This is the funniest part of the whole statement. He's confusing OS marketshare with smartphone marketshare. Someone ought to tell this guy that share < 5% hardly constitutes the right to have an opinion on the validity of Apple's model.
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Ballmer on iPhone Marketshare
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This is the funniest part of the whole statement. He's confusing OS marketshare with smartphone marketshare. Someone ought to tell this guy that share < 5% hardly constitutes the right to have an opinion on the validity of Apple's model.
Well, not to split hairs, but that's advertising and marketing (where it's expected that you might bash the competition) and it's attacking Windows and the PC culture, not MS and their future plans. Seems a little different and considerably less petty than what Ballmer is doing.
Is Apple really bad mouthing "PC" in it's recent ad campaign or are they just comparing the Mac vs PC in a humourous light!
I would think an Apple bad mouthing campaign would go like this...
Mac: I'm a Mac
PC: I'm a PC
Mac: It's still amazing that consumers still consider your fast a** over me!
PC: (turns head as if to look at his a**)
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This is rich. My 85 year old uncle is not going to own a Zune. Not before an iPod anyway (it isn't likely he'd want either device, but whatever).
Most 85 year old uncles are going to ask their tech savvy nieces and nephews which device to buy. All their nieces and nephews own iPods. What do you think they are going to suggest to him that he buy? Some device that they themselves know nothing about, or an iPod? Especially since they know they are going to be "tech support" for the device.
Ballmer has completely disassociated himself from reality.
It's interesting to hear bleak news form your rivals but saying they will get 1-2% more share then what Apple is going for (1%) doesn't really send your message. thanks for the confidence Ballmer.
thanks for the confidence Ballmer. 
he's such an idiot. He once commented saying "it (refering to the iphone) doesn't even have a keyboard!"
It has the best keyboard out there! One that gets out of the way when you don't need it.
It has the best keyboard out there! One that gets out of the way when you don't need it.
There's nothing shocking about making negative statements about a competitor's products and future.
What's shocking is all the free PR Ballmer keeps giving to Apple. The big guy should never help legitimize the underdog by giving them headlines and airtime, and showing fear.
Here's a suggestion for Mr. Ballmer:
Q: People get passionate when Apple comes out with something new — the iPhone; of course, the iPod. Is that something that you'd want them to feel about Microsoft?
A: (Talk about how passionate consumers are about Vista and Zune and the new Pinãta game and never MENTION Apple or Apple products. Instead, he went on for 4 parapgraphs about Apple and iPhone and iPod, never once addressing the actual question, regarding passion about Microsoft.)
PS, I like what Ballmer says about DRM-free iTunes music:
"Every recording artist, in my opinion, is entitled to make their own decision. And I don't think Apple or Microsoft should be imposing its will on folks, because people will have different economic interests, different things to think about. We're a company that makes tools, and we're going to enable people to use those tools and make their own judgments as individual artists."
So... Apple is imposing its will on individual artists, "forcing" them not to use DRM. And record labels/RIAA don't exist at all, have no interest in the DRM issue, and Microsoft is not siding with them. Have I got that right?
What's shocking is all the free PR Ballmer keeps giving to Apple. The big guy should never help legitimize the underdog by giving them headlines and airtime, and showing fear.
Here's a suggestion for Mr. Ballmer:
Q: People get passionate when Apple comes out with something new — the iPhone; of course, the iPod. Is that something that you'd want them to feel about Microsoft?
A: (Talk about how passionate consumers are about Vista and Zune and the new Pinãta game and never MENTION Apple or Apple products. Instead, he went on for 4 parapgraphs about Apple and iPhone and iPod, never once addressing the actual question, regarding passion about Microsoft.)
PS, I like what Ballmer says about DRM-free iTunes music:
"Every recording artist, in my opinion, is entitled to make their own decision. And I don't think Apple or Microsoft should be imposing its will on folks, because people will have different economic interests, different things to think about. We're a company that makes tools, and we're going to enable people to use those tools and make their own judgments as individual artists."
