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154 Comments
- inactive, on 10/12/2007, -12/+146He is dead right that the iPhone won't have a large market share. Unfortunately he kind of misses the point. If Apple get a 1% market share of the 1.3 billion phones then they have a small market share by definition. This 1% will add up to 13 million phones and, assuming an average profit for Apple of $100 per phone, thats $1.3 billion in revenue.
That 1% doesn't look so bad now. - Quix, on 10/12/2007, -24/+145Ballmer is a buffoon and an embarrassment to the corporate world. That this clown is a billionaire is one of fate's greatest jokes upon mankind.
And for him to be blowing hot air publicly about the iPhone proves 1) it will be a big hit, and 2) it worries him.
5 years from now, we'll look back at this Ballmer quote with great amusement. - levirogers, on 10/12/2007, -13/+82I am definitely not Apple Fan boy, but Ballmer just needs to learn to keep his mouth shut.
- timusca, on 10/12/2007, -17/+62I love Ballmer's hypocracy... he basically said Apple are fools for trying this thing out, yet they just "tried" the same thing with the Zune. What a tool.
And he has an ugly tongue to boot. - trghpy, on 10/12/2007, -5/+49@mad5
Don't forget the 10 bucks a month kick back from cingular.
10 * 12 * 13,000,000 = 1,560,000,000 yr.
Not bad either...
Apple yearly profits will double or triple if the iphone doesn't flop. - lieutenantmudd, on 10/12/2007, -4/+35Can people stop talking about how ***** an unreleased product is? I know I am beating a tired drum here, but all the ***** being said now is almost identical to what people where saying about the iPod. Anyone else ever read that Slashdot thread right after the iPod was announced...
Hell, look at the AppleTV posts from two months ago about how it sucks because you can't hack it. Give a product time to sink or swim on its own. - frostieDude, on 10/12/2007, -24/+55Developers! Developers! Developers! Developers! Developers! Developers! Developers! Developers! Developers! Developers! Developers! Developers! Developers! Developers! Developers! Developers! Developers! Developers! Developers! Developers! Developers! Developers! Developers! Developers! Developers! Developers! Developers! Developers! Developers! Developers! Developers! Developers! Developers! Developers! Developers! Developers! Developers! Developers! Developers! Developers! Developers! Developers! Developers! Developers! Developers! Developers! Developers! Developers! Developers! Developers! Developers! Developers! Developers! Developers! Developers! Developers! Developers! Developers! Developers! Developers! Developers! Developers! Developers! Developers! Developers! Developers! Developers! Developers! Developers! Developers! Developers! Developers! Developers! Developers! Developers! Developers! Developers! Developers! Developers! Developers! Developers! Developers! Developers! Developers! Developers! Developers! Developers! Developers! Developers! Developers! Developers! Developers! Developers! Developers! Developers! Developers! Developers! Developers! Developers! Developers! Developers! Developers! Developers! Developers! Developers! Developers! Developers! Developers!
- CraigCarlyle, on 10/12/2007, -15/+44Who wants to bet that he's going to wish he'd never said this in a few years?
- PerennialTears, on 10/12/2007, -5/+30I'm tired of Ballmer criticizing the price point of $500. The original iPod was $400 at launch and almost everyone said that they would never pay that much for an MP3 player. Well many did. This device is a Phone/(better?)iPod/Camera/Email & Internet device that has more storage than the original iPod.
What appears to be overpriced is the Zune. The closing CompUSA by my house has dropped the price of them down to 25% off and a majority of them are still sitting on the shelves a week later. The iPods blew off the shelves at a 5% discount. - ElectricSoup, on 10/12/2007, -22/+44Mac Daily News can be a bit scurrilous, but that piece was both funny and accurate:
"MacDailyNews Take: Ballmer plays fast and loose with the truth. He can 'prefer' to have his crap software in '60% or 70% or 80%' of so-called 'smartphones,' but in reality, he has but 4.6%."
As so often, MDN has an amusing graphic to accompany the story, too:
http://www.macdailynews.com/gfx/article_gfx/061130_5_ballmers.jpg - ModernGeek, on 10/12/2007, -2/+23"First they ignore you, then they ridicule you, then they fight you, then you win." - Mahatma Gandhi
- Nahor, on 10/12/2007, -5/+24"Ballmer is a buffoon and an embarrassment to the corporate world."
