“Microsoft Corp Chief Executive Steve Ballmer defended his company’s record on innovation and financial performance at the annual shareholders’ meeting, but conceded that he should have moved faster to get into the booming tablet market dominated by Apple Inc’s iPad,” Bill Rigby reports for Reuters.
“Bill Gates, co-founder and now chairman of the world’s largest software company, was one of the first to champion tablet-sized devices more than 10 years ago, but Microsoft failed to come up with a product that worked as well as the iPad. Gates was silent throughout the meeting, attended by about 450 shareholders,” Rigby reports. “‘We’re innovating on the seam between software and hardware,’ said Ballmer, asked why his company had fallen behind rival Apple. ‘Maybe we should have done that earlier.'”
MacDailyNews Take: Innovating on the what?! Between the where?!
The only real seam Microsoft actually tried to make failed within a day: Microsoft Surface Touch Cover splits open, exposing wire underneath. Photo: Matthew Baxter-Reynolds.
Here’s likely what and who Ballmer was trying to mimic, but failed miserably, as usual:
Edwin Land once told me: “Those people who can stand at the intersection of the humanities and science, the liberal arts and technology, that intersection, are the people who can change the world.” – Steve Jobs
Rigby reports, “A month ago, Microsoft launched the Surface tablet – its first own-brand computer – but has not revealed sales figures. ‘I feel pretty good about our level of innovation,’ he added.”
MacDailyNews Take: Balmy needs to have someone read him the reviews (see related articles below).
Rigby reports, “Ballmer said smartphones running Microsoft’s new Windows software were selling four times as much as they did at this time last year.”
MacDailyNews Take: Okay, so let’s see: one times four equals…
Rigby reports, “Microsoft has never given sales numbers of Windows phones, primarily made by Nokia, Samsung and HTC.”
MacDailyNews Take: It’s the cornerstone of the Bezos School of Lying by Omission.
Rigby reports, “Ballmer, flanked by Gates and Chief Financial Officer Peter Klein, was asked by several shareholders to explain Microsoft’s lackluster share price, which has been stuck for a decade, and has been outperformed by Apple and Google Inc stock in recent years. ‘I understand your comment,’ he told one shareholder. He went on to explain that Microsoft had ‘done a phenomenal job of driving product volumes” and was focusing on profiting from that growth.'”
Microsoft CEO Ballmer
MacDailyNews Take: Did these obviously recently-comatose shareholders give him the finger, laugh in his face or both?
Rigby reports, “Several shareholders at the meeting in Bellevue, an upscale suburb of Seattle, complimented the executives on how they had grown and managed the company.”
MacDailyNews Take: And then they each sat down carefully, removed their helmets and drool cups, and downed yet another plateful of psilocybin mushrooms.
Rigby reports, “Microsoft’s shares stand around the same level they did 10 years ago.”
MacDailyNews Take: Only morbid idiots would take an iPad, something that’s used on the lap, while lounging in a chair, or reclining on a sofa most of the time, and then build something that requires a desk (with a friggin’ kickstand no less, and a keyboard) to operate.
Apple’s truly “fighting” the black knight. In Cupertino, they must laugh their asses off at Microsoft each and every day.
[Thanks to MacDailyNews Reader “Ellis D.” for the heads up.]
…I wonder if Bullyboy used an iPad (a la’ Oprah) to demonstrate M$ stationary growth figures ‘cos he couldn’t find a Surface that wasn’t frozen solid?…
On the other hand, a flat line could always just be painted on the screen and the Surface could’ve just been switched off (safer that way).
Microsoft was already in the tablet market for about a decade before Apple showed them how to do it right. Looking at their latest offerings, it’s clear that MS still hasn’t learned the lesson. Shoehorning windows into the tablet form factor will continue to fail, just as it did before.
Apple already showed the world how a tablet should be done right… it was the Newton and was way ahead of its time.
In typical Microsoft fashion, they tried to shoehorn desktop Windows into mobile devices – tablets, umpc – they all failed miserably. Why they believe a third time is a charm I have no idea? Oh wait, I do… Monopoly. Since they lack true innovation, if they can’t get Windows on a mobile device into users’ hands, they stand a chance of watching that monopoly go right down the toilet.
How soon they forget…? More likely, how badly they produced. Anyone here ever try to operate a win doze tablet pre-iPad? Gruesome is not even close to the experience, and yet we had Gates all a’smilin’ and toting one around like it was the new sliced bread. We can possibly give him the benefit of the doubt for recognizing that a highly portable touch activated device might be the ubiquitous answer to personal computing, but, seriously, saddling it with windoze and not bothering to apologize…? Fail.
Surface 2 will have a 3.5″ floppy, DVD burner, serial port and they are bringing back the parallel printer port too, all with a 750w power supply and an AGP slot for a video card, oh and a sata connection
…and a SCSI port, a VGA port, a PCI slot, a docking station, plus assorted dongles and dangles, as well as an all-in-one “control-alt-delete” button. The coup de grâce will be “Clippy” dancing all around the screen daring you to make him go away by tapping him.