So... Apple is imposing its will on individual artists, "forcing" them not to use DRM. And record labels/RIAA don't exist at all, have no interest in the DRM issue, and Microsoft is not siding with them. Have I got that right?
What has Microsoft done for you lately?
I can see that they (Microsoft ) are at an impass in devlopment ! While Vista may be lauded as a milestone for Microsoft, it hasn't impacted the home PC world as I think they had hoped. In the business world , I can't really say how the update has effected the everyday business transactions. I've got to say that I am ignorrant on that field. I use PC related software at work, and so far, nothing has changed. I believe that there are many busineses that have not upgraded yet ? So,Microsoft has to have a TARGET to center on...the iPhone !I can't see and mPhone out there yet...it is up to the wireless companies to provide hardware for MICROSOFT MOBILE to work on...I'm sure there are many phones out there that carry that software...the question is...how well they work ? The iPhone has a lot to live up to ...they better make it right the fist time..
I can see that they (Microsoft ) are at an impass in devlopment ! While Vista may be lauded as a milestone for Microsoft, it hasn't impacted the home PC world as I think they had hoped. In the business world , I can't really say how the update has effected the everyday business transactions. I've got to say that I am ignorrant on that field. I use PC related software at work, and so far, nothing has changed. I believe that there are many busineses that have not upgraded yet ? So,Microsoft has to have a TARGET to center on...the iPhone !I can't see and mPhone out there yet...it is up to the wireless companies to provide hardware for MICROSOFT MOBILE to work on...I'm sure there are many phones out there that carry that software...the question is...how well they work ? The iPhone has a lot to live up to ...they better make it right the fist time..
iPhone aside, the whole article is a gold mine!
I love how Microsoft is challenging the Wii (I guess?) by targeting the growing casual-gamer market with the XBox 360, instead of the small hard-core-gamer market.
Just HOW have they gone after casual gamers? Watch and learn
[...]
* "Our arcade games, traditional board games and card games target casual gamers."
Sounds like they're well on track to reversing their entertainment division's 5.4 billion dollar loss
Hmm. $500+ machine to play Solitaire, or $0.99 card deck. The card deck allows
Yeah, that's going to drive Microsoft's market share! No way can the stylish(er), inexpensive, downright fun Wii compete with Hearts and Sorry!
Unfortunate they didn't mention the soothing white noise of the jet engine in your living room as a positive for XBox.
As it happens, only 25% of businesses are using Vista at all (and almost none of them have made the complete changeover). Another 13% will adopt Vista in the coming year. That's 38% using Vista a year from now. (Assuming no malware hits to slow interest in Vista.)
Another 27% plan to adopt Vista eventually, but not in the next year. And 30% of businesses don't plan to EVER upgrade to Vista. (No word on their choice of XP vs. Linux vs. OS X... many probably haven't even decided that yet. They'll just stick with XP for now.)
http://www.informationweek.com/news/showArticle.jhtml?articleID=199201492
That's pretty unfair to say. The 360's fan roar very often goes completely silent, along with the red failure light and vacation to the repair center
The day Apple is truly in trouble is when Ballmer, or some future MS CEO states "Apple really caught us by suprise on this one. As a result, we are chaning our design philosophy and focusing our resources on innovation"
They will never improve and surpass apple if they first cant admit they are in trouble.
They will never improve and surpass apple if they first cant admit they are in trouble.
I truly believe the iPhone will become much more complete as time goes by and I don't think it will take very long, either. A lot of the negativity that Apple is receiving right now because of missing features people are used to in a phone, will be addressed before we know it.
I think it's safe to say that Apple will make a lot of money on this thing and the money it doesn't make will be made it in word of mouth about how awesome this thing is. Once people start seeing this thing and able to hold it in their hand, I think those sitting on the fence will quickly start jumping down and running to get one. Also, even though it's expensive, if it's a great gadget, it's getting people talking about Apple. That's worth a whole lot.
