Walt Mossberg and Kara Swisher spoke with Microsoft’s Disinterested Figurehead Chairman Bill Gates and CEO Steve Ballmer at this year’s D conference last evening:
AllThingsD’s John Paczkowski provides notes. Here are a few excerpts:
Mossberg: What about Vista and the lousy reception it’s been given. Is Vista a failure?
Ballmer: Vista is not a failure. Is it something we’d like to improve? Of course. Is it something that with 20/20 hindsight we’d do differently? Sure, he confesses. But Vista has sold a lot of copies, he adds.
MacDailyNews Take: To clueless Best Buy shoppers guided by ignorant USA Today articles. They did not choose Vista, they don’t know any better. Most Windows users don’t even know what an OS is, much less choose one. Most Mac users, on the other hand, have tried to use Windows (at work and/or school) and have chosen Macintosh for a reason.
Walt jumps in and asks about the percentage of Vista sales that result in downgrades to XP. Ballmer dodges. Gates looking a little depressed.
Walt asks if Vista has damaged with Windows brand.
Gates says Microsoft’s philosophy is to “do things better.” And Vista has given us lots of opportunity to do that, he notes. (Audience laughter.) There are plenty of lessons out of Vista–compatibility and other issues vendors are concerned about.
Ballmer says that according to consumer research, the No. 1 complaint about Vista was the change to the Windows user interface.
MacDailyNews Take: And so, in their finite wisdom, they’re about to change the upside-down and backwards Mac WIndows user interface again with Windows 7. Read on:
Paczkowski notes, “We’re about to get a Windows 7 demo (Oh, one more thing …. Here’s hoping Microsoft shares only those aspects of the new OS that it doesn’t end up de-featuring at a later date.) Ballmer says what we’re about to see is ‘just a snippet’ of Windows 7.”
Paczkowski writes, “Windows 7, like other Microsoft OS’s before it, seems to have borrowed a thing or two from Mac OS X. This time it’s Apple’s Dock, which Microsoft appears to have borrowed. Multi-touch and a Dock. In Windows. Steve Jobs must be so proud.”
MacDailyNews Take: Some things never change. Unless Apple does. Then everything changes. Microsoft’s OS, the music business, the smartphone and wireless industries…
Microsoft’s Julie Larson-Green conducts the WIndows 7 demo. Paczkowski notes, “Larson-Green pulls up a brand new app, “Touchable Paint.” She uses all 10 fingers to draw a tree. Then, she brings up a photo gallery. Noting that multi-touch makes it faster and easier to manipulate photos, she demonstrates … well, she demonstrates a lot of features that anyone who’s ever used an iPhone will already be familiar with: two-finger zoom, flicking through a slideshow, single finger panning through thumbnails… Walt asks if multi-touch is built throughout the OS. Larson-Green says it is.”
Walt asks Ballmer if he’s worried about the next iteration of Mac OS X, which will likely be released before Windows 7. Is there a risk that the work you’re doing now with multi-touch will look dated when Apple (AAPL) releases its next OS?
Ballmer says he’s confident Microsoft will have fantastic Windows 7 PCs, regardless of what Apple’s got on the market.
Walt presses him, noting Apple’s recent growth in the PC market.
Ballmer notes the difference in scale between the two companies: “We sell 270 millions PCs a year, and Apple sells 10 million. They’re fantastically successful, and so are we.”
MacDailyNews Take: Microsoft sells zero (0) PCs a year. Apple sells 10 million more personal computers per year than Microsoft. Apple created the personal computer as we know it today. Microsoft copied/stole it. If you want to count faulty, Red Ring of Death, sound-like-a-hurricane-in-your-living-room Xboxes as “Microsoft PCs,” you’re desperately grasping at straws. Please stop reading now and head on over to Dell.com to begin configuring your next POS.
Walt hits on Windows quality issue, noting that he’s seen old Macs running significantly faster than new Vista machines.
Ballmer admits there’s room for improvement: Steve Jobs has a great business, he says. His model works well. But so does ours. 10 million people like his model. 290 million like ours.
