]®”
I LOVE the new photo of Ballmer!!!
Hey, Jim, bet you get along real good with your mother or grandmother or whoever – how many times a day do you call her an idiot because she has a problem with her computer.
Jim – I know you think you are a genius and just are too humble to admit it, but 96% of the people have problems with their computers whether it is a Mac or PC. Sooner or later a problem comes along and they can´t understand how to solve it.
It took my father a week to figure out how to copy text on a computer. Another week how to grasp the paste part. “Paste, you mean like glue it?”
Putting installing Windows using bootcamp is not a simple task to the average user and would not be attempted.