Ballmer is a real gutsy guy or very clueless after drinking the Kool-Aid. I would really like to be able to see that meeting. The level of BS has to be huge. 450 people with a lot of dead money and knowing that they are asking themselves, why have I not sold these shares years ago and is it safe to use one of these Windows devices to sell them now.
There is a simple reason why Windows Phone 8 will work: there are a lot of Microsoft fanboys out there. Also a lot who still love Nokia, no idea why. And some who hate Apple. No matter that I would call all of them stupid, they will buy the Lumia series and it will sell better than expected. I had it in hand and found it heavy as a brick and unpolished. Will never be as elegant as my iPhone 5, but people are different.
There are not very many Microsoft “fanboys” out there, compared to the number of Microsoft “customers” who are forced (or are “defaulted”) into using Microsoft and have zero loyalty. That’s the (still very large) pool for future Apple customers, and a key reason for Apple’s continued growth; Apple is not just selling to its own fanboys. Just ignore those morons who are actual Microsoft fanboys (aka Apple haters).
And Lumia has already had plenty of time to succeed, if it had any potential for success.
I’ve lost count of the forced users I know. They all go home to their Macs. If Apple could get hospitals, Dr.’s, and banks weaned off Winduz that would make a statement. Some business is buying a clue but not all yet.
Ballmer is such a liar, he was laughing at the iphone and ipad saying they will be flops as they have no key boards, so how come he is saying that ms should have started the tablet innovation earlier. Microsoft is so clueless and backwards that they did not have the future outlook of tablet computing when the ipad 1 came out. Any why is he still there as CEO? Scott forstall got the sack when he screwed up with maps, yet ballmer screws the whole company yet he still have a job, just like the weTherman, no matter how wrong their weather reporting is, they still get to keep their jobs, for years
Microsoft just announced a price increase of 15% for some of its licences starting January.
This is to encourage companies to ‘buy’ Windows licences in December, before the increase. Even if they only sit on the licences or install them as Win 7, MS will count them as Windows 8.
Bellevue is not a “suburb of Seattle” anymore than Oakland is a suburb of San Francisco. Bellevue is a city, separated from Seattle by a large lake and a floating bridge.
Rigby reports, “Ballmer, flanked by Gates and Chief Financial Officer Peter Klein, was asked by several shareholders to explain Microsoft’s lackluster share price, which has been stuck for a decade, and has been outperformed by Apple and Google Inc stock in recent years. ‘I understand your comment,’ he told one shareholder. He went on to explain that Microsoft had ‘done a phenomenal job of driving product volumes” and was focusing on profiting from that growth.'”
Seam is an ugly thing . Don’t know why they will do it
> We’re innovating on the seam between software and hardware…
Which is why Apple is “seamless” between software and hardware. 🙂
Running out of comprehensible words to use when you have a shareholders meeting is a sign of DEMENTIA.
Ballmer is toast. Won’t be long until he babbles in front of the Board of Directors and there will be an announcement…
…I wonder if Bullyboy used an iPad (a la’ Oprah) to demonstrate M$ stationary growth figures ‘cos he couldn’t find a Surface that wasn’t frozen solid?…
On the other hand, a flat line could always just be painted on the screen and the Surface could’ve just been switched off (safer that way).
Microsoft. Driving Innovation Through Sucking.
Microsoft was already in the tablet market for about a decade before Apple showed them how to do it right. Looking at their latest offerings, it’s clear that MS still hasn’t learned the lesson. Shoehorning windows into the tablet form factor will continue to fail, just as it did before.
-jcr
Apple already showed the world how a tablet should be done right… it was the Newton and was way ahead of its time.
In typical Microsoft fashion, they tried to shoehorn desktop Windows into mobile devices – tablets, umpc – they all failed miserably. Why they believe a third time is a charm I have no idea? Oh wait, I do… Monopoly. Since they lack true innovation, if they can’t get Windows on a mobile device into users’ hands, they stand a chance of watching that monopoly go right down the toilet.
How soon they forget…? More likely, how badly they produced. Anyone here ever try to operate a win doze tablet pre-iPad? Gruesome is not even close to the experience, and yet we had Gates all a’smilin’ and toting one around like it was the new sliced bread. We can possibly give him the benefit of the doubt for recognizing that a highly portable touch activated device might be the ubiquitous answer to personal computing, but, seriously, saddling it with windoze and not bothering to apologize…? Fail.
Surface 2 will have a 3.5″ floppy, DVD burner, serial port and they are bringing back the parallel printer port too, all with a 750w power supply and an AGP slot for a video card, oh and a sata connection
…and a SCSI port, a VGA port, a PCI slot, a docking station, plus assorted dongles and dangles, as well as an all-in-one “control-alt-delete” button. The coup de grâce will be “Clippy” dancing all around the screen daring you to make him go away by tapping him.
