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What laptop does Steve Ballmer use for his presentations?

flickr.com — What laptop does Steve Ballmer use for his presentations? Right...

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  • man3ster, on 04/28/2008, -45/+114OOO snaps
    • 5urr3al5am, on 04/28/2008, -7/+38nobodies believing that one
    • AlexBellisBrown, on 04/28/2008, -18/+4Shows what you can do with a Apple bumper sticker.
    • alwaysmc2, on 04/28/2008, -6/+110It wasn't his. It was the previous presenters according to this picture: http://flickr.com/photos/choubistar/2439499170/
    • SmellyGeekBoy, on 04/28/2008, -21/+9OGC
      • thinkalone, on 04/28/2008, -8/+24DEVELOPERS DEVELOPERS DEVELOPERS DEVELOPERS DEVELOPERS DEVELOPERS DEVELOPERS DEVELOPERS
        • thcobbs, on 04/28/2008, -1/+4/me Throws chair at previous presenter.
        • dimplemonkey, on 04/28/2008, -2/+2C'MON! GET UP! WOOOOOOOO! GET UP!
    • lordthor, on 04/28/2008, -12/+61buried as inaccurate
    • toppgun, on 04/28/2008, -5/+9could be bootcamp with vista or xp
      • system7, on 04/28/2008, -10/+7Nah, once you've used Keynote you can't go back to Powerpoint.
        • therightclique, on 04/28/2008, -7/+7are you joking?
        • itsthebrod, on 04/28/2008, -6/+8Is that why Keynote is the standard presentation software in the business world? Oh wait a second, it's not. Not by a long shot.
        • Spuy767, on 04/29/2008, -2/+9Keynote presentation look MUCH more polished than PowerPoints. I'm in the presentation services business, so I see literally THOUSANDS of presentations a year. I have yet to see a PPT that looks as good as a keynote presentation. That said, power point is the defacto standard.
    • uhhNo, on 04/28/2008, -10/+19What idiots are digging this article up? It is OBVIOUSLY not true...
    • compdude32, on 04/28/2008, -17/+0Nice photoshop job, clearly fake.
    • BlackJackJester, on 04/28/2008, -14/+2Doesn't change the fact MS owns a large part of apple.
      • wphj, on 04/28/2008, -0/+9Owned, and then sold, a sizable investment in apple several years ago.
        • strangewill, on 04/29/2008, -0/+6Which was non-voting anyway.
          • Spuy767, on 04/30/2008, -0/+1And coud have netted them substantially more cash had they waited to sell.
        • Spuy767, on 04/30/2008, -0/+1It was $100,000,000.00. In the grand scheme of things, it wasn't /that/ sizeable.
    • championchap, on 04/28/2008, -7/+3Assuming it's his laptop.. do you think that perhaps it's Microsoft simply wanting to minimise embarassment?
      Ok, so having it on show wasnt a smart move, but apparently not many people noticed till now.
      I just think that if he IS using a Mac, it could well be that they just want to avoud another bluescreen of death on stage. If they are using a Mac they can big themselfes up and say "i had to borrow my cousins mac, my laptop is in the shop" should it his a panic.

      I think it's just them playing it safe.
      • choopie911, on 04/28/2008, -1/+5Are you kidding? How is saying "my windows laptop is broken, so I'm using a more reliable mac" not bad for their image? Think about what you're saying...
        • Jaydo, on 04/28/2008, -4/+2you're a ***** moron, it could be bootcamping windows.

          • choopie911, on 04/28/2008, -2/+2Wow you ***** think, I'm on a MBP with bootcamp right now. It would still be Apple hardware, which would STILL be negative for them to say that they're using an apple because their pc was being repaired. I guess you can't read when you're in a hurry to be smug.
          • Pake, on 04/28/2008, -6/+4Choopie, there's no Apple hardware inside an Apple anymore. It's a glorified Intel based computer these days that you spend more money just for an operating system with less software compatibility.
          • Kesereti, on 04/28/2008, -2/+2"...with less software compatibility."
            ...with viruses.
          • choopie911, on 04/28/2008, -3/+3Pake...are you kidding? Of course it's not "apple" hardware in terms of them manufacturing it, but it is still an apple computer.
          • Pake, on 04/29/2008, -1/+3Which is no more special than any other computer to Microsoft. As long as it's running Windows, they could care less what it's running on.
          • strangewill, on 04/29/2008, -1/+4@choopie911:
            But Microsoft doesn't have their own hardware for laptops anyway... so what would it matter? They don't own the PC market...
        • Jaydo, on 05/10/2008, -0/+1As it it's been pointing out, MS isn't so much into the hardware business...

          I don't think they're even worried about competing with Apple in the hardware market.

          Apple hardware with a Windows OS is a victory for microsoft.

          "I guess you can't read when you're in a hurry to be smug." - Are you a *****?
    • jabberwolf, on 04/28/2008, -7/+7WHERE IS BALMER?!?

      mactard propaganda as usual. buried for just flat out lie.
    • DouglasScott, on 04/29/2008, -1/+3What makes it funny it the huge Microsoft banner on the podium. Ballmer is just icing on the cake. Sweaty icing.
      Anyways, the slide is from a Keynote template so it must be running OS X. ;)
    • BlueStarr, on 04/29/2008, -1/+2haha... life just gets better and better.
  • AtiimKiambu, on 04/28/2008, -64/+1194There's really no proof that this is his laptop.
    • killbert24, on 04/28/2008, -33/+191I agree. This is lame.
      • jaybird1905, on 04/28/2008, -19/+36Take the irony for what it is, beautifully funny.
        Wet blankets I swear.
      • Takuro, on 04/28/2008, -10/+41Caption: "taken with my iPhone."

        +1 for lameness and blatant Apple fanboyism.
        • drlha, on 04/28/2008, -23/+5Fanboyism or a simple statement of fact?
          • chewbie, on 04/28/2008, -8/+11he couldn't of said "with my phone" for some reason? Come on!
            Fanboyism
          • onidraky, on 04/28/2008, -0/+12Yes, I always label shots with my phone with, "taken with my SCH-U520."
      • kuyman, on 04/29/2008, -1/+2Is saying taken with my Nikon D80 fanboyism or information? How about if I say my Minolta SRT 101?

