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Ballmer: Macs Don't Get the Full MS Office, Don't Work in Business
by , 12:55 PM EDT, October 10th, 2008
In a recent interview with PC Magazine, Microsoft CEO Steve Ballmer unloaded on Apple and the "Get a Mac" ads. Along the way he asserted that Macs "don't really get full Microsoft Office" and that Macs don't work in the business place.
In a chat with Carlos Mendoza, Mr. Ballmer spoke to Microsoft's new ad campaign and how it addresses Apple's.
Ballmer: "...you'll see us be much more vigorous about stating the case for the PC. The truth of the matter is, this is ironic. The PC outsells the Mac 33 to 1—32 to 1. And despite the fact that we don't sell PCs, we only sell Windows to people who make PCs. And the attack is actually on the PCs, interestingly enough. You'll see us defend the PC. We're going to talk about why -- look, PCs are better than Macs. That is not something that can be debated. [TMO emphasis] 32 out of every 33 times, somebody buys a PC instead of a Mac. I'm not saying that there are not some things that people like about Macs, apparently there are. But have you ever seen a cheap Mac? No."
Mr. Ballmer continued and assessed Macs in general and their use in business.
"You know, they like to act like Macs are lightweight, there are much lighter weight PC notebooks. Macs -- do they have the best battery power? Of course they don't have the best battery power. Macs tend to have nice screens, but can you get nicer screens for a PC? Of course. Do Macs work in business? No, they do not."
In another excerpt, Mr. Ballmer addressed MS Office for the Mac, a product his company earns many hundreds of millions of dollars on each year. First, however, he seemed to suggest that the range of options for something as simple as a mouse is very limited for the Mac.
Ballmer: "I'm very sensitive to exactly what mouse I have on my laptop. Can you find a range of choices? [for the Mac] Of course you can't find a range of choices. You know, anyway -- can you find the applications you want on the Mac? Well, you don't really get full Microsoft Office."
Finally, in another quote, Mr. Ballmer explained why he thinks Apple opened its own retail stores:
"Apple started doing stores because nobody wanted to sell their PCs. Okay?"
The interview is quite long, covers a wide range of issues, and reveals Mr. Ballmer's unique view of the industry and Apple. It's illuminating to see Mr. Ballmer's view of Apple from his CEO position. Sometimes very high level executives roll up small bits of information as mental, convenient tidbits that makes them feel like they understand a complex situation. When it comes out verbally, it can sound like ignorance. Or, Mr. Ballmer does understand the realities, but finds it politically unacceptable to address them in a framework familiar to Apple customers. That's yet another kind of American CEO-speak.
Observer Comments
"Well, you don't really get full Microsoft Office [on the Mac OS]."
I'm glad to see that Mister Ballmer has come to this realization. Like others who have asked me what to do about this, I suggest he call 1-800-Microsoft (642-7676) and voice his concerns there.
Or send a feedback letter to:
Microsoft Corporation
One Microsoft Way
Redmond, WA 98052-6399
Attn: Customer Service
Ballmer is a salesman of the hard sell variety. When he speaks, he is not really expressing "Ballmer's unique view of the industry", but saying what he believes will push people into buying PCs. We have no idea what he really thinks - he may be pooh'ing himself over lost sales - or wishing he could use a Mac. We will never know.
I hope that Apple will just focus on the values that have got them this far and not be baited by Microsoft into doing something out of character. As long as people who turn Mac don't turn back, Apple can just wait for Microsoft to make mistakes, and take little bites over time.
Balmer keeps saying this quote about outselling Macs 32/33 to 1 but it seems completely off-base to me.
If we take it as 32 to 1 that means the Mac share is something like 3.1% of the total market if the market is defined as just Mac and Windows. If you include other PCs then the Mac share would be even lower wouldn't it?
Mac global market share hasn't been at 3% for years. It's currently about 6 or 8 percent depending on how you look at it.
Fri Oct 10, 2008 1:44 pm Subject: Of Mice and Men
Ballmer: "I'm very sensitive to exactly what mouse I have on my laptop. Can you find a range of choices? [for the Mac] Of course you can't find a range of choices. You know, anyway -- can you find the applications you want on the Mac?
I don't think Ballmer ever used a Mac, or at least within the last few years. Correct me if I am wrong, but you can use just about any 3rd party mouse, including the Microsoft Mouse on a Mac. To find applications you look on the Dock or in the Application Folder.
