Steve Ballmer's loyalty to Microsoft will force LA Clippers to ditch Apple iPads

Posted:
in iPad edited September 2014
Though Steve Ballmer is no longer CEO of Microsoft or even on its board of directors, he's still fiercely loyal to the company he led, which is why he will have his basketball team, Los Angeles Clippers, ditch their use of Apple's iPad.



Ballmer referred to his efforts to move the Clippers solely to Microsoft products as a "project" in an interview with Reuters. The former Microsoft CEO was asked by Clippers coach Doc Rivers if the team would have to get rid of the iPads they use, to which Ballmer responded with, "Probably."

As for traditional computers, Ballmer said that while most of the operations at the Clippers run on Windows machines, "some of the players and coaches" are using non-Microsoft products -- presumably Macs.

Microsoft competes directly with Apple's iPad, building its own Surface convertible tablet devices. With its latest Surface Pro 3, Microsoft has even centered its ad campaign on taking on the MacBook Air, with the Redmond, Wash., company portraying its touchscreen devices as more versatile than Apple's ultraportable notebook.

Ballmer announced his retirement from Microsoft in August of 2013, but stayed onboard with the company until it made Satya Nadella its new CEO. Ballmer had originally planned to stay on Microsoft's board of directors, but departed in August after he purchased the Clippers.

Ballmer said that outside responsibilities, including his oversight of the Clippers, would prevent him from fulfilling his duties on the Microsoft board. But from his policy on Apple products in the locker room and on the court, clearly the former CEO's commitment to the company he helped bring into prominence has not wavered.

His ties to Microsoft are not entirely severed, however, as Ballmer retains ownership of 3.99 percent of the company, with shares worth over $15 billion. That's an even larger stake in Microsoft than co-founder Bill Gates.

Ballmer purchased the Clippers in May for $2 billion, after former owner Donald Sterling was forced out by the National Basketball Association for racist remarks. Ballmer outbid a number of other suitors, including a group that included Laurene Powell Jobs, the widow of late Apple co-founder Steve Jobs.
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Comments

  • Reply 1 of 86
    oO No comment, monkey boy.
  • Reply 2 of 86

    I. LOVE. THIS COMPANY.

  • Reply 3 of 86
    what a jackass but it's his team - whatever.
  • Reply 4 of 86
    Quote:

    Originally Posted by markbyrn View Post



    what a jackass but it's his team - whatever.

     

    Now he can make a fool of himself with his hobbies...

  • Reply 5 of 86
    Once an ***hole, always an ***hole.
  • Reply 6 of 86
    Ms tablet Salea to the clippers must total all of microsoft's windows tablets sales for the year.
  • Reply 7 of 86
    jfc1138jfc1138 Posts: 3,090member

    Out in  public on the sidelines I can see: that's like a shoe advertisement. But back in the offices?

     

    That's just being a douche.

  • Reply 8 of 86
    jonljonl Posts: 210member

    Ballmer with the Midas touch.

  • Reply 9 of 86

    Chris Paul doesn't have time for BSOD.

  • Reply 10 of 86

    I am sure there will be no problem when he tells the players they can no longer use their Beats headphones.

  • Reply 11 of 86

    New LA Clippers dancing and clicking.

     

  • Reply 12 of 86
    This is a surprise?
  • Reply 13 of 86
    2oh12oh1 Posts: 503member

    Guffaw.

  • Reply 14 of 86

    I guess he really believes in Microsoft.  In his mind he probably thinks the Apple's success was a fluke.

  • Reply 15 of 86
    Quote:

    Originally Posted by techno View Post

     

    I am sure there will be no problem when he tells the players they can no longer use their Beats headphones.


     

    :wow:

  • Reply 16 of 86

    iRoll

  • Reply 17 of 86
    boogabooga Posts: 1,082member

    A guy's gotta have hobbies.  He failed to convince the rest of the world, but now he has his own little fiefdom where he can force everyone to comply with his little tech beliefs.  Elon Musk goes for the stars, he installs Windows on a basketball team's computers.  Sounds about right.

  • Reply 18 of 86
    cpsrocpsro Posts: 3,189member
    Quote:

    Originally Posted by Chandra View Post

     

    New LA Clippers dancing and clicking.

     


    That is terribly disturbing. I wish I hadn't seen it.

     

    Let the Ballmer Center for Disadvantaged Platforms pay for it.

  • Reply 19 of 86
    Quote:

    Originally Posted by techno View Post

     

    I am sure there will be no problem when he tells the players they can no longer use their Beats headphones.


    That's funny.



    This really speaks to the type of man Balmer is.  It doesn't occur to him to make a better product that people would prefer to use, just force people to obey your commands.

     

    A chap who works for me used to work for a company that was acquired by Microsoft and at a team meeting Balmer asked them what Operating Systems they all used.  This guy was the only one in the room who said he used Linux (he's a software engineer, they all use either Linux or Mac for coding) and Balmer was furious.

  • Reply 20 of 86

    And I've noticed that some American-football halftime report shows on a particular TV network (can't remember which) have prominently-displayed Surfaces at their desks this season... though you never see the on-air talent actually use them.  And you can't see what, if anything, they are displaying.

     

    Seems awfully silly, recalling how much trouble everyone went to previously, to hide monitors underneath a flush piece of glass in their newsdesks.

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