Microsoft's Steve Ballmer dismisses Apple as a 'low-volume player'
As Microsoft revealed that the company sold 4 million upgrades to its new Windows 8 operating system in its first four days, CEO Steve Ballmer dismissed Apple as a "low-volume player" in markets like PCs and smartphones.
Ballmer was asked in an interview with The Wall Street Journal whether he would prefer Microsoft evolve to Apple's business model, where the company controls both the hardware and software. The chief executive said he prefers Microsoft's business model, though he conceded that it is "evolving" with devices like the new Surface tablet.
"In every category Apple competes, it's the low-volume player, except in tablets," Ballmer said. "In the PC market, obviously the advantage of diversity has mattered since 90-something percent of PCs that get sold are Windows PCs. We'll see what winds up mattering in tablets."
In the U.S., Apple's iPhone accounts for about a third of all smartphones in use, while Google's Android platform is on more than 50 percent of handsets. Microsoft's mobile platforms accounted for just 3.6 percent of smartphone subscribers, as tracked by comScore in September.
As for the Mac, Apple has seen its share of the PC market continually increase as it has repeatedly outgrown the PC market. The latest data issued earlier this month by Gartner gave Apple nearly 14 percent of the U.S. PC market.
Microsoft hopes to counter some of the success Apple's Mac platform has had with its new Windows 8 operating system, which became available last week. Ballmer revealed at Microsoft's Build event on Tuesday that sales of Windows 8 upgrades had reached 4 million in the first four days.
As for the iPad, as Ballmer noted, Apple carries the lion's share of the tablet market. The latest figures show that the iPad accounts for more than 60 percent of all tablets sold worldwide.
Ballmer was asked in an interview with The Wall Street Journal whether he would prefer Microsoft evolve to Apple's business model, where the company controls both the hardware and software. The chief executive said he prefers Microsoft's business model, though he conceded that it is "evolving" with devices like the new Surface tablet.
"In every category Apple competes, it's the low-volume player, except in tablets," Ballmer said. "In the PC market, obviously the advantage of diversity has mattered since 90-something percent of PCs that get sold are Windows PCs. We'll see what winds up mattering in tablets."
In the U.S., Apple's iPhone accounts for about a third of all smartphones in use, while Google's Android platform is on more than 50 percent of handsets. Microsoft's mobile platforms accounted for just 3.6 percent of smartphone subscribers, as tracked by comScore in September.
As for the Mac, Apple has seen its share of the PC market continually increase as it has repeatedly outgrown the PC market. The latest data issued earlier this month by Gartner gave Apple nearly 14 percent of the U.S. PC market.
Microsoft hopes to counter some of the success Apple's Mac platform has had with its new Windows 8 operating system, which became available last week. Ballmer revealed at Microsoft's Build event on Tuesday that sales of Windows 8 upgrades had reached 4 million in the first four days.
As for the iPad, as Ballmer noted, Apple carries the lion's share of the tablet market. The latest figures show that the iPad accounts for more than 60 percent of all tablets sold worldwide.
Comments
The **** is wrong with this guy?
Somebody should get this guy a tele-prompter.
He looks high.
A sales guy... it's all about sales numbers (volume).
I like corporate earnings:
MSFT: 15.5B
AAPL: 41.5B
MSFT has to own 90%' of the market to get those returns. Apple can make that money on 11% of the phone market, 10% of the PC market, and what 60% of the tablet market? Who is more efficient? has more upside?
Best-selling tablet, best-selling phone model, best-selling music player world-wide. Best-selling laptop line-up, best-selling AIO and approx. 90% of PC sales over $1000 in the US... Losers.
This guys needs to just SHUT THE **** UP!!!!!!!!
Maybe he meant that Apple is a low-volume player with respect to downloads of iTunes 11
I hate waiting.
Computers running Windows 7: 40%
Computers running OS X: 8.5%
First 4 days:
Upgrades to Windows 8: 4 million
Upgrades to Mountain Lion: 3 million
Had Ballmer had the success of Apple that he said he was content without, Microsoft would have sold around 14 million copies in the first four days.
That time was probably about five years ago.
No kidding. My impression is that it's generally best to not comment on specific competitors lest you give them even more air time and mind share. That said, it might not be reasonable to call them competitors, Microsoft generally sells software, Apple generally sells complete systems, and both sell to different kinds of buyers.
Nice wooden desk and staircase. I can almost imagine the photo was taken in an Apple store! Was that Uncle Fester's great idea?
Ballmer is definitely sipping some fermented Kool-aid.
So Microsoft who has lets say a 90% (probably more) market share only did 4 Million downloads in the first 4 days. Apple, which is a significantly lower marketshare sold 3 Million copies of Mountain Lion in the first 4 days. I'd say Apple did pretty well for its size. My opinion is, I don't think Windows 8 will be a huge success although they'll try to spin numbers to make it seem like it was. Many people are confused on how to use it and I at this time (maybe things will change), I don't see Windows 8 being a huge success in the tablet space either. As it currently stands, it doesn't really do anything special that the iPad doesn't already do. You can't beat Apple by copying them...you have to out execute them with something far better and then get people to love it. Instead of playing follow the leader, they need to try and be the leader. This could truly be the demise of Steve Ballmer. I think Microsoft is better for it. He's ran the company into the ground for far too long. They need a real leader, not a business man who has no clue about the computer industry.
Yeah, Steve... It's much better being a high-volume, low profit player. LMAO
I seriously believe Windows 8 is going to do one of two things.
It's either going to make Steve Ballmer or it's going to drive people towards the Mac because the interface is soooo different that people will feel that if they have to learn a new interface they may as well learn the Mac interface.
I seriously believe Microsoft is on its way down. It's no way near as powerful as it was. I don't think it will disappear but it will sort of fracture and mostly end up selling Office for Mac... at least that's my hope. ;-)
Quote:
Originally Posted by Ireland
It's time for MS to seriously consider letting Ballmer go.
No, I like Ballmer. Let's keep him. How else will we get lulz?