As to the sainted Office. I have it installed, but I use iWork almost exclusively for "office" sort of work.
"Apple started doing stores because nobody wanted to sell their PCs. Okay?"
No, they were started mostly because people wanted to buy Macs in a clean, well lit store with a Mac savvy staff. Guess what Ballmer, it worked, Mac market share is increasing. Also there is a halo effect; Best Buy is selling Macs, iPods, and iPhones, their Mac software selection is still lame though.
My sister switched to a Mac last weekend. She said she had enough of PC and Windows problems. She wants something that doesn't get in the way of her work, she is a psychiatrist for a school district.
Fri Oct 10, 2008 1:58 pm Subject: Is this man on crack?
Seriously, Ballmer seems completely deluded.
"And Windows PCs come in various flavors and sizes and forms and shapes and price points. And some are good and some are less good. I mean, they're all over the map. But part of the way we have competed successfully with Apple is not just on the quality of our software versus theirs, but the variety of experiences and choice that we and our partners, hardware vendors, device driver vendors, application vendors provide."
Yeah, because that's what consumers really want: Computers that are "all over the map" and the choice to buy things that are "less good."
And do you really, really mean to brag about about device drivers? That's part of what made the Vista experience so awful. If I were Ballmer's attorney, I'd advice him to stay quiet on drivers, as he won't survive cross examination.
"I think they need a little bit of correction, and you'll see us be much more vigorous about stating the case for the PC. The truth of the matter is, this is ironic. The PC outsells the Mac 33 to 1?32 to 1."
Where does Ballmer get his market share numbers? He apparently turns a blind eye to recent data, which point out that that ratio has decreased to around 12:1.
How long will he keep his head in the sand, watching market share whither away, before the board fires his delusional ass?
Just like words out of the mouths of politicians, there will be people who will believe him. Obviously (as these people believe), as the CEO of Microsoft, he MUST know what he is talking about. Just like politicians, it is all about using "disinformation" to promote your own goals. --Mike
Fri Oct 10, 2008 2:12 pm Subject: Class action, anyone?
If they sell a crippled Office for the Mac and if the price is the same as for the Windows-version, is that not enough to start a huge class action lawsuit going - if there are anyone left out there buying Office, that is. I never have and I am fine with iWork and NeoOffice and soon we will have an X11-free OpenOffice as well.
"Guest Mike" is correct. There are far too many people in the world that will take every word as gospel truth.
Is it just me, or does a lot of this read like Ballmer is very agitated like he's been blindsided by his opponent's tactics- and just didn't realize it until several plays later?
Oh, and regardless if Macs got "get all of Office", who really uses "all of Office" anyways? Most cube-dwellers barely scratch the surface of the feature bloat in Word, Excel, and Powerpoint.
To paraphrase something I've heard before: "His wealth of ignorance is astounding!"
How dare you all question Ballmer's ability to lead Microsoft?
He is eminently qualified. Don't you know he was Bill Gates' college buddy?
Seriously, if you are a Microsoft stockholder (I used to be one, but hearing Ballmer continually delude himself about how great MS products are made me bail.) you need to be very concerned because this man thinks that the best way to deal with reality is to bully it, bad-mouth it, and altogether deny it.
Exactly!
It's a reality distortion field and has been very effective for a long time.
Consider that microsoft have taught the world that viruses are a natural consequence of computers and the internet and what you need is 3rd party software to chace it around your PC.
Slowly, the emperor's nakedness is being revealed - not just be Apple - but by Apple and Google and the Unix-variants.
We will live through an age of gradual Microsoft decline, unless the board scrap the top layer and start in a new direction. They will not have the guts to do it.
Dear Mr. Ballmer,
So Office for Mac doesn't really give us the "full Microsoft Office." Well, I hate to disappoint you, but I DON'T use Office, because there happen to be other companies who are interested in giving me their BEST effort in developing their products. Apple happens to be at the top of that list.
Sincerely,
A (Happy) Non-Microsoft User
Mac software FROM Microsoft makes up such large chunk of the Microsoft profits according to their own people. Their margins on it are very high, especially considering they charge more for it.
Yet, it's not viable in business? I've been using Macs for 24 years.
It's not competitive? I've been using Macs for 24 years.
They're deliberately crippling it? Ballmer, I want my money back.
Attention Microsoft stockholders: You have a monkey in charge.
Bizarely, I think it is a strength NOT to have the full Microsoft Office.