        Flickr is a photo community and, at the serious of being dugg to the lowest bowels of hell, it could be an attempt to draw searches to his photo do to what camera it was taken with. I search for sample shots with cameras and think that this is a very useful shot for showing how poor of quality of camera it really is.
    • colincornaby, on 04/28/2008, -48/+22Yeah, it's not like it's his presentation. Oh, wait...
      • cerealman, on 04/28/2008, -3/+37The people organizing the talk would take his presentation and put it on their laptop before it starts. Whatever laptop they use, they keep it up there. This avoids the clumsy swapping of laptops every time a new speaker gets up.
        • longbow486, on 04/28/2008, -1/+3i wish people here at work would do that for training and such, i hate it when they call me and cant get their laptop on the network even though there is a dumb terminal sitting right next to them
      • EtherGnat, on 04/28/2008, -0/+8Who cares if it's Ballmer's laptop? Microsoft is one of the largest Apple developers in the world (if not the largest). As such don't you think the CEO of Microsoft might have a need to be able to run Apple software? If this isn't his laptop I guarantee you he has at least one Mac (and probably several) at his disposal. The MacBook Pros are nice pieces of hardware, and last time I checked Microsoft doesn't even make a laptop. Lame.
    • rpgmaker, on 04/28/2008, -25/+131Buried as inaccurate.
      • jboyd88, on 04/28/2008, -32/+8It isnt inaccurate at all. There is nothing here claiming that this is HIS laptop its only stating that this is the laptop he is using to give a presentation which IS accurate and proven to be real by a photo from another guy from another angle.

        Therefore your statement is inaccurate and should be buried.
        • musicbear, on 04/28/2008, -18/+3...and blocked... and reported!
          • srgtTarantula, on 04/29/2008, -0/+3...and printed out ...and masturbated on ... and then burned ...and then pissed on to put out the flames ...and then made into a lotion ...then gently rubbed on the skin ...or it gets the hose again!
        • Zonf86, on 04/28/2008, -2/+4Burn it!
        • fajitamelt, on 04/28/2008, -3/+3His statement wasn't inaccurate...Burying for inaccuracy doesn't mean that the article is inaccurate. Buried for being a douche bag.
        • Zyphron, on 04/28/2008, -2/+1Actually, the article does not claim that balmer used this laptop for "A" presentation, it claimed that he uses it for "HIS" presentationS. (emphasis on plural) The obvious implication of that statement is that Balmer regularly uses this laptop for his presentations.
        • homeagain1, on 04/28/2008, -0/+3That's misleading at best, then.
    • falkonv7l, on 04/28/2008, -21/+6Shopped
      • falkonv7l, on 04/28/2008, -2/+3sorry, forgot to ad "jk" or *sarcasm*
    • pgouy, on 04/28/2008, -7/+18Doubt its his personal notebook, but it was there:
      http://flickr.com/photos/choubistar/2439499170/
      • userperson, on 04/28/2008, -2/+1I was going to dispute that (the laptop was even there). (I like Macintosh, but) I just think they should/would be more careful about such things... then again maybe he was running windows on it *amuse*.
    • cawpin, on 04/28/2008, -10/+41http://flickr.com/photos/choubistar/2439499170/

      It's not his.
    • HypocriteDigg, on 04/28/2008, -21/+4Is there any proof Steve Balmer's suite is his own? Goddamn idiot, of course there's no proof, jackoff.
      • choopie911, on 04/28/2008, -1/+7His suite? Why would we be remotely interested in his hotel arrangement?
      • AtiimKiambu, on 04/28/2008, -2/+1That's my whole point. Imagine if Steve Ballmer made some big speech about how he hated Armani suits. Then, somebody posted a picture of Ballmer in front of a closet, and one of the suits inside was Armani. People would start start overreacting, saying that he obviously wears Armani because it's so awesome and hip and has funny commercials making fun of Gucci, when there's no proof that it's even his closet.
    • rudy23, on 04/28/2008, -14/+4Really doesn't matter. Microsoft using Apple OS and Hardware for demonstrations is pretty ridiculous
      • dafragsta, on 04/28/2008, -4/+13Unless it was a "house" computer for showing the placards of the next speaker... insufferable jackass.
      • PhineasPoe, on 04/28/2008, -2/+3It's not so much that they were using Apple hardware but that they used Keynote instead of Power Point
      • Zyphron, on 04/28/2008, -0/+4I dont think you understand that Microsoft was invited to speak at a presentation for someone else...and that those people most likely determined the hardware/software used for the presentation.
      • Pake, on 04/28/2008, -0/+1More than likely it's an Apple computer running Windows.
        • mrBitch, on 04/29/2008, -0/+1Keynote doesn't run under Windows, it's an OS X only application. The slide on the screen is from a Keynote template. QED : It's a MacBook running Keynote under OS X.
    • springboks, on 04/28/2008, -14/+7There's also really no proof it isn't his laptop.
      • arizonabay, on 04/28/2008, -3/+26There's no proof that it isn't Jessica Alba's laptop either.
      • maelnum, on 04/28/2008, -1/+13"One Swedish made penis enlarger pump."
        "That's not mine!"
        "One credit card receipt for Swedish made penis enlarger pump signed by Austin Powers."
        "I'm telling you baby that's not mine."
        "One warranty card for Swedish made penis enlarger pump filled out by Austin Powers."
        "I don't even know what this is. This sorta thing ain't my bag baby."
        "One book, Swedish made penis enlarger pumps and me, this sorta thing is my bag, baby, by Austin Powers."
      • Vincent21212, on 04/28/2008, -1/+2Just like there isn't any proof God doesn't exist?
    • danman890, on 04/28/2008, -15/+20I love how no one can just laugh at the absurdity of the picture, they just start pointing out ways it could be wrong :p
      • Raian, on 04/28/2008, -2/+8When did you morons forget Microsoft is a SOFTWARE company that not only supports the Mac, can also install their OS on the Mac... for all we know a PowerBook running Vista is Balmer's computer of choice-- Microsoft makes money off the Mac OS, and Mac hardware.
        • kyouteki, on 04/28/2008, -8/+1How does Microsoft make money off of the Mac OS or hardware? I mean, yes, Office is a brisk seller on the Mac platform, but certainly not a system-seller.
        • InfamousGuZ, on 04/28/2008, -1/+2Just because it isn't spread through all of the Macbooks doesn't mean they don't make money off of it.
      • Vincent21212, on 04/28/2008, -0/+4I laughed for only about 2 seconds. What else should I do with my time?
      • GreenAlien, on 04/28/2008, -0/+3Agreed danman890.