MacDailyNews Take: 290? We thought it was 270? In less than 5 minutes, Balmy sold 20 million more nonexistent PCs in his mind. Anyway, most of those 290 million never made a choice because they have no idea there even is a choice. They were stuck with Windows at work or school and therefore consigned themselves to Windows PC purgatory because “that’s what they use at work/school.” Fortunately thousands of people awaken with each passing day. Of the now 300 million total, about 10 million people per year have used both; they choose Macs for a reason. And, by the way, the installed base for Mac OS X is approximately 25 million users, not the 10 million Ballmer is trying to insinuate (notice that he dropped the “per year?” We did.) 25 million users LOVE Steve Jobs’ model, the rest don’t know any better.
Kara asks Gates how it feels to have Microsoft defined by Apple via its “I’m a Mac, I’m a PC” campaign.
Gates clearly isn’t happy with that question. Dodges. Ballmer jumps in. Hits that 290 million metric again. “Every share point Apple picks up is a share point we don’t like. But we like selling 290 million units.”
MacDailyNews Take: Ballmer’s delusional. Microsoft sells zero (0) PCs a year. Most Mac users have made conscious technology choice and are therefore better informed than the vast majority of Windows sufferers.
Much more in the full article, including a video of the Windows 7 demo and photos of Kermit and Monkey Boy on stage with Mossberg and Swisher here.
MacDailyNews Take: To find out which of the cool iPhone features has been patented by Apple and are now protected from replication and which ones you can expect to be copied soon by the likes of Nokia, Samsung or Motorola, we’ve combed through the U.S. Patent and Trademark database and checked all relevant Apple’s patents.
And we came to a conclusion that this time Steve Jobs did his homework and most of the key features that make iPhone an iPhone will not be easily copied by competitors. This applies to Multi touch display, the idea to use full screen of the device for User Interface, scrolling, zooming and other finger gestures, soft on screen controls, multifunctionality, proximity, ambient light sensors and many other functions.
When Steve Jobs exclaimed [in front of a slide displaying “200+ patents” during Macworld Expo 2007’s iPhone-dominated] keynote, “And boy have we patented it!” it was not an empty boast. The have indeed PATENTED it. And though not all of the claims have received patent protection yet and even less of them may withstand scrutiny in court if Apple decides to enforce them, many of the claims should should stick. – Unwired View, May 2007
Anybody else notice the intro music used to Bill & Steve onstage?
A little Warren Zevon number called…
“Lawyers Guns & Money.”
Hmm. There’s a statement there somewhere…
“Al Qaida was in Afghanistan, not Iraq. “
So Al Qaida was the only rogue organization or state that concerned you in the middle east? How Naive. How easily the liberal press slips one by you.
The mistake you make is assuming that if the US didn’t go to war that things would be any better. Bill Clinton proved that weakness and appeasement was not the answer, rather the cause of 9/11. A strong response to the first World Trade Center attack would probably have saved all those lives on 9/11.
As for the CIA killing off the Kennedys, I’m sure they also caused Ted Kennedy’s brain tumor, Well we’ve finally found an explanation for his behavior the last few decades.
It’s probably best you keep your tinfoil hat on or they’ll do the same to you.
On Florida elections, Bush won Florida, The hanging chad desperation from Democrats was about as embarrassing as Hillary’s current refusal to concede the Democratic primary race. What is it about Democrats that means they just can’t understand when they’ve lost fair and square? And I know you’ll come back with some “nationwide popular vote” statement. When did the popular vote ever determine who is president in the US? Change the process or get over it.
Twilightmoon: …and I’m tired of people trying to link Apple and Microsoft to politics.
I’m not so much trying to make a connection to politics as much as a connection to how besieged leaders of any organization routinely use false and misleading information to distract the public from the truth when they are trying to hide something. In these instances, it happens to be Microsoft and the Bush administration engaging in similar practices. And both organizations are run by people who are less than honest.
I’m just pointing out the obvious…
Multitouch? You mean I can finally punch windows in the fa.. er screen?
“Vista, is perfectly fast enough for 97% of PC users.”
Where did you get that number? Do you have a link?
“And both organizations are run by people who are less than honest”
Steve is a backdating option crook. That’s understood. Unfortunately for the SEC they don’t have the smoking gun.