One of Microsoft's worst failings is that they just keep piling more and more features on top of their products, but never rationalise them as a whole. This has resulted in a wildly over-complicated product. Ease of use comes with simplicity.
So now we see Google docs, with a simplified set of Microsoft Office capabilities. And Apple's iWork too. There has been mention of Microsoft producing a slimline online version of Office, which I think will have an inverse effect of actually being better than the full desktop version for these reasons.
So I see a future where different providers offer their own front ends to a reduced feature set of Office documents that are more widely understood, faster and more stable - ending one leg of the Microsoft's monopoly stool. ( Interpret 'stool' any way you prefer ).
...we will be forced to make nice. i find it very interesting about the comment regarding mac office. not a very tactful thing to say.
i just hope (over time) apple will be able to get a business level replacement for exchange (.me). And that the ms mac group continues to make a decent mac version (i don't have any real problem with ms mac office other than being slow).
some of you may argue that other options exist for office app replacements, but in the corporate world you need something that is not problematic. ms has the ability to change standards at will.
i have been using multiple platforms throughout my life, but hearing apple fan-boys still makes me sick. or for that matter hearing anyone with a static point of view.
i have NEVER been happier with apple products and look forward to next weeks new laptop.
Apple should target small businesses, say, less than 50 employees.
Maybe even start with the creative media guys who already have Macs.
And develop the Mac office, ironing out the wrinkles of interoperating with a Microsoft world, but with their own servers etc.
If they go head-to-head with Microsoft in the enterprise, they will just get a sore head. Better come in under the radar, do the Apple ease of use magic, and learn what enterprise needs, then implement better.
Mr. Balmer,
As a Microsoft Partner, VP of an Engineering Department and consultant for government agencies, I can say in all honesty:
You are an absolute idiot and need to have your head examined!
I switched from the PC world to the Mac world 24 months ago after Apple went to an Intel platform. I currently run OS X (primary), Vista Ultimate, Windows XP Pro with SP3 on one laptop with no compatibility problems at all. My internal email system is a Microsoft Exchange 2003 server with over 100 users on it including myself. I access it via my Entourage client as well as my iPhone. I find it offensive that you cannot see the clear advantage and stability of using a Mac in the business place. I rarely see BSOD (well actually on a Mac its a grey screen and yes they happen, 2 times in 24 months). I have access to applications from Adobe, Microsoft (even the "full" versions), IBM, Symantec, Cisco, Computer Associates, etc in one environment. From my companies stand point they were astonished that I switched, because for many years I was anti-Mac due to my experience programming on them. Now we are in the midst of supporting them and rolling them out to users all over the country. Get a clue, learn from history, and fix the DAMN issues with Vista. Attacking another segment is a complete waste of time and effort. Embrace the Mac users and grow your software in OSX to increase your revenue stream. You sound like a 7 year old who is jealous because someone has a better OS than you do. Grow UP!!!!!!
If i'm not mistaken, the 32-1 refers to all PC compatible machines which based on MS contracts of the past had to pay for an MS license whether they wished the OS or not. I see little DELLs at cash registers and in various locations doing simple things. If we were to measure the ratio in the home what would we get?
You're not the only one...
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=m6rqXHX3O48
Always gets a chuckle...
As a completely deluded ignoramous I hope MSFT's Board keeps him on forever. Let him ride the Ship righ into the ground.
Such a creature seems to totally not-understand that: 1) Vista isn't even as good as XP (a low bar) 2) the Zune sucks 3) the XBox division LOSES money 4) Windows Mobile sucks. If you can't identify the problem, you can't identify a solution. Jerry Seinfeld could have explained this to him, but wisely took the 10 million dollars and made a fool of the whole MSFT orginization.
QuoteAnd despite the fact that we don't sell PCs, we only sell Windows to people who make PCs.
Really, Mr. Ballmer. Any number of computer retailers sell retail copies of All your versions of Windows Vista.
Or didn't you know that?
Moron!
BTW, Young Frankenstein? Nah... more like Uncle Fester from the Munsters.
QuoteMy assumption was that you were referring to Ballmer on this... I just threw up in my mouth a little.Guest wrote:
Slowly, the emperor's nakedness is being revealed -
QuoteDon't you mean, a dancing monkey boy?Tiger wrote:
Attention Microsoft stockholders: You have a monkey in charge.
QuoteSir Harry Flashman wrote:
Ballmer: "I'm very sensitive to exactly what mouse I have on my laptop. Can you find a range of choices? [for the Mac] Of course you can't find a range of choices. You know, anyway -- can you find the applications you want on the Mac?