        It's an amusing photo. Previous presenter has his Mac on show while showing the opening slide for Ballmer's presentation. It's really nothing to get pissed over, geeezz. Some people need to get out more. No browny points for saying it's not real or misleading for the 10th time.
    • digitallysick, on 04/28/2008, -6/+4Yeah all CEO's have a rival companies laptop beside them when they give speeches.
      • Vincent21212, on 04/28/2008, -0/+1Yes. And the sledgehammer is beneath the podium, out of view.
    • KibibyteBrain, on 04/28/2008, -3/+12Even IF it was, it doesn't mean it was running OSX. And even if it was running OSX, that is clearly some version of Powerpoint. Microsoft doesn't have to personally hate Apple to compete with them. And just because you are using a competing product doens't imply it s better for your target market. I doubt Ford executives drive Focuses, or that IBM excutives use a BlueGene...
      • smrekar, on 04/28/2008, -1/+4and even if it was running a powerpoint file it could have been running apple's Keynote instead... And even if Steve Ballmer got on his knees and prayed to jobs...
    • masterkenobi, on 04/28/2008, -9/+43Buried as inaccurate Apple fapfap material. What's up with Digg? It's like it has become the Fox news for Apple fanboys.
      • Azio, on 04/28/2008, -1/+20Digg has *always* been Fox News for Apple fanboys.

        OUR TOP STORY THIS WEEK: STEVE BALLMER USES A MACBOOK PRO AND PROBABLY RUNS WINDOWS ON IT
      • Octaman, on 04/28/2008, -11/+1I know the guy who took the picture... and yes, Ballmer was using the MacBook Pro.
        • InfamousGuZ, on 04/28/2008, -2/+13Congratu-*****-lations.
          • Octaman, on 04/28/2008, -7/+2Have fun jacking off at your moms house!
        • TheMidnight, on 04/28/2008, -1/+7Oh yeah? Well I know Steve Ballmer and he thinks you're a retarded half-brain mongoloid chimpanzee.
      • cheesypasta, on 04/28/2008, -5/+2Customize -> Settings -> Techology -> Apple uncheck. Problem solved.
    • Emelius, on 04/28/2008, -1/+3Balmer will eat you.
    • ppvanzella, on 04/28/2008, -8/+6Hey, all you fanboys (of both sides), it's OBVIOUS that it's not HIS laptop. It probably the previous guy's...
      If you haven't gotten it yet, it's a ***** JOKE, you retards >.<

      And yes, a quite funny one.
    • dimplemonkey, on 04/28/2008, -2/+4what's getting all of you up in arms? the fact that Ballmer uses a Mac or the fact you misread the headline as his laptop is a mac? besides, he may use Office for Mac 2008 (heh, heh)
    • ez12a, on 04/28/2008, -3/+2Even if it was...who cares? Since when was it that Microsoft is Apple's archenemy? Gates was all for running Windows on Macs.

      More Macs sold = more copies of Windows sold.
      • Ajnabee4U, on 04/28/2008, -4/+1Yea but 99.9% of all macs run MAC OS LEOPARD or wutever they newly made. Windows is only the .1% of nerdy folks that like to have two OS's on there system just to show off. they nerdiness ....haha THese are the guys who have also have RED HAT.
    • Calcularius, on 04/28/2008, -4/+2The photograph is proof that is the laptop he used for that presentation.
      Who said anything about what laptop he owns?
      Most likely he doesn't own any laptop, Microsoft owns them so the cost can be deducted as a business expense.
      Of course your comment is getting dugg up because of all the pussy windows defenders who are constantly in damage control mode.
    • anarchyx34, on 04/28/2008, -0/+1Even if it's not his, someone put it there.
    • ajadoniz, on 04/28/2008, -1/+2buried as inaccurate.
    • Minters, on 04/28/2008, -0/+0Errr just so we are clear, even if that IS Steve Ballmers laptop, why is this a scandal? You know you can run Windows on a Mac right?
    • eth0, on 04/29/2008, -0/+0Where does it say that is his laptop?
      I believe it says that that is the laptop he uses for his presentations.
      The bias here is amazing.
    • allemande, on 04/30/2008, -0/+1Who cares if it's his or not, what's it doing at a microsoft event in the first place?
  • pisceslad07, on 04/28/2008, -22/+659Ballmer probably saw that thing, screamed "WTF!!, WTF!!, WTF!!..." to a cheering crowd and snapped it in two with his enormous bear hands.

    • diabolicdiablo, on 04/28/2008, -31/+14Steve Ballmer > Chuck Norris
      • saggygrandma, on 04/28/2008, -11/+6Steve Ballmer + Chair > Chuck Norris
      • bobthegreat1224, on 04/28/2008, -1/+12I'm sorry, Chuck Norris pissed off the Digg crowd when he pressed his IP rights. You'll have to find a new standby joke. You can probably drag out OGC for a few months.
    • TheKingInYellow, on 04/28/2008, -7/+9bear hands? claws?
    • zantos420, on 04/28/2008, -4/+13you forgot to add while skipping across the stage
    • franklymister, on 04/28/2008, -6/+11How do you scream an acronym?
      • midejitsu, on 04/28/2008, -2/+34Quite loudly, I imagine.
      • WoollyMittens, on 04/28/2008, -2/+18Sadly, it happens quite often that I hear someone shout "doubleyou tee eff".
      • Forky, on 04/28/2008, -2/+26And Australia were all like WTF mate... damn kangaroos.
      • antoniojvr, on 04/28/2008, -9/+7It's an abbreviation, numb nuts.
        • KokomoNYC, on 04/28/2008, -2/+12It's an acronym. Look it up, then STFU and GTFO.
        • ileftfark, on 04/28/2008, -5/+4Even though you have less diggs, which frankly isn't surprising, you are correct.