AA 1
You bet they will. Importantly, when you flip the surface over, it converts into a handy turntable to play all yer ol’ records.
What Microsoft calls “innovation” during the last ten years is reacting (more like panicking) to Apple’s actions.
iPod -> Zune
Mac OS X -> Windows Vista
iPhone -> Windows Phone
iPad -> Windows 8/RT/Surface
Each one has been a failure, because the TRUE innovator gets the big prize.
Very nice Ken.
+1
Ballmer is a real gutsy guy or very clueless after drinking the Kool-Aid. I would really like to be able to see that meeting. The level of BS has to be huge. 450 people with a lot of dead money and knowing that they are asking themselves, why have I not sold these shares years ago and is it safe to use one of these Windows devices to sell them now.
…”and is it safe to use one of these Windows devices to sell them now.”
Nice jab at the end. LOL.
There is a simple reason why Windows Phone 8 will work: there are a lot of Microsoft fanboys out there. Also a lot who still love Nokia, no idea why. And some who hate Apple. No matter that I would call all of them stupid, they will buy the Lumia series and it will sell better than expected. I had it in hand and found it heavy as a brick and unpolished. Will never be as elegant as my iPhone 5, but people are different.
There are not very many Microsoft “fanboys” out there, compared to the number of Microsoft “customers” who are forced (or are “defaulted”) into using Microsoft and have zero loyalty. That’s the (still very large) pool for future Apple customers, and a key reason for Apple’s continued growth; Apple is not just selling to its own fanboys. Just ignore those morons who are actual Microsoft fanboys (aka Apple haters).
And Lumia has already had plenty of time to succeed, if it had any potential for success.
I’ve lost count of the forced users I know. They all go home to their Macs. If Apple could get hospitals, Dr.’s, and banks weaned off Winduz that would make a statement. Some business is buying a clue but not all yet.
@I love Apple: I had it [the Lumia] in hand and found it heavy as a brick… Perhaps it should be tossed in the sauna once or twice a day to slim down.
Hey, maybe Ball should go visit Elop and so spend a few minutes in a 230° F sauna (yes, they do get nice and toasty – been there, done that).
There are even more Linux fanboys looking to put a real OS on those tablets with a fold up keyboard/cover.
Day late and a dollar short.
With Windows 8, the “seam” of innovation was sewing body parts together for the Frankenstein monster in a secret lab in Bellevue.
The doctor types in the lab couldn’t animate the thing, however because corporate didn’t want to license Lightning from Apple.
DBA = Dead Before Arrival
Augh!! Not the Ballmer tongue! My eyes are burning, and my stomach’s turning.
Ballmer is such a liar, he was laughing at the iphone and ipad saying they will be flops as they have no key boards, so how come he is saying that ms should have started the tablet innovation earlier. Microsoft is so clueless and backwards that they did not have the future outlook of tablet computing when the ipad 1 came out. Any why is he still there as CEO? Scott forstall got the sack when he screwed up with maps, yet ballmer screws the whole company yet he still have a job, just like the weTherman, no matter how wrong their weather reporting is, they still get to keep their jobs, for years
I think Ballmer’s inseam is too tight. It is cutting off the blood flow to his brain.
Can someone point me to the link about running Windows 8 on a chainsaw? I seem to have lost it when my Surface crashed and wiped my data.
The following English words…
(1) Stupid
(2) Retard
(3) Asshole
(4) Bonehead
should be replaced by…
Microsoft
Microsoft just announced a price increase of 15% for some of its licences starting January.
This is to encourage companies to ‘buy’ Windows licences in December, before the increase. Even if they only sit on the licences or install them as Win 7, MS will count them as Windows 8.
Now THAT is a fiscal cliff!
the only seam Msft is seeing is the big fat crack they are falling through…
Pen Computing for Windows. w00h00! Bring back Windows 3.1 baby. /s
Microsoft: Providing Solutions To Problems That Don’t Exist Since 1985™
Yes, the leading caps were deliberate!
I always wondered who was under the Black Knight’s helmet. Now I know, it was Ballmer.
Bellevue is not a “suburb of Seattle” anymore than Oakland is a suburb of San Francisco. Bellevue is a city, separated from Seattle by a large lake and a floating bridge.
You sure the meeting wasn’t held at Belleview, at the old Insane Asylum? More appropriate.
Washington state is a loooooong way from New York City!
I like it. Balmer T. Clown a.k.a. The Black Knight
The “seam” = the “taint”.
How long did it take the T Rex Dinasaur Ballmer to stomp from Jurassic Park One in Redmond to Bellevue?
No sudden moves & he’ll go away.
Haw long did it take T-Rex Ballmer to stomp his way from Jurassic Park One campus in Redmond to Bellevue?
No sudden moves & he will go away.
Believe me, Microsoft should have made the Surface Tablet brown. Then it would be a sure hit. – Well, at least color and content would match.
Actually it IS brown on the back (some dark shade of brown)
There they go pandering to people of color.