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Steve Ballmer: We Won't Be Out-Innovated By Apple Anymore

Posted by Soulskill on from the innovators-innovators-innovators dept.

An anonymous reader tips an article about comments from Microsoft CEO Steve Ballmer regarding Microsoft's attitude toward Apple. It seems Microsoft is tired of being behind the curve in most areas of the tech market, and will be trying very hard to prevent Apple and other companies from beating them to the punch in the future. From the article: "In a recent interview, Ballmer explained that the company had ceded innovations in hardware and software to Apple, but that the-times-they-are-a-'changin. 'We are trying to make absolutely clear we are not going to leave any space uncovered to Apple,' Ballmer explained. 'Not the consumer cloud. Not hardware software innovation. We are not leaving any of that to Apple by itself. Not going to happen. Not on our watch.' ... An admirable goal, but it's fair to argue that attempting to innovate everywhere results in innovation nowhere. A big part of the reason Apple has been so successful is that they devote the bulk of their attention to only a few select market areas. By trying to innovate everywhere, so to speak, Microsoft runs the continued risk of spreading itself too thin and not really having a fundamental impact in any one market."

8 of 610 comments (clear)

  1. Sorry by residieu · · Score: 5, Funny

    Sorry, Apple has a patent on innovation.

  2. Re:Translation by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 5, Funny

    MS board to Ballmer: "No we not."

  3. Genius! by Darth+Snowshoe · · Score: 5, Funny

    Perhaps he also should have mentioned that he intends for Microsoft to sell more, higher value products and to earn more money!

    How do they think of these things? They just must be thinking all the time over there at Microsoft!

  4. Re:Translation by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 5, Funny

    Ballmer in a month: "They fled. The Apple louts fled. Indeed, concerning the fighting waged by the heroes of Microsoft yesterday, one amazing thing really is the cowardice of the Apple employees. We had not anticipated this... Their infidels are committing suicide by the hundreds on the gates of Redmond. Be assured, Redmond is safe, protected."

  5. Re:cool story bro by von_rick · · Score: 4, Funny

    2012 is going to be the year of Windows desktop!

    --

    Face your daemons!

  6. Re:"first they ignore you" by Tough+Love · · Score: 5, Funny

    Microsoft version:

    "first they laugh at you"
    "then you fail"
    "then they laugh at you again."

    --
    When all you have is a hammer, every problem starts to look like a thumb.
  7. Re:"first they ignore you" by spazdor · · Score: 4, Funny

    1) Developers
    2) Developers
    3) Developers
    4) Developers

    --
    DRM: Terminator crops for your mind!
  8. Re:"first they ignore you" by bitt3n · · Score: 4, Funny

    5) Vagina

    --
    how many pairs of boxer shorts should you own?