          An acronym must create a word of its own, as opposed to an abbreviation. An acronym would be SCUBA or LASER, whereas an abbreviation would be like RIAA or OMGWTFBBQ, meaning that your posit that "wtf" is not an acronym, simply an abbreviation is 100% accurate.
        • Zyphron, on 04/28/2008, -1/+3Actually, it is both.
          Abbreviation - A shortened form of a word or phrase used chiefly in writing to represent the complete form, such as Mass. for Massachusetts or USMC for United States Marine Corps.
          Acronym -A word formed from the initial letters of a name, such as WAC for Women's Army Corps, or by combining initial letters or parts of a series of words, such as radar for radio detecting and ranging.
          In other words, an acronym is an abbreviation, but an abbreviation is not necessarily an acronym.
          • ileftfark, on 04/28/2008, -0/+2I know I'm nitpicking, but if we're going to discuss this, we might as well get it right. You are correct in saying that an acronym is also an abbreviation. The important and distinctive feature of an "acronym" is that it forms a pronounceable word on its own. "SCUBA" is an abbreviation that is also a word. The original argument was that "WTF" is an acronym. "WTF" is certainly and abbreviation, but since it is not a word on its own, it fails to be an acronym.
      • ElbertF, on 04/28/2008, -5/+1WWW! TTT!! FFF!!!
      • CanTheSpam, on 04/28/2008, -1/+3Ever been to a football game?
      • b0rg, on 04/28/2008, -1/+1When Steve Ballmer screams, it's no longer an acronym.
      • BossKey, on 04/28/2008, -0/+3U-S-A!!!
        U-S-A!!!
        U-S-A!!!
    • czeman, on 04/28/2008, -7/+5...and the laptop didn't even ask him several times if he was sure he wanted to do that.
      • Marglar, on 04/28/2008, -2/+2oh, good joke. here's another good one, learn how easy it is to diable UAC
        • breezytrees, on 04/28/2008, -0/+1our UAV is online
        • czeman, on 04/29/2008, -0/+2I already have. The funny thing is that their version of user security is nothing but an annoyance. They should have done it exactly as Linux does it. Create a root account and all users have limited access unless they can supply the root password. MS failed.....AGAIN.
      • Azio, on 04/28/2008, -0/+2Yes, instead it told him that Powerpoint had "unexpectedly quit"
    • TitaniumLizzard, on 04/29/2008, -0/+1Watch out, the chairs are next!
    • pRoX171, on 04/29/2008, -0/+1Oh gawd, that made my night.
  • jrizio, on 04/28/2008, -30/+22I call BS. Anyone with a bit of time could make up a stand and slideshow like that. Wake me when the photo actually contains Steve Ballmer!
  • jrizio, on 04/28/2008, -26/+277Actually I found one: http://flickr.com/photos/choubistar/2439499170/
    • quill, on 04/28/2008, -8/+65Comments here indicate that it was left on stage by a previous (non-Microsoft) presenter. I love Apple and dislike Microsoft, but this is a non-story.
    • fuzed, on 04/28/2008, -3/+26From a comment on that picture: "I was there and I have to say that there WAS a leftover Mac from a non MS speaker. The 2 previous presenters used it for their keynotes. Ballmer didn't use a computer at all, it was just an automatic slide." Can't verify the truth to this, but it seems plausible.
    • ligyron, on 04/28/2008, -4/+12What's with the fake Steve Ballmer replying to that pick? Is that some lonely kid that goes around the internet pretending to be Steve?
    • smotpoker, on 04/28/2008, -8/+4I guess both of you didn't notice the projection behind him: "Steve Ballmer - CEO Microsoft Corporation"?

      Unless perhaps they hooked the projector up to a new presentation source and still forgot the laptop...
      • Chirp08, on 04/28/2008, -2/+7OR the event organizers had everything combined into a single slideshow and that slide was present during Ballmer's entire presentation, until the next presenter.
    • InfamousAtheist, on 04/28/2008, -1/+4He's copying a famous (infamous?) blogger known as "Fake Steve Jobs." Trying to ride someone else's coattails, and doing a ***** job of it.
    • Diggpick, on 04/28/2008, -15/+3Here's another presentation with Ballmer and a Mac
      http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oHg5SJYRHA0
      • brianara3, on 04/28/2008, -5/+6Face it...Rickrolling is past its time. That was old news, it may have been funny a few months ago.
    • AceTracer, on 04/28/2008, -0/+1Seriously, you're going to have to using something other than HA0, HA0 is the new Uui, or was several months ago before the whole thing got horribly played out.
    • archivist, on 04/29/2008, -0/+1thanks. buried as innaccurate.
  • SteelFrog, on 04/28/2008, -19/+798From a commentor on Flickr:
    "I was there and I have to say that there WAS a leftover Mac from a non MS speaker. The 2 previous presenters used it for their keynotes. Ballmer didn't use a computer at all, it was just an automatic slide."
    (http://flickr.com/photos/choubistar/2439499170/)
    • smotpoker, on 04/28/2008, -14/+2I'm unfamiliar with such presentations... are they normally presented by the company CEO? Why else would the "automatic slide" default to his name?
      • brianara3, on 04/28/2008, -3/+11Automatic slide show defines that they advance without his interaction. I'm sure this presentation was made specifically for this show.
    • punkcat, on 04/28/2008, -32/+4i was there also and saw Ballmer boot up the Mac and launch keynote.
    • elshizzo, on 04/28/2008, -7/+8$hit where's the undigg?
    • unionaire, on 04/28/2008, -8/+2Even if it WAS his laptop it only means that PowerPoint slides are working on Mac. So, M$ wins, at least in the format war over office products.
      • rspeed, on 04/28/2008, -0/+2You do realize that PowerPoint runs on Macs, too. Right? In fact, it was available for Mac OS three years before the Windows version.
    • ritter99, on 04/28/2008, -3/+3there's no such thing like a "leftover mac".
    • daizaru, on 04/28/2008, -0/+3I knew there would be an explanation, no way would he ever use a mac even if he did prefer them. I can't believe how many diggs this has received, are people really that dense?
    • chatzimcfee, on 04/29/2008, -1/+1dugg down to make the number 666
    • jackhatedance, on 04/29/2008, -0/+0he could occasionally use a Mac to watch movie, but he could not change his favorite Power Point.
    • thenome, on 04/29/2008, -0/+1Or that's what he wants you to think :)
  • atlandrew, on 04/28/2008, -103/+12I can't wait until Apple buys Microsoft in 5 years...
    • drmangrum, on 04/28/2008, -4/+49Hold on a sec, I think I have a quarter in my pocket for you to go buy a clue.
      • Ridgedog, on 04/28/2008, -2/+1First Internet LOL in a week, i only logged in to dig you up.
      • atlandrew, on 04/28/2008, -6/+1It's a joke...Jesus...I know all the Obama folks are on edge..but come on now....breathe....relax....
    • Murdats, on 04/28/2008, -1/+19why would they, wouldnt the same law that stopped microsoft doing it to apple stop apple doing it to microsoft, or do the courts love apple?
      • soundman07, on 04/28/2008, -5/+9everyone loves apple silly.
        • naio, on 04/28/2008, -1/+6I don't.
        • ParticleMan420, on 04/28/2008, -0/+1i do because they keep the 'Monopoly' word from flying around at the actual operating system company.
          Mac the giant accessory company was set up to give microsoft "competition"
          2% market share for apple is enough to keep the courts off of M$
    • mwrl, on 04/28/2008, -11/+37Microsoft owns a quarter of Apple stock. They saved Apple for going bottom up and provided software so that the company would stay afloat.
      • MacParrot, on 04/28/2008, -20/+15I could explain why you are wrong and woefully out of date, but honestly, you're just not worth it
        • NebCanuck, on 04/28/2008, -5/+19Cause that was an excellent counter-argument. Way to actually present some sort of information to back up your claims!
          • cthellis, on 04/28/2008, -3/+8Microsoft purchased $150 million worth of non-voting stock back in 1997, when Apple still had billions in cash, was still bringing in 20x that in revenue (plus some), and was losing way more than that to clones. It was a show of good faith, but represented nowhere near "a quarter" of Apple stock, nor did it in any way "save Apple." (Cutting out the chaff and releasing the iMac is really what turned their nosedive around.)

