[Vincent Ferrari]

http://blogs.zdnet.com/Apple/?p=3432

"Apple gained about one point, but now I think the tide has really turned back the other direction. The economy is helpful. Paying an extra $500 for a computer in this environment-same piece of hardware-paying $500 more to get a logo on it? I think that's a more challenging proposition for the average person than it used to be."

Coming from a guy who heads a company that made its fortune strongarming computer manufacturers into including their OS and nothing else ever, then making customers pay a few hundred bucks extra over the price of a machine for it, the statement about a logo being slapped on something and increasing its cost is pretty laughable.  After all, how much did that "Microsoft Windows" sticker on your computer cost you?

Of course, that's Ballmer's typical stupidity there.  Everyone knows there more to Apple than a logo, but it'll probably be a really breezy day in Hades before he acknowledges it.  Hell, even Melinda Gates acknowledges that!

[Vincent Ferrari]

http://blogs.zdnet.com/Apple/?p=3432

"Apple gained about one point, but now I think the tide has really turned back the other direction. The economy is helpful. Paying an extra $500 for a computer in this environment-same piece of hardware-paying $500 more to get a logo on it? I think that's a more challenging proposition for the average person than it used to be."

Coming from a guy who heads a company that made its fortune strongarming computer manufacturers into including their OS and nothing else ever, then making customers pay a few hundred bucks extra over the price of a machine for it, the statement about a logo being slapped on something and increasing its cost is pretty laughable.  After all, how much did that "Microsoft Windows" sticker on your computer cost you?

Of course, that's Ballmer's typical stupidity there.  Everyone knows there more to Apple than a logo, but it'll probably be a really breezy day in Hades before he acknowledges it.  Hell, even Melinda Gates acknowledges that!

[WyattEarp]

Oh, that MS sticker that has to be on every Windows PC, laptop and handheld running that OS. This is just laughable. Dell just released the new Adamo series of laptops that cost more than the Mac Air and have lower specs. Hmmm, whose charging more for a sticker. I think Ballmer needs to check in with his companies partners before rattling off at the mouth like that. But' then again I guess it's just habit for him at this point.

[Vincent Ferrari]

Gates may have been a delusional power hungry dope who credited his development teams with everything that ever worked on a personal computer, but he makes Ballmer look utterly sane by comparison. When Ballmer says stuff like "You pay for a sticker" or a "capacitive touchscreens are too expensive," you have to wonder if he really knows what his partners do and what his business really is. I think he's an utterly clueless loudmouth who does nothing to advance Microsoft's image.

At least Bill was likable.