Microsoft may be sharp in their business practices, but at least you’re only going to be in the receiving end of them if you’re a competitor. For Steve, Apple was treated by him as his own personal piggy bank.
Here are some alleged screenshots of Windows 7:
http://www.crunchgear.com/2008/05/27/windows-7-screen-grabs-look-better-than-they-sound/
If true, they should ship it with a juice box and a teddy bear.
Ok,
This is my first post so I’ll take it easy on you MAC-users.
First: To the Mac Daily News Editor. If your going edit a story and try to make Microsoft look like it’s doing terrible on sales, get your facts straight.
By saying,”MacDailyNews Take: Ballmer’s delusional. Microsoft sells zero (0) PCs a year. Most Mac users have made conscious technology choice and are therefore better informed than the vast majority of Windows sufferers.” you are implying that the comparison of Microsoft’s 290 million units sold to MAC’s 10 million units sold is COMPUTER sales. You should KNOW that Microsoft doesn’t sell PC’s. They’re an OS company! MAC’s OS compared to Microsoft’s OS… there is no comparison. Microsoft slammed MAC in an amazing twenty-nine (29 for you MAC users) to one (1 for the MAC users once again) ratio for units sold! You guys have no room to try and bash Microsoft on their success of selling more UNITS than MAC.
Two: By trying to correct Ballmer’s quote of 290 million units sold compared to 10 million units sold was laughable. If your defense is to try and say that he “sold an imaginary 20 million units in less than five (5 for those great MAC users) minutes”, no wonder why Microsoft owns thirty (30 for… you guys get it right?) percent of your company! That imaginary 20 million units is DOUBLE what you ACTUALLY sold! Did I sense jealousy in that line Mr. Mac Daily News Editor?
Three: For all you MAC-users: By trying to down another company because your company can’t market, hype the consumers, OR sell their product shows all of us Microsoft “followers” that you truly are pathetic. Be excited about your multimedia and accept defeat. Steve Jobs stole the mouse and DOS from Xerox (did you think we forgot how you got into this business? Using the excuse of,”It wasn’t patented. It’s free game!” isn’t going to work. In fact, it works perfect! That’s what Bill Gates did to MAC! Wouldn’t you know? You guys are mad that someone did what YOU guys did first, only he was BETTER at it…
So to all you MAC-users out there… I’m your worst enemy. I’ll find every little mistake because you pride yourselves on Microsoft’s mistakes, which is funny because you guys even screw up on what they screwed up! Have a great day!
@@Predrag
I stand uncorrected by your weak dodges. You obviously are partially informed.
@Jackal
MDN is like a tabloid. No need to get all excited about it.
“Steve Jobs stole the mouse and DOS from Xerox”, followed masterfully by . . .”I’ll find every little mistake”.
That was beautiful! Bravo!
I think ZT’s got some real competition here, folks. It’s time to make some popcorn.
Oh yeah . . . suck on THAT, MAC dorks!
Jackal,
You are the man, I look forward to you correcting all the errors we MAC users make.
You can start by explaining the numerical error that must be the 10 million computers sold.
Please tell us how is it possible for Apple to sell 10 million computers this year when two-three years ago they were struggling to sell even 3 million of them?
@ Ampar
Those screenies are mockups from a few years back. Deviant I believe. Quite unlikley the screenies will follow this line.
@ ragarcia
Well I think I can tackle that question. No mistake there, Apple is selling that many computers. Not hard to figure that one out, the numbers are there.
I find the comments sections more and more irrelevant.
The left wing screeching, slamming America, hatred of Bush, etc.
What does any of that have to do with the dam article?
Are you so twisted and consumed by your delusions that you can not see anything else in the world?
I strongly suggest you go outside-enjoy the feeling of the sun on your face, the breeze, watch a bird fly, smell a flower. Enjoy the world around you and realize you do not amount to a speck of fly shit as far as the universe is concerned.
So get the fuck over yourselves.
@ragarcia
You asked me to explain what the numberical error of the 10 million PC’s sold was. Crash decided he would get cocky and answer. Thanks Crash, but I can answer for myself, and also Crash… make sure your answer is CORRECT next time.
