Ballmer Sounds Off

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Posted by ryuzaki0 on Wednesday October 11, 2006 @01:16AM from the he'd-kick-my-ass-at-poker-and-monkey-dancing dept.

PreacherTom writes "Steve Ballmer shares his thoughts on the Web 2.0 phenomenon, Zune, XBox, Vista, Bill's upcoming 2008 retirement, the future of Microsoft, and other subjects. For example, regarding the GooTube deal: "Right now, there's no business model for YouTube that would justify $1.6 billion. And what about the rights holders? At the end of the day, a lot of the content that's up there is owned by somebody else. The truth is what Google is doing now is transferring the wealth out of the hands of rights holders into Google." He's blunt, if nothing else."

16 of 335 comments (clear)

Deleted Scenes from the Interview by eldavojohn · 2006-10-11 01:20 · Score: 5, Funny

The truth is what Google is doing now is transferring the wealth out of the hands of rights holders into Google.
Ballmer:That's right, once Google bought YouTube they telephoned all the banks of recording industry artists and movie association members and said explicitly, "All your wealth are belong to us." And it was that point right there when all the banks handed large sacks with green dollar signs on them to Google. Remember back to that day, it was a long time ago, do you remember? Don't you remember Google having a long mustache that they twirled as they laughed and took the money?

Interviewer: Aren't you oversimplifying things? I mean YouTube was taking down copyrighted content once they were notified of its presence.

Ballmer: I'd never be guilty of oversimplifying something--I was merely attempting to explain a situation to the rest of the world about a company that just happens to be one of our biggest competitors and a direct threat in the search and advertisment industries. You don't remember it like that? Well I do and so does DEVELOPERS DEVELOPERS DEVELOPERS DEVELOPERS ... sorry, I have Tourettes syndrome.

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My work here is dung.
if only... by gEvil+(beta) · 2006-10-11 01:21 · Score: 3, Funny

Now if only somebody could come up with an example of Microsoft laying claim to something that wasn't theirs...

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This guy's the limit!
1. Re:if only... by RockRampantly · 2006-10-11 01:39 · Score: 3, Funny
  
  Now if only somebody could come up with an example of Microsoft laying claim to something that wasn't theirs...
  you forgot the "Oh wait..." part.
2. Re:if only... by Cartzca · 2006-10-11 01:43 · Score: 5, Funny
  
  How about "The Internet" which they kindly link to from the start menu? Remember that it won't fit in the recycle bin...
Ow, my brain... by tdvaughan · 2006-10-11 01:21 · Score: 4, Funny

I want to squirt you a picture of my kids. You want to squirt me back a video of your vacation.

Coming from anyone else, I can cope with the picture that brings up in my mind. But from Ballmer?
1. Re:Ow, my brain... by Anonymous Coward · 2006-10-11 02:09 · Score: 1, Funny
  
  Well, how else is it going to get through all the tubes of the intarweb? I suppose you could suck it out from the other end, or blow it through ...
Venture Capitol by codepunk · 2006-10-11 01:48 · Score: 4, Funny

I bet Microsoft is calling around today asking if by chance somebody was to back them up financially would they invest in this cool company they know about that is tossing around the idea of a lawsuit
against google for infringement....you know wink, wink we got your back bro!

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Got Code?
Talk About Horrible Slang by aplusjimages · 2006-10-11 02:00 · Score: 3, Funny

I was giggling to myself when I read this. "Squirt". Is m$ serious about trying to make this their word, like "Rip" or "Podcast". This is a horrible catch phrase that I believe is trademarked by the porn industry.

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Can I bum a sig?
1. Re:Talk About Horrible Slang by Farmer+Tim · 2006-10-11 02:31 · Score: 2, Funny
  
  So if Ballmer was into midget porn, would he ask to be "Squirted a squirting squirt"?
  
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  Blank until /. makes another boneheaded UI decision.
Re:Uh... by elrous0 · 2006-10-11 02:10 · Score: 3, Funny

Let me translate what Balmer is really saying:
Ballmer: The truth is what Google is doing now is transferring the wealth out of the hands of rights holders into Google.
Translation: They're going to undercut the video section of Zune Marketplace...wahhhhh
-Eric

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SJW: Someone who has run out of real oppression, and has to fake it.
Re:Our grandkids will hate us by pubjames · 2006-10-11 02:40 · Score: 4, Funny

Hasn't any business been paying attention?! People will actually spend money to avoid advertising.

Actually, that company exists. But you've probably never heard of it because they never advertise.
Video of the interview? by Rik+Sweeney · 2006-10-11 02:57 · Score: 3, Funny

(Yes, I know this is a setup)

Is there a video of the interview anywhere?

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Summation 2
Re:YouTube has a lot posibilities by Lux · 2006-10-11 03:57 · Score: 2, Funny

> Does it sound like a business model? Yep, I think so.
> Is it highly overpriced? Up to Google,
> Is it good? For them, for a while, for sure.

When did you get a Slashdot account, Secretary Rumsfeld?
Spam on the Zune? by Anonymous Coward · 2006-10-11 04:22 · Score: 1, Funny

From the fine article:
"The truth is, though, if it makes money, it will be built into the gross margin on the hardware. We'll figure out how to make money on the community perhaps later though advertising or other means."

Sounds like M$ is already planning on the Zune being a spam platform.
So what you're saying is..... by inKubus · 2006-10-11 04:58 · Score: 2, Funny

In Soviet Russia Google will Fucking Kill(tm) itself?

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Cool! Amazing Toys.
Quote of the Interview by Anonymous Coward · 2006-10-11 05:23 · Score: 2, Funny

"Guys who can touch us in multiple places probably matter more than guys who can touch us in any one place."

This would be very fun to take out of context.