DailyTech - Ballmer: Dropbox is a "Fine Little Startup"

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Gadgets Ballmer: Dropbox is a "Fine Little Startup"
Shane McGlaun (Blog) - January 30, 2013 8:50 AM

47 comment(s) - last by johnsmith9875.. on Feb 5 at 3:47 PM

(Source: devilsworkshop.org)

Ballmer isn't too concerned with Dropbox's 100 million user installbase

Microsoft CEO Steve Ballmer has never been afraid to say what he thinks, even if what he thinks happens to be more than a little condescending towards competing companies. The last six months has been significant for Microsoft in that it has launched its latest Windows 8 operating system and more recently launched its Office 365 productivity suite. So far, sales for Windows 8 in the new computer market have been less than impressive and Microsoft is struggling with its Surface RT tablet.

Microsoft CEO Steve Ballmer recently conducted an interview with Bloomberg where he talked about Dropbox, the cloud storage service, and other competing services. When Ballmer was asked about Dropbox and how Microsoft's own cloud-storage service SkyDrive would compete, Ballmer became condescending.

Bloomberg asked how Microsoft planned to compete when it was late to the cloud-storage market and Dropbox already has 100 million users. Ballmer said, "Well, you’ve got to remember, 100 million sounds like a pretty small number to me, actually. We’ve got a lot more Office users. And actually if you even want to go to the cloud, we have a lot of Hotmail and SkyDrive users. I’m not beating on Dropbox. They’re a fine little startup and that’s great."

^{Ballmer famously mocked the iPhone upon its introduction}

Moving to Office, despite the fact that Microsoft already has 1 billion users of the productivity suite, Ballmer still believes that number will grow. Microsoft is betting big that its subscription component of Office 365 will further drive adoption.

And with regards to offering an Office app on the iPad, Ballmer simply said that he has "Nothing to say on that topic." Ballmer did point out that Microsoft has ways for people to get to Office through a browser, which is how iPad users are able to use Office.

Source: Bloomberg

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Can someone please get rid of that picture

By crazyirish on 1/30/2013 6:23:07 PM , Rating: 2

Nothing worse than seeing Ballmer with his f'ing tongue sticking out.

RE: Can someone please get rid of that picture

By roykahn on 1/30/2013 7:48:37 PM , Rating: 2

The Dailytech writers must salivate any time they write about Microsoft. It means they get a chance to post another ridiculous picture of Balmer - and it's not like they're short of options.

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