Filed under: Analysis / Opinion, Apple Corporate
Steve Balmer explains Apple's rise in popularity
Amazingly, he did it without jumping up and down or sweating profusely. In an interview with ZDNet, Microsoft CEO Steve Balmer had this to say about Apple's recent successes and increased popularity:"...we're the big guy. We were the little guy for a while, we had a 10-year run where we were the darling. Apple, because they kind of went through the valley of the shadow of death and have emerged, they are the darling again, even though they have been around for a while...I know we're doing good work."
Oh, Steve. I realize that you're the guy in charge of selling Microsoft to the masses, but I don't think Apple's current success (not to mention 1 million recent switchers) is attributable to the consumer's love of the underdog. They're making good products that people want to buy, and then love to own. People (like me) wear Apple hats and shirts, put bumper stickers on our cars and read sites like this one because we just love the products this company produces. I'm yet to see someone walking around with a Windows logo T-shirt.
Still, I like Steve. After all, he's provided me with some wonderful entertainment.
[Via Mac Daily News]
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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
aequitas said 10:07PM on 11-08-2005
I have seen someone sporting the "Windows XP" tshirt but the guys is a die-hard open source guy. He wore it every time we had a test in our operating systems course.
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Poncho said 10:45PM on 11-08-2005
Monkeyboy, hehe. Everything he says is so funny, he makes it sound as if he knows what he's talking about too! lol
I have yet to hear of anyone getting the Microsoft or Windows logo tattooed on them.
I'm a Mac user, and I love Apple products (well, the ones I own anyway). I have a PowerMac G5 2x 2Ghz which costs quite a pretty penny, but is well worth the money. I want Apple to do really well and get lots of switchers so that they can afford to lower the cost of their systems. This would, of course tempt many others into buying a Mac, because for as long as I can remember people have used the reason/excuse that Apple computers are too expensive to buy.
I've found most people will buy a computer from a well-known brand with a decent price, 98% of those computers are pre-configured with Windows. This would partly explain the success of Dell, HP etc. in the consumer space.
Apple has the consumer attention right now, but their computers are playing second fiddle to the iPod. I reckon if Apple could get to the point where thier computers were 'a decent price' (ie. get the iMac under $1000), and advertise thier computers even a little, Macs would fly off the shelves.
Then Mr. Balmer could explain why Windows Vista failed to outsell Windows ME. Here's hoping, and here's to Apple becoming the 'big guy'!
Just my 2p.
Cheers;
Poncho
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Ian Adams said 10:51PM on 11-08-2005
I see people with Microsoft and Windows shirts all the time. Of course, they all work for Microsoft, so I guess that's not really telling. But you do see them wear the shirts off-campus!
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Conor Hastings said 10:49PM on 11-08-2005
so where are you getting these apple shirts I would love to have one.
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Ian Adams said 10:55PM on 11-08-2005
Conor: try http://www.redlightrunner.com/ for Apple-branded merchandise. :)
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sky_Deluce said 11:22PM on 11-08-2005
Another company people are crazy about enough to brand themselves with is TiVo. Personally I'd love to see Apple buy TiVo and build it into every iMac!
Here's a cool TiVo T-shirt complete with a cool quote from Allen Ginsberg:
"Whoever Controls The Media Controls The Culture."
http://www.tivotoday.com/tivo_today_t_shirt_1_0_released
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Steve M said 1:04AM on 11-09-2005
>>I'm yet to see someone walking around with a Windows logo T-shirt.
Try living in Seattle and NOT seeing someone wearing Microsoft stuff. It's kinda funny actually, people who buy Mac's and hang out at the Apple Store saying "I don't see people wearing Window's logos."
Well, yea.
Oh, about Ballmer, I think Microsoft was the darling for about 13 minutes, just before they stiffed IBM on OS/2.
Still, Windows XP is a great gaming platform, so they have their niche.
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trainee concentric said 3:28AM on 11-09-2005
did he throw a chair?
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Oliver said 4:28AM on 11-09-2005
Thank you for that li'll clip at the end. If more Valey-Dollar$ on your bank account has those effects....please Steve don't sell more Mac's! ;-)
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moquiti said 2:42PM on 11-09-2005
Bollmer's antics remind me dearly of the hype that accompanied the late ENRON quarterly meetings. Is that a "St. Vitus" dance?
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ephraimephraim said 7:36AM on 11-09-2005
"I'm yet to see someone walking around with a Windows logo T-shirt."
I have a Windows logo shirt - sort of. The windows are shattering and it says "Breaking up is hard to do." Souvenir of the proposed anti-trust remedy.
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Greg said 9:56AM on 11-09-2005
Beautiful - Hilarious - Disgusting
Someone should set up a dance off between Ballmer and the Star Wars Kid.
It would bring a tear to my eye and my lunch from my stomach.
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Wheels said 12:41PM on 11-09-2005
The difference between Ballmer and the Star Wars kid is that the Star Wars kid thought that no one would ever see him do his shenanigans. Ballmer woefully and maliciously turned into the monkey boy in front of Microsoft and the world. I wonder how many Microsoft employees tendered their letters of resignation on that day.
BTW: Does Ballmer remind anybody else of the kid in high school who got to hang around the cool kids, even though nobody in the entire school liked him?
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chris said 11:06PM on 11-09-2005
i have a Mac and a Windows computer. i love Windows computer much more than the Mac. Windows is a cool operating system while Tiger is just trying to be. What is the next Job after Tiger, Leopard or maybe Snake!
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