Microsoft represents only serious competition for Apple hardware, Steve Ballmer says
Microsoft is the only company poised to give Apple serious competition in terms of hardware, former Chief Executive Steve Ballmer commented on a Bloomberg TV show Friday morning.
"Microsoft will give them a good run for their money," Ballmer told the hosts of Bloomberg Go. "Nobody else has really tried to compete with them anymore really seriously in hardware...If there's going to be any competition at all for Apple it will come from Microsoft."
Ballmer suggested that only Samsung and Microsoft were going after products like the Mac and the iPad, and that of the two, only Microsoft has the "software and the hardware capability" to do it.
He further argued that while it's not essential for Microsoft to dip into Apple's existing marketshare, it is important to gain a toehold in new categories, using the Surface Book as an example. The Book is Microsoft's first self-designed laptop, which can not only detach its screen for use as a tablet, but is claimed to be twice as fast as a similarly-sized MacBook Pro.
On the prospect of an Apple Car, Ballmer said it's a "much bigger leap to do cars than it is most of the things they've tried," although companies other than Tesla should be able to put intelligent software in vehicles. "Maybe Apple gets there, I don't know," he concluded.
"Microsoft will give them a good run for their money," Ballmer told the hosts of Bloomberg Go. "Nobody else has really tried to compete with them anymore really seriously in hardware...If there's going to be any competition at all for Apple it will come from Microsoft."
Ballmer suggested that only Samsung and Microsoft were going after products like the Mac and the iPad, and that of the two, only Microsoft has the "software and the hardware capability" to do it.
He further argued that while it's not essential for Microsoft to dip into Apple's existing marketshare, it is important to gain a toehold in new categories, using the Surface Book as an example. The Book is Microsoft's first self-designed laptop, which can not only detach its screen for use as a tablet, but is claimed to be twice as fast as a similarly-sized MacBook Pro.
On the prospect of an Apple Car, Ballmer said it's a "much bigger leap to do cars than it is most of the things they've tried," although companies other than Tesla should be able to put intelligent software in vehicles. "Maybe Apple gets there, I don't know," he concluded.
Comments
I thought we were done with this guy.
"Maybe Apple gets there, I don't know," he concluded."
Brilliant insight there. Glad we have his take on the whole thing.
But to be fair, I don't disagree with the 1st point- Microsoft does seem to be the only serious one recently, when it comes to competing with Apple's legendary build quality, and look and feel of its products.
http://kensegall.com/2015/10/pc-companies-did-what/
Once a dimwit, always a dimwit.
KIN. Never forget.
VISTA. Never forget.
VISTA. Never forget.
All you need to do is go back to the very beginning...
Never forget.
IBM Apple
What 's a zune, kin or vista?
Microsoft at least appears to have a clue with the Surface Pro and Surface Book. And let's remember that this upturn in their skills came since Ballmer left the company.
I still wouldn't trust Microsoft to simply turn around one day and kill the products and support for them. Zune, Kin, Plays For Sure, ...
http://tinyurl.com/om894x6
VISTA. Never forget.
Don't be judgmental to the guy. There are plenty of those never-forgets from Apple too: antenna-gate, maps-gate, bend-gate, chip-gate... to name a few /s
He seems more humble today...
Yes, I think MS is probably the only real serious competition for Apple on the HW and SW front. Android is becoming the lowest common denominator, consumer low end platform and not a serious high end offering though they keep trying. There are enough nerds and Apple haters to keep it going for a while...
MS seems to be slowly getting its collective head out of its arse.
Hopefully they start focussing on the customer and the customer experience with a laser eye.
The Surface Pro 3 has sold well and the Surface Book has been getting good reviews. (If it weren't so crazy expensive I'd be tempted to give a Surface Book a try) Like it or not, Microsoft is making hardware people like, and I don't see how that's a bad thing. Apple has been selling essentially the same MacBook Airs and Pros for 5 and 7 years respectively. Apple could use a kick in the butt when it comes to laptops.