Have you worked in the corporate world? Ballmer fits in perfectly, and is the status quo.
"That this clown is a billionaire is one of fate's greatest jokes upon mankind."
Have you been around billionaires? Money and intelligence are polar opposites from what I've seen. - inactive, on 10/12/2007, -10/+25A razr is still $200+, it's only "cheap" because of the 2 year contract you have to sign in order to knock off the price.
The same thing will happen to the iPhone. I may be wrong, don't quote me here, but wasn't it something like $500 with a contract?
Also, Micrsoft doesn't make hardware? Wtf? Xbox? Zune? - pilotmike, on 10/12/2007, -5/+17In other news, reports are coming in from all over Redmond that chairs are going into hiding.
- DelMonte, on 10/12/2007, -2/+13"No wireless. Less space than a Nomad. Lame."
Guys, don't pick on him, he's just repeating what CmdrTaco posted on Slashdot when the original iPod was unveiled.
http://apple.slashdot.org/article.pl?sid=01/10/23/1816257&tid=107 - einsteindesign, on 10/12/2007, -2/+12BlackBerry is the exact correct analogy. I didn't realize their user base was so small -- around 8 million -- until the recent outage. Would anyone call the BlackBerry 'insignificant' in the mobile market?
- Justin6512, on 10/12/2007, -9/+19are you retarded, it seems like every iPhone story has a comment that claims the iPhone has no wireless. You must be an idiot.
FYI
the iPhone does in fact have WiFi, and not only that, it has a full featured browser that doesn't need to have sites specially designed for it. It has google earth built right in, built in email client of course, full multimedia capabilities. All the features that you can want. I'm sure the second version of the phone will have built in GPS.
4 and 8 gb models, and I'm sure those will increase overtime since flash memory is becoming so large nowadays.
Get your facts straight before you make a stupid comment.
Here's the official website, note that one of it's claims is "breakthrough internet device" kinda hard to be a breakthrough internet device (or at least claim to be) without WiFi (wireless)!!!
http://www.apple.com/iphone/ - einsteindesign, on 10/12/2007, -4/+13@compdude...
I was talking about marketshare, not functionality. Pretty sure that was obvious.
But for someone to use 'fool', 'idiots' and 'dumbasses' all within the same thought process while misunderstanding your opponent's position.... the irony is simply too sweet. - etnu, on 10/12/2007, -7/+16The funniest part is the naive belief that having a huge market share is necessary to make a profit. Apple only holds about 5% of the PC market and they're one of the largest producers out there (I think HP or Dell sell more units, but their margins are terrible so I doubt they make more money).
Microsoft just doesn't understand that virtually every market out there benefits when there aren't huge monopolies. Controlling 40% of the market is not "failure". Controlling 10% of the market is not failure (especially not if there are more than 10 competitors ;-)). Balmer just can't pull his head out of his monopoly and see this. - Ireland, on 10/12/2007, -9/+18I thought WindowsMobile® market share was closer to 6%, and not 60, 70 or 80%?
/that and Microsoft do not make hardware, as in phones. - NSResponder, on 10/12/2007, -1/+10As an Apple shareholder, I hope Ballmer continues to do precisely what he's been doing ever since Bill Gates let him have the big chair.
-jcr - randysouth, on 10/12/2007, -7/+16Dance Monkeyboy!
- WiseWeasel, on 10/12/2007, -6/+15The iPhone adds another critical piece to the iTunes puzzle. Let's look at the AppleTV, iTunes, and iPhone together. Right now, the AppleTV gets its content from iTunes loaded on a computer on the network. There is no way to add new content to the AppleTV without using a computer with iTunes. The reason for this is that complex user input is not practical with a 10-foot interface. For example, it would not be practical to find a particular movie title you want from all released movies, such as how Netflix works. Keyboards in the living room are not elegant solutions, you can only fit so much text on your TV that's readable from 10 feet away, and you can't navigate web pages short of having something similar to the Wiimote, and even that is very difficult to use accurately from ten feet away.
So this means that AppleTV users must go to their computer each time they want to load some new content. Now what if you had an iPhone with you, and you could instead use that to search for the movie you want, purchase it, and load it to your computer's or AppleTV's library. Then, you would have a usable complex interface for content discovery in the palm of your hand, and you would no longer need to go to your office to load new content on the AppleTV in the living room.
