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It seems like once a year, Ballmer has to make sure to publicly remind the Mac BU that they're never going to be taken seriously by Microsoft leadership. Today's installment comes from an interview with PC Magazine:
You know, anyway—can you find the applications you want on the Mac? Well, you don't really get full Microsoft Office.
Wow. Great job there Stevie. Why not twist the knife completely and just say "Sure, we make Microsoft Office for the Mac, but you think Mac users are ever going to get the good stuff? Please, I know where my bread is buttered, and it ain't from the hippies in Cupertino."
You gotta love a guy who, on a regular basis, publicly trashes a division that has been, for over a decade, a solid contributor to Microsoft's bottom line, and, it must be said, a really great group of people. I have my issues with their products, and I don't always agree with their decisions, but the specific people involved? Fantastic.
There's a saying among a lot of Mac IT Admins: "We love the Mac in spite of Apple". Well, for a long time, while there have been times when I really hated a lot of Office, I still love the Mac BU in spite of that. Dealing with them, even when I don't get the answers I want, is always pleasant.
So yeah, that was a cheap shot by Ballmer, and it was inexcusable. Here's a leadership hint for him:
You never, ever, EVER say anything even slightly degrading about your people in public. In private maybe, but in public, every team kicks ass, and you are ruthlessly consistent on that. Especially when it's YOUR FAULT that the Mac doesn't have a full copy of office, ya nimrod.
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Microsoft, Microsoft Office 2008, El Doucheo Ballmero
Posted by John C. Welch at 12:42 | Permalink
Comments
I'd very much hope that my copy of Office 2004 (legitimately bought at an education discount) is the last Microsoft product my wife and I need ever purchase.
I find it encouraging that the generally-clueless IT department at my office has avoided upgrading our company's MS products from XP and whatever older version of Office they install on the cheap Dell mini-boxes I see outside of our Design & Production departments.
Posted by:
Moeskido 
|
October 11, 2008 3:51 PM
He likes his strategy...........
Posted by:
Planeten Paultje |
October 11, 2008 11:32 PM