Now, MAC DID indeed sell 10 million UNITS, not PC’s. Units would be the OS. Ballmer had HIS facts wrong… kinda. Microsoft hadn’t sold 290 million PC’s, they sold 290 million copies of their OS to be shipped with or installed to prefabricated computers. Either Ballmer doesn’t know what his company does, or it was a mis-quote.
I’m going to guess here, and correct me if I’m wrong, that all these articles are re-written by that really ill-informed editor you guys got. Mr. Mac Daily News Editor probably typed the article wrong. In which ever case it may be, I hope that clears up Microsoft’s mistake (I defend Microsoft, but admit when they are wrong).
Now, the reason I said MAC sold 10 million UNITS and not PC’s is because those are two different numbers. Remember: units are OS’s and PC’s are actual prefabricated computers. Apple had actually sold about 25 million PC’s.
In the “article” it states Ballmer said MAC sold 10 million PC’s vs. Microsoft’s 290 million PC’s. This leads me to believe that your WONDERFUL editor actually doctored the article so that he could bash Microsoft. I’m not saying that spokepersons don’t make mistakes; they do most of the time. THIS mistake is NOT something a spokesperson who has been with the company for years and KNOWS Microsoft doesn’t sell prefabricated computers.
Later, the article refers to them as “UNITS”. Why would an article switch itself up like that? At another point it states they are “MODELS”. I think MOST of this stuff about Microsoft screwing up in their articles are your editors having some fun. I would speak with them and let them know they’re going to have a not-so-happy Microsoft “follower” e-mailing them everyday about changing articles.
As for the question about MAC being able to up their sales in two-three years, I’ll answer that tomorrow.
Your worst enemy if a MAC user,
Jackal
“Please tell us how is it possible for Apple to sell 10 million computers this year when two-three years ago they were struggling to sell even 3 million of them?”
They run Windows natively now.
“Please tell us how is it possible for Apple to sell 10 million computers this year when two-three years ago they were struggling to sell even 3 million of them?”
If you change the processor, everybody needs to buy a new one.
Windows 7 … hmmmm!
Next year?
M$ took over 5 years to develop the Vista fiasco.
Windows 7 … next year?
Repackaged XP.
@ Jackal
My error. Apology to you.
to How?
You are wrong on that one, buddy.
I am using a G4 eMac 1.25 GHz machine running OS 10.5.3 to write this message at the moment.
If you want to “MacSpeak”, learn about the hardware and software and use it so you seem to have any credence to your statements.
“As for the question about MAC being able to up their sales in two-three years . . .”
Who is this MAC person he keeps talking about? MACarthur, MACbeth?
“. . . I’ll answer that tomorrow.”
Bated breath, everyone?
This guy could easily send this to 4 pages – and that’s what is really important.
“You are wrong on that one, buddy.”
Well share statistics show Intel Mac usage is now almost double non Intel Mac usage (from MDN’s favorite http://marketshare.hitslink.com/report.aspx?qprid=10). That points to a pretty hefty and fast replacement cycle whether you want to believe it or not.
And that’s installed base, not month to month sales. Almost 2/3rds of Mac users now use a shiny new Intel Mac.
And note how Apple’s installed base percentage has remained essentially flat since December 2007.
That points to all those new Macs going into replacing old Macs, not to new customers.
(Funny how we don’t hear that news from MDN any more, they published the numbers each month when they were going up).
To How?
You missed the point.
You don’t need the “shiny” new machines to run the latest Mac OS.
Read other stats from other sites, even from PC mag; they contradict you.
MDN is far Mac-wing, I agree. That makes it fun!
Please enlighten me [I have searched far and wide with Google]; I still have to find a site that praises Windows as this one does for Mac. Can you direct me?
And, as an afterthought, I have no need to run Windows. The few times that I have needed to in the past few years has been an unintuitive pain in the …
“You don’t need the “shiny” new machines to run the latest Mac OS.”
Maybe so now, but give it one more cycle of software releases and you can bet that companies will put the time into making sure stuff runs right on Intel machines not the legacy Macs.
But the point is that the numbers don’t lie, and they are 3rd party numbers, not MDN numbers. Need them or not, people are buying Intel Macs to replace their PPC Macs without the overall Mac share of installed base going up.
Which answers the original question, How has Apple sold so many machines of late.