The iPhone is an extension of your computer, and of iTunes, to address complex functionality without having to be in front of your computer. The advanced user input and compact size allows for some interesting new applications to extend computers into more aspects of your life. While Apple might be using it mainly for extending iTunes for now, I have no doubt it will evolve into the next general-use computing platform for Apple. It seems that iTunes functionality is the bait that Apple is using to get this new form factor seeded into the market; it's the new marketing angle that Apple hopes will be more successful than current PDA and smart phones' less focused market targetting. Apple is trying to grow the "smart phone" market to include people who want to manage media on the go, not take over the existing smart phone market. - wilhoitm, on 10/12/2007, -5/+13Just one problem, it is running Windows!
- inactive, on 10/12/2007, -2/+10I'd buy one just to spite Ballmer
- totorototoro, on 10/12/2007, -5/+13Jesus dude, get over the iPhone and Jobs, and focus on making the Xbox360 more reliable.
- pickypg, on 10/12/2007, -4/+11I would like an iPhone, but there is no way I am going to spent $500 on a phone on top of the very high monthly rates that this phone and its data plan will go for. Maybe if I can convince my job that it is just like a Blackberry, but I have my doubts because of how much cheaper Blackberry's are now.
- mrsurefire, on 10/12/2007, -6/+13If you think the iPhone is just a phone then you're not paying attention. Ballmer has to say what he says to distract your attention from A) MS crap software and 2) Apple's continuing product successes.
I can't wait to get an iPhone and use it to get my web info. It runs OSX and Safari. That is sure a good sign and points to the software explosion that is inevitable. - carpespasm, on 10/12/2007, -11/+18the current cell phones would be fine if it weren't for the companies that service them.
- Konrad9, on 10/12/2007, -11/+17It's five hundred ***** dollars.
I gotta side with this dude.
The PS3 plays blu-ray movies, runs linux, plays games, and hasn't managed to move a significant number of units.
I really want an iPhone, but can you really honestly say a phone at that price point is going to sell well? - geminitojanus, on 10/12/2007, -4/+10Isn't device reduction reason enough to get one? I hate carrying things in my pockets, but its seems every time I leave the house I'm carrying (at a minimum) my iPod, headphones, cellphone, some kind of digital camera (my Treo 600's built-in 1/2 megapixel digital camera is, to put it politely, crap; either I take my little cybershot or my somewhat bigger optio), wallet, probably checkbook, keys. For me, it reduces all of gadgetry into one device (well, two devices if you want to count the phone's headset and headphones as a separate item, but then again it likely wouldn't be in my pocket and instead my ear, where it should be), freeing up my pockets.
But, I can understand that not being worth $500 to some people. - geminitojanus, on 10/12/2007, -3/+9"Now, traditionally the only people willing to are businesses, for Palms and the like. "
*cough* Razr *cough* (yeah, everyone knows the Razr was such a business phone). - laserblazer, on 10/12/2007, -4/+10They will get 09 F9 11 02 9D 74 E3 5B D8 41 56 C5 63 56 88 C0 percent of the market share.
- chinaman1472, on 10/12/2007, -5/+10$500 retail without a service plan would be okay. $500 and you're stuck in a two year contract? It's pretty harsh for some people; and price is a HUGE selling point for a lot of people despite capabilities. Lots of people have iPods already. Many PDAs are starting to go below $300 with a 2 year contract (even as low as $50 for Cingular). It's hard to justify that price for convience (phone + mp3 player in one). Not everyone has money-growing tress in their backyard. Just give it some time, and after another year or two it'll be something to invest in probably. Take a look at the first generation iPods and compare them to the 2nd and 3rd generations; they made decent improvements. Give the iPhone another two or three revisions, and if it stays in the market, it'll be something worthwhile then.
- cleverboy, on 10/12/2007, -4/+9Oh, come on. If Ballmer stopped talking, we'd have nothing to chortle about. This is GOLD! As CEO for one of the largest tech companies in the world, he's a very very petty man. You can't write undisguised animosity like this. Bill gets huffy and curt, but Ballmer gets LOUD.