            It was part "gesture of good faith" and part "bribe to use IE" at a time when Microsoft was trying to firmly putting a boot in Netscape's ass, and part "settlement to resolve overhanging patent/licensing/lawsuit issues." (And for that, there was probably more tossed at Apple in the background, rather than as a stock investment.)

            They also sold that stock in 2001 after all the tech stocks crashed hard (and before the iPod launched), which is semi-ironic, because if they'd held onto it longer, that $150 million stock purchase would have been their best investment ever. (Purchased at around $5.50, currently at $172 with a $200 high point four months ago, with two 2:1 splits in-between...)
          • ParticleMan420, on 04/28/2008, -2/+2no, it was to keep apple in business so microsoft wouldnt have a monopoly on operating systems
          • cthellis, on 04/28/2008, -0/+2...and in that direction, it would have done absolutely nothing, because $150 million was a drop in the bucket.

            The agreement to keep Microsoft Office on the platform for a number of years was more valuable than that.
        • Murdats, on 04/28/2008, -1/+5his comment on history is woefully out of date?
          next you will tell me I need the new revision of my WWII books.
      • DAllenJ, on 04/29/2008, -0/+2MS doesn't own any Apple stock. They invested $150 million in 1997, but divested a few months later. They made a profit, but nothing close to what they would have gained had they held onto the stock.
    • ijake, on 04/28/2008, -3/+21Ok, I'm a huge fan of Apple products, but you sir... are an idiot.
    • jellygraph, on 04/28/2008, -19/+1lol, that would be funny. I will be wearing a big ***** grin on that day and maybe .net would have a decent chance at success, rather than a dark pit where people hire programmers and throw money away
      • imdandman, on 04/28/2008, -3/+3.NET actually kicks ass...
        • jellygraph, on 05/01/2008, -0/+1I tried it... its ok. A little bit on the slow side, not as bad as java. Obtuse to program for sometimes. API's are very disorganized
    • uhhNo, on 04/28/2008, -2/+13Then the average person wouldn't be able to afford a computer...
    • seltaeb4, on 04/28/2008, -6/+3Actually, this will be pretty rad. Although it begs the question, "What would Apple *want* with Microsoft?"

      Maybe Redmond could be cleared, and Apple could sell an iTunes broadcast of the destruction of Microsoft headquarters.

      Talk about a money-maker! Who *wouldn't* turn in to see Microsoft blown to pieces, never to curse any of us again with its horrible, horrible software, be it an application or an OS...

      It would be just like the scene at the end of World War II, when the Allies wired up the huge swastika at Nuremburg and deliberately used WAY more explosives than necessary to destroy it, just for the awesome visuals. The *really* terrifying part is that the destruction of Microsoft is nearly as significant as V-E day, and will bring nearly as much joy...
      • hassanchop13, on 04/28/2008, -2/+1get a life.
        and yes, i know this is digg, but you just went above and beyond.
    • jamezracer, on 04/29/2008, -0/+2if that day ever comes, we all know linux will be there to bail everyone out. bloody monopolies
  • sportz103, on 04/28/2008, -5/+35If it's a conference where he is one of the speakers instead of the only one this is normal. They often set up a laptop correctly with the projector and the sound, and the presenters just plug their powerpoint file in on a thumb drive.
    • Lynxplus, on 04/28/2008, -7/+2Ya but cmon this is MS why wouldn't they just use a Dell or something?
    • Zyphron, on 04/28/2008, -1/+4You are just not bright. MS DID NOT HOST THE CONFERENCE....how is this so difficult for people to understand? Oh wait. This is Digg. Nevermind.
  • redfive19, on 04/28/2008, -16/+1Wasn't he the same one bashing Guy Kawasaki about the MacBook Air a little while back at the MIX08 conference?
  • areohbe, on 04/28/2008, -17/+376It's just another piece of hardware... he could still be running Windows on there.
    • digitallysick, on 04/28/2008, -20/+2I doubt it, why do that on a mac , he is clearly using keynote
    • SQLserver, on 04/28/2008, -9/+3or Linux.
    • foxtrot74, on 04/28/2008, -1/+3Yeah... I'm sure they'd be willing to lose face over that just to use "another piece of hardware"
    • Stoneleprecon, on 04/28/2008, -1/+6Though that particular hardware implies having paid for mac os x.
      • ch4os1337, on 04/28/2008, -0/+1Yes, osX comes with it but your can still have Windows and linux on it.
    • wilhoitm, on 04/28/2008, -1/+4He uses a Macbook Pro because it runs Windows Vista a little bit faster than a PC!
  • fani, on 04/28/2008, -12/+86Its probably running Windows under boot camp
    • JorgeGT, on 04/28/2008, -2/+16Or natively
    • PabloMac, on 04/28/2008, -11/+4It does seem to be running Powerpoint, which is a Microsoft product.
      And which was first available for the Mac.
      http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Microsoft_PowerPoint
    • blackjack75, on 04/28/2008, -2/+6I love how Apple has managed to get some of its users to believe that boot camp is some magic engine. designed to run Windows on a mac. BootCamp is basically the combination of a partitioning tool running on OSX and Windows drivers for Apple hardware. Other than that a mac is just a pc with an EFI bios.

