Steve Ballmer: iPad Not affordable for all

In my opinion, the worst thing a CEO can do is take a denialist approach to his competitors' successes. Microsoft is so large, and they compete on so many fronts, it is inevitable that they're going to face stiff competition from somebody. Today, this just happens to be Apple and Google. Ballmer has this terrible vacuum-cleaner-salesman approach to answering these questions. It's almost painful to watch.

I'd have a lot more respect for him if he spent less time being dismissive and had better answers about where his company is going in order to answer these successes.

Imagine the difference in the media/community response if Ballmer had come on stage at D8 with a (even somewhat) working Courier tablet. That's a moot point actually, because compared to the coverage of Google I/O and Steve Jobs' appearance at D8, Ballmer has received little coverage. Gee, I wonder why?

Reality Check: Windows not affordable for all, either! Which is the reason for piracy, of course, but Ballmer wouldn't know that, would he? ;)

If you follow the argument, Free (beer) wins. Take that, Ballmer.