I don't think Ballmer ever used a Mac, or at least within the last few years. Correct me if I am wrong, but you can use just about any 3rd party mouse, including the Microsoft Mouse on a Mac..
"..what mouse I have on MY LAPTOP [emphasis added]". While I do agree that Steve Balmer is disingenuous, I'd like to give him the benefit of the doubt here between trackpads, balls, and those Thinkpad/Lenavo Trackpoints. He is truly talking about INPUT DEVICES, not mice per-se, showing more of his silliness in discussing this... I like the Apple Trackpads, so not an issue for me, but some people I know SWEAR by the trackpoint...
Steve Balmer can have all the mice he wants for his PC laptops. I am now using Apple MBA with its wonderful multi-touch tract pad. I do not need a mouse to run this puppy anymore and I have a very strange feeling that the mouse will become extinct when the new generation of notebooks will be introduced by Jobs.javascript:emoticon('
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Fri Oct 10, 2008 9:52 pm Subject: Ballmer Interview
Very enlightening! Anyone who's lived with Windows for more than a day or so knows what kind of GARBAGE they're dealing with. Cheap and "common" are not words I want used to describe something I depend on every day of my life. But that's exactly what the man said! PC's are CHEAP and WINDOZE is COMMON. But then so are streetwalkers... and I wouldn't bring one of them into my office, either!
The only thing Ballmer is sensitive to is his paycheck and his blood pressure which is obviously sky high. Poor guy. Wonder if his anger is partly from impotence brought on by his BP medication? A common side effect of several hypertensive meds.
Mac built Apple Stores because they didn't want their product sullied by being compared to a common ordinary windows PC. But then I live in Beverly Hills because I don't want to live in East LA, too! The creme eventually rises to the top. Is Mac a touch elitist? Hell yes. And proudly so. Is it better than Windows? I have macs I have running as servers (web and email) that I have not had to reboot in four or five years. Try that on Windows machines! And for the techies in the world - when you dig under the beautiful GUI on a Mac you find BSD Unix - the worlds most powerful and adaptable OS. When you dig under their wanna-be GUI on Windows - you find something their engineers forced together on top of MS DOS and earlier versions of Windows. Sort of a boulabaise of OS parts and they called it What cha m'call it?? Buy a windows PC and you need (not sort of but really NEED) a virus scanner and fixer program. We dont' even have such things for Macs. They don't get the common virus that are written for Windows. Macs are still running and useful when they're five or seven years old. Try using a seven year old PC for anything other than a boat anchor!
If you have a company and 20 or so PC's your paying a tech guy to keep them running. I ran a company with 200 Macs scattered between NY, CA, and Amsterdam and did my own nfetwork administration. We hired a tech when we needed new wiring for the ethernet network. not to install our Macs - thank you very much. And oh, I was doing net boot trans-atlantic at the time to keep my OS systems and software identical on all of our systems. Try doing that on Windows! It's not possible. The day I bought the company I ordered all the PC's tossed out. Most were a year old or less. We were lucky to sell them for 30 cents on the dollar. Even our own employees wouldn't buy their own machines. Since I replaced them with Macs - we turn them at the three year point and employees are known for requesting their mac as a purchase the first week they have it. They are that popular - even three years old! When I finally got the entire company over on Macs our productivity went up about 20 percent? why? Because people weren't waiting for the support guys to show up to get rid of the Blue Screen of Death any longer.
As for Mr. Ballmer's admission we're not getting the full version of Office for Macs? Hmmm. Think that should be grounds for an anti-trust suit. It was touted as Office for the Mac. That means everything office can do on Windows it's supposed to be able to do running on a Mac. Mr. Ballmer may have just confessed to corporate consumer fraud! Wouldn't that be sweet? Any of you greedy lawyers listening? You've got a sweet class action suit against one of the largest corporations in the world and their CEO just admitted they didn't' tell the truth on their packaging and promo materials on Office for Mac! Hmmm? I can hear the cash registers humming now! Hell, Apple might well be willing to underwrite your costs of suit on this one!
In the meantime Mr. Ballmer, I've switched to Open Office a long time ago. It's free. it works, and it's a far better product than Office for the Mac (or the Windows version!)
Cheap and common! Two great reasons to buy Windows PC's, eh? Thanks Ballmer! You're supposed to be the CEO? Gawd, that's scary!!