      I use macs but I don't need to be talked to like an idiot.
    • monospaced, on 04/28/2008, -0/+4Under boot camp? Boot Camp allows the Mac to run Windows natively. That's the whole point.
      • fani, on 04/28/2008, -0/+1yes, poor choice of words on my part. I meant "via" bootcamp facility.

        My MBP runs Mac OS X and Windows installed using the Bootcamp assistant.
        oh ! and check out refit EFI loader. Its a nice looking graphical utility that makes the OS selection pretty and easy. ( A sourceforge project )
  • TheLoneWolf071, on 04/28/2008, -21/+4Wait, Mac for slideshow? That's window's job. Mac is for fun stuff, shame on you Ballmer
    • fungifred, on 04/28/2008, -3/+5Oh yeah Mac for slideshows. Nothing beats Keynote for giving a presentation.
    • ExRe, on 04/28/2008, -1/+2Mac's are for fun stuff?

      God, I hope that was sarcasm.
    • OneLess, on 04/28/2008, -0/+1Since that's what the humorous commercials say, I'm inclined to agree.
  • hammerpants, on 04/28/2008, -25/+252Naive digg submitter is naive.

    /buried as inaccurate
    • IEatHamburgers, on 04/28/2008, -13/+32Redundant digg commenter is redundant.
    • lolinyerface, on 04/28/2008, -14/+5Oh come on... It is still funny, regardless of the facts. :)
    • tackle, on 04/28/2008, -5/+15Naive apple fanboys are naive.
      [/fixed]
    • synystar, on 04/29/2008, -1/+1Overused meme is old. It's not as funny rehashed a few thousand times.
  • prgmctan, on 04/28/2008, -11/+159busted tees girls is looking fiiiiine today
    • Harabeck, on 04/28/2008, -12/+3They all have aweful faces. Especially that girl with the real sunk in eyes...
    • Purin, on 04/28/2008, -4/+23Snorg tees girl > busted tees girl.
    • lharrod, on 04/28/2008, -3/+7All those t-shirt sites have fine chicks. It makes me want to start my own t-shirt company.
      • tyler2k, on 04/28/2008, -0/+2Logic seems fine to me
      • smrekar, on 04/28/2008, -0/+12you're doing it wrong! It is supposed to make you want to buy a t-shirt, not a t-shirt company.
    • WhatsUpWithJack, on 04/28/2008, -0/+3The Busted and Snorg ads are SO MUCH more effective here on Digg than those stupid, obtrusive, horribly marketed ING Direct ads, or those ads with horribly ugly or disfigured people in them selling god-knows-what.

      I actually uninstalled ad-block because of them
    • Diggfluence, on 04/28/2008, -0/+6I see a nipple
    • g0dfather, on 04/29/2008, -0/+1Disable ABP and refreshed... No Busted tee girls...

      Why Busted tee girls. why?
      :=(
  • ErikHarrison, on 04/28/2008, -3/+24REVEL in the moment. Too bad it was the previous presenters laptop.
  • EvilJelloMan, on 04/28/2008, -10/+30Buried as inaccurate - as others have said, it wasn't his laptop.
    • lharrod, on 04/28/2008, -1/+3It's still kinda funny. It's like seeing a bottle of Hunts ketchup at a Heinz keynote.
      • lintmonkey, on 04/28/2008, -1/+3OMG, that would be hilarious!
      • Kanidia, on 04/29/2008, -1/+1Except Hunts Ketchup isn't exactly a Heinz competitor
  • stmyers, on 04/28/2008, -7/+11I bet it's because Office 2008 was just released for Mac, and perhaps that may be somehow tied into his speech.
    • snoogit, on 04/28/2008, -6/+1I'm glad someone is making sense in this thread.
  • MMaster23, on 04/28/2008, -6/+8***** .. Balmer totally bashed the Mac not too long ago ..
    Balmer was probably a guest speaker at an non-MS event ... served on Mac's.
  • mrlivingston, on 04/28/2008, -3/+24It's like Count Chocula caught eating Frankenberry.
    • djdole, on 04/28/2008, -2/+6If Count Chocula ate Count Chocula, wouldn't that be cannibalism?
      • wes00mertes, on 04/28/2008, -0/+2Delicious, chocolate cannibalism
      • FlipSpiceland, on 04/28/2008, -0/+1Count Chocula isn't made of cereal, so no.
    • cr12345, on 04/28/2008, -0/+3"It's like Count Chocula caught eating Frankenberry."
      Sounds like a description from a porn movie produced by General Mills.

    • TheDudeDiggs, on 04/28/2008, -0/+1Frankenberry sucks! Count Chocula is the only way to go
  • davidwasman, on 04/28/2008, -6/+22Whether it is his or not doesn't matter. The fact is that the 'Psycho in Chief' is sharing the stage with it and being photographed with it.

    Same goes for whether or not it is running Mac OS or Windows...it's still a Mac.

