“Microsoft CEO Steven Ballmer trumpeted the company’s new Surface tablet on Thursday, classifying the device as a twofer that — unlike some of its competitors — can be used both for work and entertainment,” Cadie Thompson reports for CNBC.
“While the tablet space is getting pretty crowded, Ballmer predicted that Windows 8 and the design of the Surface tablet will give Microsoft an edge over its competition,” Thompson reports. “‘I don’t think anyone has done a product that I see customers wanting,’ Ballmer said Thursday on CNBC’s ‘Squawk Box.'”
Read more in the full article here.
MacDailyNews Take: There have been five generations of Apple iPad models: the original, the iPad 2, the third-generation iPad, the fourth-generation iPad, and the iPad mini.
iPad sales have exceeded 100 million units since the product’s debut in April 2010.
91% of tablet-generated Web traffic comes from Apple’s iPad.
94% of the Fortune 500 is testing or deploying the iPad.
In stating, “I don’t think anyone has done a product that I see customers wanting,” Mr. Ballmer proves he’s either blind, delusional, a liar, or all three rolled up into one big, sweaty clown.
[Thanks to MacDailyNews Readers “Fred Mertz” and “Joe Architect” for the heads up.]
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Gorilla Arms! We want Gorilla Arms!!
The people have spoken, Microsoft listens.
Thanks Steve ‘Monkey-Boy’ Ballmer!
(O so simian.)
But then again, Mr. Ballmer hasn’t been able to see his feet when he stands on the bathroom scales for some time. ..He once called Apple’s business a ’rounding error’. Ironic as he IS a ’rounded error’. ..
Delusional and ignorant. The primary characteristics of MS CEO.
Funny. I do more “real work” on my iPad (3) than the MacBook Air. A good display, Citrix, and iWork are all I need.
This from the same guy who laughed when asked if the iPhone would get any market share ?
Why does anyone take him seriously ?
And this guy is a CEO?
This is exactly the kind of mindset that will sink Microsoft, sooner than later. Please keep it up Steve O. Your doing a heck of a job!
How much acid did Ballmer do when he was rooming with Gates?
I assume Ballmer is including Surface in the list of products no one wants to buy?
What a fool. Last time I looked the iPad was selling quite well.
Keep living the dream Ballmer!
I ordered my iPad mini, 64g i black. How’s that Ballmy?
I have come to the realization that these comments of the past several days, by Ballmer and other MS representatives, are coming thru some sort of spatial rift from an alternate reality where Apple does not exist. There’s no other possible explanation.
These people clearly do not live in the same universe as the rest of us. 🙂
The RDF is working very well.
“Tablets, tablets, tablets, tablets, …” I can just see the sweaty clown romping around the stage now embarrassing everyone in sight. This statement is from the man who laughed about the iPhone’s future.
These statements are classic. I wish we had a video like the one he made stating that the iPhone was not going to do well because it didn’t have a keyboard. Nothing, and I mean nothing could have been further from the truth. The thing with reality is that we all perceive it from our own point of view, and Balmer’s view is so distorted by his ego, so much so, that he simply can not opine objectively about anything related to his company.
That’s funny. I don’t see Microsoft selling ANY tablets
Balmer reminds me of Biden.
I don’t see Microsoft selling any tablets that I want.
This “as long as it takes” mantra among Apple fans is now becoming a poison in our own bodies. It started as being fun, but it’s as fun as geriatrics who continue to take drugs for fun which are now destroying them. If Microsoft goes down the tube, Apple has proved it will keep its own focus, and will not listen to customers who don’t fit Apple’s focus. So it take half a decade to upgrade the design of Mac Pros; it does not offer non-reflective screens for desktop and external displays (the 75% less reflection of the Retina is off the mark). So he whom you call Monkeyboy, while a source of derision, is actually needed to keep Apple on its toes. And to the extent where your Monkeyboy isn’t keeping Apple on its toes, Apple just keeps on spewing out propaganda about how it makes great products – while ignoring important minority segments of the market. Apple is not interested in meeting the needs of minority segments of the market, such as graphic designers, photographers (who need, e.g. non-reflective desktop screens, Mac Pros) etc. Apple just wants to make money, and Apple thumbs its nose and middle finger at any minority market segment that will not bring in piles of money.
We support Ballmer, for as long as it takes!
I think to “Ballmer” should become a word or verb or whatever. Definition: to say something, anything, no matter how wrong or clueless, as long as it is bombastic and idiotic.
“Man, that guy totally Ballmered the presentation”.
Ballmer is the biggest mistake Microsoft has made. He is a joke in the techno world.
D – Clown.
“Ballmer on tablets: ‘I don’t think anyone has done a product that I see customers wanting.’”
Ballmer’s right. No one has made a TABLET that consumers want.
iPads on the other hand….
Three words: Reality Distortion Field.
If Ballmer is so seemingly bad, horrid, and awful, why then does Microsoft still tolerate him and not just relieve him of his position? I don’t understand how a multi-billion dollar company that makes sub-par products seemingly year-after-year — under the leadership of that individual — still allows that individual to be in charge. I don’t get it so could someone enlighten me? Thanks.
Two words: BILL GATES. Bill Gates is COB for Microsoft and its largest stakeholder with a 5.5% share of the company (Ballmer is 2nd with 4%).
Ballmer has Bill Gates strong support and as long as he has that, he will probably remain Microsoft’s CEO.
The MS revenue stream comes from corporate and government lockdown on MS systems. Until Apple or another company moves into the corporate space and threatens the revenue stream the rest is just playing at trying to be relevant. My work place still uses Office 2003 – which sort of tells you that most office automation has plateaued at getting rid of the typing pool and making workers do their own. I bet OA use beyond Word is less than 2%
Thanks. I always wondered about this so I appreciate the clarification.
Joe Biden should be the next Microsoft CEO