Filed under: iPhone
Steve Ballmer disses on the iPhone
Engadget tells us about Steve Ballmer's big diss on the iPhone. He calls it "by far the most expensive phone in the marketplace," which is of course not even close to true. There's a big luxury phone market out there, as Engadget reminds us, and the iPhone is hardly among the biggest tickets of the big ticket mobile phone items. Ballmer called the iPhone "not suitable for business purposes", which was also not a huge surprise given its lack of keyboard, 3G and (as Engadget puts it) "half-hearted attempt at Push mail". So is Ballmer out of line? No, not really, especially since he talks specifically about subsidies and contracts in reference to his "expensive" comments, but that won't stop us from complaining about his comments. We're fangeeks and this is one of the things we do.
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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 2)
Jon said 10:09PM on 1-18-2007
Technically, Microsoft isn't selling any phones either. They're only selling the OS that runs on the phones. One of the reasons why I prefer Macs to Windows PCs is the way that the hardware and software are designed around each other. This is why I will be buying an Apple phone over any other "smart" phones in the market. I think "It just works" isn't just a marketing gimmick - I consider it to be a truthful statement about Apple's products.
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Eric Silverman said 10:11PM on 1-18-2007
ballmer can go $%^& a goat
that is all
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The Junk said 10:33PM on 1-18-2007
In what world does the Zune have a 25% market share of the high end market? He needs to provide so backup for these claims...
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Jake said 10:39PM on 1-18-2007
ballmer is a retard! Apple is selling no phone CAUSE THEY DID NOT SHIP ANY YET!
This is definently NO THE MOST EXPENSIVE PHONE!
Also its not just a phone, its an iPod, a revolutionary mobile phone, and a breakthrough internet communicater. an ipod a mobile phone, are you getting it yet!
Also lol microsoft has 1% of the marketshare with zune lol!
Ontop of that, I don't know ONE person of my friends that will not shell out $500 for the iPhone. I might even buy the $600!
lol I love how he laughs at apple. I mean laughing at your upcoming biggest competition!
He looks like a retard laughing.
Long Live Mac
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Gerry said 10:47PM on 1-18-2007
Good lord in heaven... what an idiot, and not exactly a spin-master. Sounds like the captain of the Titanic trying to convince his passengers and crew to nevermind that iceberg... we're not sinking...
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e:leaf said 10:50PM on 1-18-2007
The bigger question is since when does Apple cater its products around whether business users will want it? They excel at making consumer products that everyday people want to use, and I would bet that the iPhone will serve its niche well.
This is a product for consumers, not businessmen. In that regard, Apple couldn't care less whether businessmen will want to use it.
Why must MS executives always resort to the business world? They can have the business world if they choose, Apple doesn't seem to be fighting for it.
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Alexis Cordova said 10:53PM on 1-18-2007
I don't understand why Ballmer would say that the iPhone is not good for business customers because it doesn't have a keyboard, making it difficult to send emails. The iPhone does have a keyboard, it's just not a traditional qwerty keyboard you'd find on a smartphone. Was I the only one who saw the keynote?
As for Microsoft having its mobile OS on many phones that "go on the internet" and "play music", I think that's the most laughable part of his comments. Comparing the iPhone's internet capabilities to Windows Mobile device's internet capablities is like comparing driving on the freeway to driving a gokart on a circular track. Same can be said for music and video playback.
Was Ballmer out of line for his comments? Steve Ballmer can say whatever the hell he wants. He can also stand behind Microsoft's strategy in this perticular market. However, that doesn't change the fact that Apple's strategy and implementation of features beats what is currently out there. It does this, mind you, without even being completed. Only time will tell, but I wouldn't be surprised if certain mobile phone companies (and Microsoft) start coming out with phones in the US with comparable features to the iPhone.
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jho said 10:54PM on 1-18-2007
The "push" email solution on the iPhone is absolutely half-assed. IMAP idle is no excuse for real push email, chatter email does a pretty good job of making it work but just because of the way EDGE works in real life staying connected is a real challenge. Don't kid yourselves Yahoo, the experience is going to be nothing like a Blackberry backed by a BES server.