    I can almost feel the veins in his head popping out when he sees this.
    • lharrod, on 04/28/2008, -2/+5Exactly. It's like the CEO of Toyota giving a speech, and there's a Honda on stage with him.
      • daizaru, on 04/28/2008, -2/+3Except that it's a PC, not a large car... on a podium he's NOT using. What was he supposed to do, pick it up and throw it into the audience while cursing apple? In most instances, not caring about something is the most you can say about the item in question.
        • matroska1, on 04/29/2008, -0/+1Maybe just closing it or putting something over top of it would've been sufficient? As opposed to having it sitting there in blazing contrast to the Microsoft logo..
  • j0c1f3r, on 04/28/2008, -13/+8Im callin BS !!!!!
    • saady87, on 04/28/2008, -1/+3Shoudlnt that be SB..as in Steve Ballmer
  • BXRWXR, on 04/28/2008, -17/+3LOL
  • taketheleap, on 04/28/2008, -24/+13Balmer = FAIL.
    • Ymeg, on 04/28/2008, -1/+1I would hate to be where is is today...
  • Skidmark66, on 04/28/2008, -17/+8ballsimer aint using it
  • vision777, on 04/28/2008, -12/+6Microsoft doesn't make pc's I would assume they are using the Windows OS on it or it isn't his computer just one they had setup for his presentation.
  • Gnappster, on 04/28/2008, -13/+2hahaha thats incredible
  • Quadrophenic, on 04/28/2008, -9/+26News just in: Mac computers can run Windows software.
    • lharrod, on 04/28/2008, -8/+7It kinda further makes the Mac the best choice. You can run the two big OS's. Windows (Vista) even runs better on a Mac, at least according to various magazine tests.
      • burnerz, on 04/28/2008, -2/+5Maybe for people who want to spend at least $400+ for the same specs of hardware.
      • Kanidia, on 04/29/2008, -0/+1Seriously, we don't need to argue about Mac VS Windows all the time. And seriously, stop quoting Apple and random magazine companies. I don't care about Macs or Windows, I just want to use something that I feel comfortable with.
    • jabberwolf, on 04/28/2008, -2/+6News just in: MOST COMPUTERS CAN RUN WINDOWS SOFTWARE - WINDOWS ALLOWS IT.
      News just in: OSX locked down to Apple hardware- derrrr!
      • RungeKutta, on 04/28/2008, -2/+2So I guess MS allows you to run Linux on the 360 without problems eh? Maybe I can install OpenBSD on there if I like?
  • TomBolland, on 04/28/2008, -6/+44It wasn't his. It was the previous speakers. Steve Ballmer didn't even use a laptop.
  • borez, on 04/28/2008, -6/+61Even though it's inaccurate, it still made me chuckle.
  • bluechips23, on 04/28/2008, -8/+1/ sorry, wrong comment
  • Razor512, on 04/28/2008, -5/+4could be BS as companies tent to bite te bullet and avoid the competitions stuff at all costs even if it means using cheap crappy hardware

    or it could also mean that microsoft doesn't care about it. as he could easily say. hey it runs windows better than the old acer laptop that overheated while running notepad
    • LeePeyton, on 04/28/2008, -1/+1talking about one with an x2 right? those things are fire hazards.
      I miss AMD being in the game. Oh well.
  • tacroy, on 04/28/2008, -6/+11Um....Microsoft makes money on software, not hardware. In this case the powerpoint software that was on a mac. Also, since mac's can run windows, that mac on stage is just as much a target market as a dell or acer.

    The mac to non-mac hate really only goes one way from a business perspective.
    • ElectricSoup, on 04/28/2008, -3/+3"The mac to non-mac hate really only goes one way from a business perspective."

      I don't know whether Steve Jobs can be said to "hate" Microsoft, and on occasion he's been both welcoming and generous in what he's said. But he's also taken a few digs at them -- e.g., "no taste", "iced water". I don't suppose there's any love lost there, and anyone who knows the history of his companies' relationships with Microsoft will know why.

      As for Ballmer, he may not "hate" Apple, but he certainly FEARS it -- as evidenced, inter alia, by his rather nervous attempt to FUD the iPhone:

      http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=C5oGaZIKYvo

      And fear is unlikely to be productive of affection.

      While they do have some shared business interests -- the Mac BU for starters -- they are competitors, and I'd say there's a certain amount of needle there going BOTH ways.

      "... since mac's can run windows, that mac on stage is just as much a target market as a dell or acer."

      That's a naive comment. Just because the Mac _can_ run Windows, it doesn't mean that MS has the SAME relationship with Apple as it has with the PC OEMs. In fact, it does have a very different relationship: the Mac will run Windows, but Apple is not constrained to offer Windows in the way the PC OEMs are. And just because of that the machine is very unlikely to belong to Monkey Boy: his bringing a Mac would be a slap in the face to OEMs that MS "partners" with in the way it doesn't with Apple.
      • Nidy1, on 04/28/2008, -0/+1"I don't know whether Steve Jobs can be said to "hate" Microsoft, and on occasion he's been both welcoming and generous in what he's said."

        Yea, just look at Apple's main ad campaign...oh wait...
      • Kanidia, on 04/29/2008, -0/+1I can say confidently that Microsoft has no fear for Apple. If they did, they would be doing something to lock them out, like removing computability with Macs. They have a monopoly right now, and they aren't easily overthrown. Apple can only bite part of the market share, but even so, Microsoft's money won't decrease. Apple's OS X will have to be compatible with all hardware BEFORE they have a chance of overthrowing Microsoft, because I do not see 90% of all computer users using one of 3-4 computer series that Apple makes. That would mean that Apple will also have to overthrow Dell, Acer, HP, Asus, Toshiba, and Sony. No, Apple's not THAT good.

