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Slightly-more-restrained Ballmer refrains from yelling or chair throwing

It's been a big week for Microsoft Corp. (MSFT).  On Friday Windows 8 and the Surface tablet launched.  And on Monday Windows Phone 8 enjoyed a global launch.  And just like that, the world got a taste of Microsoft's all-inclusive next-generation platform.

Following yesterday's WP8 excitement, a new commercial for the smartphone OS has popped up on YouTube, narrated by Microsoft CEO Steve Ballmer.

In the video he pitches, "There's a lot of people in the world.  And they all have something to say.  Many have sort of advice.  So, so, so much advice.  Some of that advice is really useful... But there's one piece of advice I'd give to everyone.  That's me; and this MY Windows Phone."


The new phone showcases the HTC Corp. (TPE:2498) 8X, which irked some Nokia Oyj. (HEX:NOK1V) fans.  Quips one fan, "Steve can use his htc, but I'm going for the lumia 920, FINALLY! :P"

Still, most of the reaction seems positive thus far.

Steve Ballmer actually has quite a long history of pitching Microsoft products.  Years before becoming CEO he gave an infamous, highly entertaining commercial pitch to buy Windows 1.0.  He's grown a bit more restrained over the years, but he still loves make a pitch for the company he leads.

Source: YouTube


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Steve Is a Salesman First and Foremost...
By Arsynic on 10/30/2012 1:48:54 PM , Rating: 3
Which is admirable because EVERY CEO needs to be a salesman for his company.




RE: Steve Is a Salesman First and Foremost...
By Florinator on 10/30/2012 2:36:02 PM , Rating: 3
The problem with salespeople is that they are not very technical and it's the technical nerds that make the stuff.

When Bill Gates asked for something, everyone was like "uh okay", because Bill was/is the ultimate nerd and the developers were confident he knew what he was talking about.

With Stevie, the developers' reaction is more along the lines of "whatever", because they don't trust him, he's not one of them.

At least that's what my trusted inside source tells me :-)


RE: Steve Is a Salesman First and Foremost...
By NellyFromMA on 10/30/2012 3:05:11 PM , Rating: 2
If Steve Ballmer had no backing, how could he possibly retain his position for so long.

Maybe you just have someone speaking personally rather than on behalf of the company.


RE: Steve Is a Salesman First and Foremost...
By Florinator on 10/30/2012 3:23:53 PM , Rating: 3
I didn't say anything about backing, just explained the engineers' perception. When did a CEO lost his/her job just because the employees weren't impressed? :-)

A CEO's fiduciary duty is toward the shareholders, not the employees, but I digress...

Ballmer's standing is not that great:
http://www.itworld.com/software/168971/microsoft-s...

I am very curious to see what the future holds in store for Steven Sinofsky...


RE: Steve Is a Salesman First and Foremost...
RE: Steve Is a Salesman First and Foremost...
By retrospooty on 10/30/2012 3:55:11 PM , Rating: 2
Yup... He's nutty alrgith. Youll like this one...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AxxF5bl37oA&feature...


RE: Steve Is a Salesman First and Foremost...
By Pirks on 10/30/2012 9:06:54 PM , Rating: 3
Surprisingly, in this video Ballmer is the _least_ nutty I saw him. He speaks very reasonable things like "why would I be bothered with Steve Job's opinion about our products when I have my customers? I'm only interested in the opinion of my customers, not the opinion of my competitors"

This is one of the smartest things he has ever said, you gotta admit, eh? Do you agree with him on that? If no, why?


By retrospooty on 10/31/2012 7:45:30 AM , Rating: 2
I agree, this is the least nutty I have seen him. I was more impressed when the interviewer asked to show hands who has iphones, ipods, then Mac's and a good amount of the crowd showed hands especially for ipods... It seemed like it was going to be an embarrassing moment for Ballmer, then he asks the crowd, "how many of you have Windows PC's" and nearly every hand in the building went up... Classic.


By fic2 on 10/30/2012 6:05:36 PM , Rating: 2
I think that has been the big question for quite a while now. Here is Forbes top 5 CEOs who should have been fired:
http://www.forbes.com/sites/adamhartung/2012/05/12...

Guess who is #1?


By nikon133 on 10/30/2012 4:09:26 PM , Rating: 3
And yet, MS is so much more dynamic under Steve than they were in the last couple of Bill's years.

While Bill is undeniably more competent, I have strong feel that Steve is aware of his limitations and is not trying to be Jobs in everything MS does, but delegates tasks to other competent people, and listens to what they have to say.


"Folks that want porn can buy an Android phone." -- Steve Jobs











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