This one with Steve jobs cracks me up though.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=upzKj-1HaKw
So many years later and Steve's mellowed even further from mentioning competitors, but Ballmer hasn't. When Jobs was asked about the stock dips in RIM and Palm on announcement of the iPhone, he didn't even crack a smirk. He had this wide-eyed baby look, like he didn't know why people might be so excited.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SX1Lz8PDgg8
"One of the biggest motivations for working so hard for a few years to make a great product, is, you want one yourself."
I sware to God Ballmer would never say that sentence. - HairyPoter, on 10/12/2007, -2/+6I would complete... focus on making SOMETHING, ANYTHING, just one product, reliable.
- alansky, on 10/12/2007, -2/+6Steve Balmer: No chance this clown has a brain.
- melondoc, on 10/12/2007, -4/+8Wait! I've seen a similar thread elsewhere: http://apple.slashdot.org/article.pl?sid=01/10/23/1816257
The BrownFury writes "At an invitation only event Apple has released their new MP3 player called the iPod. iPod is the size of a deck of cards. 2.4" wide by 4" tall by .78" thick 6.5 ounces. 5 GB HDD, 10 hr battery life, charged via FireWire. Works as a firewire drive as well. Works in conjunctions with iTunes 2. Here are Live updates". No wireless. Less space than a nomad. Lame.
"Raise your hand if you have iTunes ...
Raise your hand if you have a FireWire port ...
Raise your hand if you have both ...
Raise your hand if you have $400 to spend on a cute Apple device ...
There is Apple's market. Pretty slim, eh? I don't see many sales in the future of iPod. " - CogitatorX, on 10/12/2007, -3/+7Damn, man, you need a man purse. My EDC is a phone, Cold Steel Lockblade and a Swiss Army Knife w/LED flashlight.
- techmonkey4u, on 10/12/2007, -0/+3hey now.. I think solitaire is pretty damn reliable. Go Microsoft!
- dignon, on 10/12/2007, -4/+7Ballmer = idiot
'nuff said. - FatShady, on 10/12/2007, -5/+8God, you know, it keeps getting *funnier* every time somebody says that!
Way to go! - WinGeek, on 10/15/2008, -0/+3Thank you China!
- jjjjjjb, on 10/12/2007, -2/+5Here is the original, full article:
http://www.usatoday.com/money/companies/management/2007-04-29-ballmer-ceo-forum-usat_N.htm
It's an interesting and revealing article in a lot of ways, worth reading. - HairyPoter, on 10/12/2007, -2/+4I bet Apple will change iTunes name. As Apple Computers was renamed as Apple, Inc., now iTunes is too "musical" for the road Apple is in.
- austintheheller, on 10/12/2007, -2/+4@betterth
"Just look at the Playstation 3. That has an amazingly powerful processor, plays Blu-Ray movies, backwards compatibility with a massive collection of entertainment in the form of DVD and PS2 games. Exact same pricing points as the iPhone. Yet it's having a hard time selling. "
The reason the PlayStation 3 is having a hard time in the marketplace is not only due to its high price, but because of a lack of good titles. Having a powerful processor means nothing to the consumer (if there's nothing out there to put it to good use, which is the PS3's problem), but amazingly intuitive software DOES mean something, which is what Apple is charging for. My dad, who epitomizes the business consumer and paid $500 for his Windows Mobile Treo, already wishes the iPhone was out right now. - jer2eydevil88, on 10/12/2007, -1/+3More importantly than us being a free society, we are a society who loves to mock those who appear dumber than ourselves. Without people like Balmer who routinely make fools out of themselves where would we get that "better than you" feeling?
- authors, on 10/12/2007, -2/+4Have you ever seen Ballmer or listen to him? There are more reasons to believe that than just this article. I still flinch at his early Windows commercials. It's painful to watch.
- KoZo, on 10/12/2007, -2/+4BREAKING NEWS: Microsoft CEO tells that competitor's product suck!
- MrFrosty, on 10/12/2007, -0/+2I've heard Ballmer make comments like this before. There's that video of him laughing at the iPhone and its price. If he doesn't know that this thing is going to fly off the shelves and is likely to lead to a major shake up of the cellphone market then he should be asked to step down for his position. Microsoft need to lose the guy, new blood is required to inject a bit of life into the company and improve its image.
I have a smartphone with windows mobile, the hardwear is great, the let down of course is the OS. Its slow, far from intuitive, if I had never used windows before I would have found it near impossible to use. It takes ages to boot up and likes to crash now and again too. -
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