“Outgoing Microsoft CEO Steve Ballmer has always been a speaker and performer like no other,” Nilay Patel reports for The Verge.
“That energy was on full display earlier this week, as Ballmer led his last Microsoft employee meeting as CEO — he’s announced his plan to step down within 12 months, and the search for a new chief executive is currently underway,” Patel reports. “And while earlier reports hinted at the intensity of Ballmer’s feelings during his speech, The Verge has obtained exclusive video of Ballmer’s final moments on stage.”
Patel reports, “[It is] vintage, perfect Steve Ballmer: intense, emotional, and set to the Dirty Dancing soundtrack. The tech industry will never again have anyone like him.”
Direct link to video here.
MacDailyNews Take: What are the silly, pink slip-bound Microsoft employees applauding Ballmer for, depth of failure?
Steve Jobs steamrolled the guy unmercifully. Then he backed up and did it again. And again. And again. Tim Cook is still doing it.
Hey, Ballmer, you took a frightfully dominant company that could have, should have, absolutely owned mobile personal computing, but instead – even with all of the tools and myriad advantages at your disposal – you totally blew it, buried under and blinded by your own hubris as you were and still are. Great job! Bravo! Standing O!
You couldn’t cut through the delusion in that room with a chainsaw. Watching this video is like watching a SNL parody. It’s amazing that it’s real, which makes it sickening and appalling.
Buh-bye, big dumb monkey. We’re gonna miss ya, ya big lug. You made it sooo damn easy.
[Thanks to MacDailyNews Readers “Fred Mertz” and “Ellis D.” for the heads up.]
Lovely…dreams DO come true, don’t they?
First Michael Dell and now Ballmer. Who will we have left to ridicule? Seems like the end of an era.
Lest you forget, a minor league player; Balsillie.
I wonder what those applauding employees are thinking two or more years down the road when 40~50% layoff axed falls on their heads. Right now, MS has 130,000 head counts. Shrinking PC and encroaching productivity apps would destroy MS’ cash cow. How can MS support that many head counts with less revenues, and lower margin? If I were MS employee, I would plan my exit strategy now. Or ask RIM employee.
Stockholm Syndrome?
“Would you like to supersize that?”
… and have you seen the responses about his sincerity et al. The guys is a salesman, its what they do, the only thing he is tearful about is having to live the rest of his life knowing he failed. But hey he did his best to convince as many bozos as possible to rewrite his history, yep thats the sum of his emotional sincerity.
only audience more deluded than Obama Messiah voters.
would be fun if someone re-edited it where the BSOD appeared half way through.
The blinking, glowing wristbands must have some mind control powers.
Clueless as ever and back at posting again botvinnik?
Why’d ya have to go and do that?
The only thing worse than a wing nut is a troll that can’t lose with dignity.
Let’s let the Dems build up another surplus and then you can get them bomb makes back in there to squander it.
Oh yea F*ck you for dragging some retardo politics into the discussion of Ballmy.
Thanks for replying, Botty…now fuck off.
Oh, man, that was so icky to watch 😝
If only they had get him at the helm another 20 years. What MacroThief deserves.
The employees only showed up because they got free concert tickets… 🙂
but who will finish his job?
Hate to see him go …… He was doing such a fine job …..
Now who will we have to guide the great MSFT …. MSFT is doomed now …… Gosh darn it!
Ballmer still had to show up at the office next day so the tearful dramatics and overblown goodbye performance all seems a bit premature.
Quite honestly it was like watching a scientology convention.
Nice.
I wonder if he hurt his shoulder slapping everybody? I really enjoyed the time he hurt his leg while bouncing around on the stage. I laugh every single time I watch it. I wonder what the employees were mumbling to each other while this idiot was on stage crying? Embarrassing. But funny as hell. Bill Gates must feel like a fool, waiting this long.
tacky, uncultured, cheap, Low Class, self promotional of the worst kind. I enjoyed the laugh, and all the Microsoft employees gathered were faking it, they just wanted a piad day out LOL
I wonder when he will start twerking it. I’d love to see that…maybe.
Oh, the humanity…
The only way I would watch it if he’s naked! Twerking!
You. Would. Watch. THAT? *shudder*
I like it-I like it a lot
Microsoft, looking backwards, says farewell to its leader.
Why else do you think Canada sent Cruz to us? 😆
My comment above that looks out of place was a reply to auramac’s comment which was deleted after I replied.
Microsoft: Can’t hold us?
WTF is that supposed to mean? They make no sense on any front, whatever the message!
my thoughts too…
Ha ha… Microsoft:
Can’t hold us… ransom to work here any longer.
Can’t keep us… employed.
Can’t pay us… any longer .
Can’t help us… get our stock shares up again.
Can
How pathetic, just leave already. This guy has the social skills of a three year old. What a blubbering baffoon. When you watch an Apple event, you can’t help but to admire the polish, intellect and professionalism of the presenters. Ballmer is hard to watch and take seriously. I feel embarassed for him. The man has no shame, and no class. He should have been gone six years ago. He actually should have never been put at the helm to begin with. Farewell Monkey Boy, and good riddance.
buffoon.
Oh…and also, that is hard to watch. I can’t imagine Steve Jobs going out like that!
He lacked vision and got blindsided by the mobile revolution that iOS ushered in. But to his credit, I feel he milked Microsoft’s cash cows, Windows and Office, for everything they’re worth.
At the end of the day, the sales guy was able to sell what he had but couldn’t innovate anything new and great.
SOAK IT IN! SOAK IT IN!
Failure. You’re soaking in it.
How bad could it be? I threw up a little my mouth watching it.
So, it looks like Steve Ballmer was able to download that song from iTunes Ok. Does this mean that Steve Ballmer’s family can take their iOS devices out of the closet now?
Bye Steve!
I couldn’t help myself *wipes away tear*.
What will Ballmer’s Left Nut be after Ballmer?
Lonely. Sad. Just like now.
Instead of being worried and working on the direction of a sinking company they’re doing this ???
I like their strategy a lot..
Oh the drama, the emotion, the tears. All delivered on autocue.
Autocue is a street word for cocaine. I think you hit the nail right on the head there.
I noticed two things:
1) something is wrong with his left foot. He may have a health problem.
2) I realize he is worth 16 billion and he has spent the majority of his professional career at Microsoft and a significant portion of his net worth depends on Microsoft’s stock price after he leaves, but with all that being said- he and the Microsoft employees are just TOO emotional to be healthy. After all it is just your job.
I saw that video of Tim Cook speaking to the Apple employees after Steve Jobs died, and a lot of them were incredibly sad but not overly emotional to the point of unneeded hagiography. And heavens knows Apple’s biggest problem right now is misplaced Steve Jobs hagiography.
Old Fat Balding Monkey Boy Dancing Salesman CEO’s don’t retire, they just sweat away… (apologies to General MacArthur)
At around the 1:20 mark he talks about MS being innovative and ethical, etc. OMG. I just threw up a little in my mouth.
Psychosis is never good in a leader. This is embarrassing, tacky and maudlin.
There’s no way I can watch that. Just the still photo is bad enough!
You have to. YTube has the 720P HD Version! Yes can’t wait for 1080p!!! lol
One word comes to mind: Bittersweet.
Why is he always SCREAMING! I don’t want to soak in that sweat…even on video, I’m feeling that stink on my skin!!!