Slashdot Mirror
Ballmer Scorns Apple As a $500 Logo
theodp writes "Speaking at a conference in NYC, Microsoft CEO Steve Ballmer did his best to refan the flames of the Mac vs. PC rivalry: 'Now I think the tide has really turned back the other direction [against Apple],' Ballmer said. 'The economy is helpful. Paying an extra $500 for a computer in this environment — same piece of hardware — paying $500 more to get a logo on it? I think that's a more challenging proposition for the average person than it used to be.'"
several months back, but I managed to slap my Ubuntu install CD in the drive before it could get past BIOS post. Conversely, my brother runs Macs to avoid the Windows logo.
512 MB RAM, 20 GB disk, 200 GB transfer, five datacenters. $19.95/month.
Then vote with your wallet for something *worth* it, and buy laptops preloaded with either Linux or FreeDOS. Replacing Apple with Microsoft would get you exactly as we got when we replaced IBM with Microsoft: same thing as before, only worse.
No problem is insoluble in all conceivable circumstances.
why pay X amount of dollars for microsoft-windows when you can get Linux for FREE!
Uhhhmm...because Linux is shit.
Because linux is built and looks like it's free. Also, none of the apps I use have native support. Sure there are open source alternatives but besides the learning curve I still wouldn't get the level of integration and productivity I get with my current OS.
Now on my servers I run Linux because it's a good fit. When I need to get work done on my computer I use OSX when I need my computer to do work for me I use Linux. Plus with virtualization I can run XP and Ubuntu on OSX for the odd jobs for which I might need those on my desktop.
For me iLife and it's media browser, direct printing to pdf, xcode, and the level of integration between the OS and the other apps I use are worth that $500 logo. I'd rather use a workstation to get my work done and not commodity parts in commodity PCs (I'm looking at you Dell).
I know that from talking to linux zealots I can find an app to replace my existing Mac apps under linux. But when I tell them I also need an integrated workflow comprising all those apps I just get a blank stare for a few seconds and then like a lightbulb going off each and every time they each sputter forth with the phrase "scripting, you could write some scripts". I pay the X amount of dollars for my Mac because it works for me and I don't have to work for it.
(Note: The sputtering Linux zealots used in this example may not reflect the speaking habits of all Linux users users and is used here primarily for literary imagery. Please oh please my zealots remember that I am your friend from the west.)
People who bite the hand that feeds them usually lick the boot that kicks them
Genius Bar? That is so gay. I guess I'm not in Apple's target demographic...
Self awareness - try it!
He's in quite a happy reality.
It just has nothing to do with the reality most humans are experiencing.
But that's why his reality is so happy: He doesn't have to deal with anyone else's.
Wow, you are truly retarded. OK, let me explain it in simple terms for retarded children like yourself. The Dell is made from injection-molded plastic and cheap components. The base price is $600 for that model. It is designed for consumers who will mostly keep it at home and won't use it very much. If you subject it to heavy use (traveling, using it as a primary machine), it will break very quickly. The Macbook Pro is designed for professional use. You can use it 10 hours a day, travel with it, and expect it to last at least 3 years.
Really? The part that you use 99% of the time is not important? You are an idiot.
So a better computer costs more. Makes sense to me. What are you whining about?