Just like the iPod, this thing will become more advanced and cheaper with every year that passes. It will sell.
I think it's safe to say that Apple will make a lot of money on this thing and the money it doesn't make will be made it in word of mouth about how awesome this thing is. Once people start seeing this thing and able to hold it in their hand, I think those sitting on the fence will quickly start jumping down and running to get one. Also, even though it's expensive, if it's a great gadget, it's getting people talking about Apple. That's worth a whole lot.
Just like the iPod, this thing will become more advanced and cheaper with every year that passes. It will sell.
That's what I said, well sort of... with regards to the intro of the first iPod!
What the He** is a computer company messing around with music, I said....
It's a dumb idea and Apple is wasting it's R&D money on this garbage, I said...
It will never work and will never make any money, I said...
BOY WAS I WRONG!!!
"The iPhone ISN'T going to grab that much marketshare." - We will just have to wait and see.
"Limited to one carrier in one country" - the iPod was limited to one music store in one country and that never stoping it's popularity...
"lacking 3G" - the first incarnations of the iPod lacked Video, so?...
"expensive as hell" - so was the first iPod when compared with it's counterpart of today. In any event, the profit I made on my very limited shares of Apple stock since the announcement of the iPhone will more then pay for the 500.00 iPhone along with it's accessories.
"This is not going to get the amazing market share you think it will" - Again, we'll see...
I had no vision regarding the introduction of the iPod... I thought it was a huge mistake. Never saw the iTunes application nor appreciated the iTunes Music Store. Never saw the 3rd party market that boomed from it. Never saw that the auto industry would be so inclined to accomodate it in their productions of cars and trucks. Never saw the use of the iPod moving from songs stored to songs purchased, to e-books, podcasts, then music videos and now movies. Never saw a hook up with Nike shoes. Never saw colleges using them for college orientation of new students. Never thought the words iPod and Podcasting would become lexicons of the English language... I never saw any of that and to be honest, I don't think even Apple's top execs would say "yeah, that was our game plan and it was all written down in our business plan".
With money, I'll keep "In God We Trust"
With the iPhone, I'll accept " In
I Trust"
I agree. Plus, just b/c M$ has 96% doesn't mean people necessarily find their products "appealing". Maybe just necessary.
I'm with you. Though I wouldn't be surprised if the iPhone did crazily well just because of the iPod halo effect. There are too many issues that stop me from wanting one, 3G, no removable battery. They have to fix them before I even consider looking at one. As beautiful and otherwise feature packed they may be.
good call, my bad.
For how much longer though is there going to be a distinction between regular cell phones and (today's) smart phones. Is any company not trying to expand their features?
WINDOWS SMARTPHONES HAVE DEVELOPERS!!!!!!!
Actually, you know, I would love to see the Steve Ballmer Workout Video, we all know he can really sweat to the oldies.
"Ok everyone, with this one we're going to run back and forth flopping our arms across the keynote stage clapping and screaming developers. Ready, and five, six, seven, eight DEVELOPERS...."
Actually, you know, I would love to see the Steve Ballmer Workout Video, we all know he can really sweat to the oldies.
"Ok everyone, with this one we're going to run back and forth flopping our arms across the keynote stage clapping and screaming developers. Ready, and five, six, seven, eight DEVELOPERS...."
Ditto. Great idea.
Let's all flood Symbian and/or Microsoft with emails and hopefully we can achieve something tonight.
USA Today interviewed Microsoft CEO Steve Ballmer about his thoughts on the iPhone. While Ballmer gives credit to Apple's early move into the music arena, he doubts the iPhone will gain any significant marketshare:
(Note that Ballmer assumes that the $500 iPhone is subsidized, but there has been speculation and rumor that this is not the case.)
Haha, I was going to mention that. Also when you divide that 4.6% by the number of devices running windows mobile, I have a strong suspicion that your marketshare per device would be under 1%.