        Regarding the iPhone, it is definitely a revolutionary product that really changed the product line of that kind. Microsoft should be afraid of, if anything, their lack of innovation. That will hurt them very much in the long run.
    • lharrod, on 04/28/2008, -1/+2It's not really about the hardware in this case, it's the Apple logo sharing the stage with Ballmer. Forget that there's a MacBook up there. It could be just a sticker, or a stagehand wearing an Apple t-shirt. The fact that it's on stage within a few feet of the MS CEO is strange, because it's a reminder of their competition. It's like the CEO of Toyota giving a speech, and the Honda motors logo is behind him.
    • dm33, on 04/28/2008, -0/+1Last quarter results, looks like Microsoft is only making money on XBox 360... generally thought of as hardware, even though it also runs Microsoft code.
      • gh0st3000, on 04/28/2008, -0/+1The computer market is completely different than the console market. You can't just make a console OS, you also have to make the console.
  • jrtcs, on 04/28/2008, -6/+6OLPC running Linux?
  • adam07, on 04/28/2008, -15/+55I really don't give a ***** that the picture was taken with your iPhone.
    • millertime588, on 04/28/2008, -4/+20But... how else will he feel better about all the money he spent on a cell phone?
    • lharrod, on 04/28/2008, -5/+11I think you do. I think it tears you up inside.
    • gh0st3000, on 04/28/2008, -0/+6Ah, but it means he was being sneaky about it, for if Ballmer saw him using his iPhone to take pictures, he would surely have stepped down off the stage and snapped it in half, screaming.
    • mvest20, on 08/25/2008, -0/+1only because you don't have one...
  • Flavor, on 04/28/2008, -19/+6Why the sad faces MS Kool-aid drinkers?

    I can testify that while at MIX I saw plenty of high-ups from MS using Air machines, Macbook Pros, and iPhones.

    Get on board, Mac machines rule - even your evangelists have made the switch.
    • LastVisibleDog, on 04/28/2008, -1/+3You do understand you talk like a computer illiterate?
  • XIStEw13IX, on 04/28/2008, -5/+11Who gives a ***** about mac vs pc seriously, i prefer one over the other but i give props to each, besides who honestly thinks that that is actually his computer and not just the one provided to him for the presentation.
    • bsurette, on 04/28/2008, -0/+3props to each where props are due? you must be crazy!
      • gh0st3000, on 04/28/2008, -1/+1Seriously, this is fanboy country. GTFO.
  • linkerjpatrick, on 04/28/2008, -12/+5At one time this would have been a big deal but in the eyes of Microsoft Apple is no different that HP, Sony, Dell, etc. Yes Apple's default OS on their machines is OSX but with VMWare, Parallels and Bootcamp a lot of modern day Mac users also use Microsoft products. My main machine is a MacBook Pro and I run Windows in VMWare. Granted it's not my first choice when it comes to OS's but I don't hate MS either. I prefer the MS Intellimouse as my mouse of choice, I like Microsoft Office but iWork definitely has it's place as I prefer Keynote over Powerpoint. Actually Microsoft would do well to embrace Apple more and more as a partner than it does now. Heck the recent iPhone annoucement about using Exchange is one good example. My main beef with Wintel PC's is not Microsoft but the various vendors that sell underpowered computer to unsuspecting consumers with minimal RAM and unneeed software. I used to be a Wintel owner but got tired of upgrading and "frankensteining" my machine. I'm A+ certified so I know what is involved and all the headaches involved with it.
  • gvsurunner22, on 04/28/2008, -3/+6last i checked microsoft makes software not hardware. Who cares what machine he's running. Now if he is running keynote and leopard thats interesting but I doubt it.
    • dm33, on 04/28/2008, -0/+1Microsoft is peddling more hardware these days. XBox 360, Zune. Windows and Office are the cash cows, just milk them until they fall over.
  • chokobytes, on 04/28/2008, -13/+0Fake......but funny !!! lol
  • kmb1794, on 04/28/2008, -11/+5it's a trap
  • davidkeithjones, on 04/28/2008, -8/+8Its either shopped or a shared lappy provided by the conference. I have also learned that Flickr users are gullible, see some of the silly ass comments they made.
    • kida001, on 04/28/2008, -4/+4no, its not fake, here's another shot if you dont believe. http://flickr.com/photos/choubistar/2439499170/
      • dangerdooms, on 04/28/2008, -2/+4Did you even read the three comments posted on that picture. Here, I'll help you out...

        "I was there and I have to say that there WAS a leftover Mac from a non MS speaker. The 2 previous presenters used it for their keynotes. Ballmer didn't use a computer at all, it was just an automatic slide."
        • RungeKutta, on 04/28/2008, -1/+1So what? The picture itself still is humorous. My god, lighten up and get a life.
  • rahulkolasseri, on 04/28/2008, -14/+4this picture is the definition of irony.....i love you microsoft
  • NYCowboy, on 04/28/2008, -15/+2shoped! look at the lighting, the direction and hight of the shadow are wrong. The light is coming from an angle yet the shadow is straight across.

    Nice try though, you got to the front page
  • dcmcderm, on 04/28/2008, -13/+2nice shop job.
  • zmigliozzi, on 04/28/2008, -11/+7I bet that's not even Office:Mac I bet its keynote too.
  • mehan, on 04/28/2008, -4/+14Did anyone notice the obvious spelling mistake in the slide on the screen?
    "Future Graduated"?
    • borichka, on 04/28/2008, -2/+1Could be intentional... but I agree that "Future Graduates" sounds better. Its not technically a spelling mistake.
      • mehan, on 04/28/2008, -2/+3Considering where the S and D keys are on the keyboard, it looks like a typo.
    • ivanmarsh, on 04/28/2008, -0/+0Could be thinking of the wrong definition?
      Graduated:
      2. To arrange or divide into categories, steps, or grades.
      3. To divide into marked intervals, especially for use in measurement.
      Either way it's still a pretty bad title.
  • yournamehere, on 04/28/2008, -6/+10That was used by the previous presenter.. spotted by someone that was there... .no digg
  • LeePeyton, on 04/28/2008, -9/+0I demand Ballmer come out and let the wold know if he is using a mac or not.
  • Bridea, on 04/28/2008, -14/+25buried for being misleading. and wrong.
    • gtlogic, on 04/28/2008, -0/+4It's funny how fox news gets so much ***** for innacurate propaganda when something like this obviously is wrong not only gets to the front page but gets top story.
    • greydonkey, on 04/28/2008, -0/+2Dugg back up for being as funny as hell.
    • nonconformist, on 04/28/2008, -2/+1Totally misleading. Burried
      • 36CrzyFsts, on 04/29/2008, -1/+1It's a real picture....why are you microsoft fan boys so lame?
  • eboy, on 04/28/2008, -2/+1oh *****!
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