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greg said 11:00PM on 1-18-2007
Ballmer chides Apple for the $500 pricetag of iPhone. Everyone....and I mean everyone, I know said they'd pony up the $500 for it. Myself included.
He left one thing out though. OSX costs $100. Vista? Up to $500 (not counting anti-virus apps and other "shields").
Vista? $500
Ubuntu Edgy and OSX? $100 total.
Sticking it to MS? Priceless.
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UniBoy said 11:10PM on 1-18-2007
They are using RFC 3501 in the iPhone, which is IMAP4rev1. It is not the same thing as IMAP IDLE. In fact, it ROCKS!!!
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Quix said 11:15PM on 1-18-2007
Allow me to recap the interview:
Reporter: "Steve, let me ask you about the iPhone, if I may."
Steve (thinking to himself): "Wait for it...wait for it...try to conceal constipated grimace..."
Reporter: "Steve Jobs goes to Macworld and unveils this iPhone - what was your first reaction to that?"
Steve (again thinking to himself): "OK, now unleash ridiculously phony belly laugh, try not to sound too sinister..."
Steve (out loud - REALLY LOUD): "$500? Fully subsidized???"
Steve (thinking to himself again): "now lean way forward into camera to effect maximum terror on viewing audience..."
The man is a buffoon. I don't know that there's ever been such an unlikely, undeserving recipient of fame and fortune (Ashley Simpson perhaps? Or maybe Microsoft in general?).
He also forgot to mention that Windows Vista Ultimate is almost the price of an iPhone, and all you get with that is a stinkin' install disc. Yeah Steve, where's the value there?
I'm sure 5 years from now we'll be talking about the "new iPhone killer," the ZunePhone. I can't wait...
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Maha10k said 1:23AM on 1-19-2007
Steve Ballmer and Col. Klink (Hogan's Heroes) separated at birth.
The guy's a hater and a tool.
Need proof:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wvsboPUjrGc
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Malcolm Bishop said 11:37PM on 1-18-2007
So lets line up the errors. 1. everything he said. 2. everything he implied. 3. Doing the interview. 4.anything the first 3 don't cover. The attention the iphone has received nearly blew out the entire CES, and looking at where Zune is on Amazons top seller list right now isn't a confidence builder for MS. I think Balmer either knows something we don't, or is sniffing glue. I'll spend the extra $100 and get the big one for sure!
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Count Chocula said 11:52PM on 1-18-2007
I think all those pictures you see of Balmer, wearing a shirt drenched in sweat were once funny. But now, you know thats not sweat on his shirt, its common sense. And he has very little left....
Where did he get his numbers for marketshare on Zune? His dreams?
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niclet said 12:09AM on 1-19-2007
Micro$teve is a jealous mythomaniac hyperactive m0r0n...
(Ooops! I said it)
I meant, the guy is wrong(!) Besides, there's a lot of bad tongues (as Ballmer's Tongue™) spiting on the Apple iPhone. Just wait its release and you'll see how it will amaze people. M$ have no lesson to give at all.
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tundraboy said 12:11AM on 1-19-2007
I thought Peter Boyle is dead!
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mike said 1:54AM on 1-19-2007
I wonder what he thought of the (albeit slightly unfair) Vista Dev. Quote
"I'd buy a Mac if I weren't working for Microsoft"
*ouuuch
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Extensor said 1:04AM on 1-19-2007
Can someone tell me if he channels Homer Simpson "Woo Hoo!" and sweats alot in this clip? Cause if not then I won't waste my time watching it.
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fiveIron said 1:52AM on 1-19-2007
Judging Balmer's mannerisms and body language, I would say that he is a scared child who fell into the lion's cage. Reactive and not very mature.
Although, if he really believes what he is saying, it's even worse. The man has lost touch with reality. He is not realistic.
Consumers are smart people -- at least the majority i hope -- and Apple knows this. They're not just selling a phone, they are making a dent in the universe.
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Adrian vG said 2:08AM on 1-19-2007
I really don't like Ballmer and don't think he should have the positition at a company which he has. He's a noisy clown. He's right about the the expensive phone, but is Vista cheap? And he compares the iPhone to any other current smart phone as if it just was a normal emailing and surfing telephone! Which it isn't!
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