Ballmer discusses Microsoft's battle against Apple's Mac App Store, and official PC support for Kinect

@Digi You'd be surprised to know how much people switched to Macs because they can also run Windows. If Windows wasn't available on the Mac, you'd be surprised to know how few people would actually switch.

@Digi

Actually, I think being "closed" and "high priced" is what keeping Mac alive.

@Digi
Guys one of the reasons why Apple isn't going to allow OSX to run on other platforms is because it doesn't want to compete with other hardware manufacturers. This would result in them slashing their high premium which they are able to charge on all of ther Macs and iMacs.

@Finaiized
That in my opinion is the the reason people switch (after all, why switch if all you are going to do is use Windows on it). It is however a nice bonus, "oh I can run Windows, well I'm sold"

@Finaiized

Being able to run windows is just a bonus. If they wanted people to switch hard core they would release computers with more capable GFX Cards. Apple shines when it comes to Mac OS X, that is really their bread and butter.

But if they were to open up more and lower prices im sure they would sell tons more.

@SilverWave no worse than every other media outlet on the planet whoring themselves to apple 24/7

@SilverWave

Apple certainly did not produce anything innovative with their Mac App Store. Ubuntu has had a similar software center for almost 2 years. MS answer to tablet is coming. Don't forget iPad isn't what they made it seem like (PC IS DEAD YADA YADA) they only sold around 14m units and PCs sell 350m a year. They won't be getting anywhere close to that.

You gotta hand it to Apple for brainwashing people to buy their overpriced garbage.

@Fez

>Apple certainly did not produce anything innovative with their Mac App Store. Ubuntu has had a similar software center for almost 2 years.

Yes and I have been using it it for the past 4.
But the point you are missing is that it is a big change in the proprietary PC landscape.

Trusted and vetted software is a big thing and to be welcomed although TBH I prefer the Android model.

Also Apple certainly do produce innovative products. iPod iPhone, iPad and have completely changed customer expectations and the computing, mobile space.

>MS answer to tablet is coming.

No its not is classic FUD from MS, promising the industry some vapour-ware product that doesn't even exist and hoping they will stop supporting Android.

Well FUD only works if ppl are listening and that you are believable. No one is and they aren't.

>Don't forget iPad isn't what they made it seem like (PC IS DEAD YADA YADA) they only sold around 14m units and PCs sell 350m a year. They won't be getting anywhere close to that.

This is a completely new computing paradigm so I would say that 14m would be a huge success. Now they see that they have a winner, they can ramp up production and lower their production costs even further.

They will also be taking the lessens learned fro this version 1.0 product and will produce a more refined version 2.0 later this year, lots more ppl with give this product a shot.

>You gotta hand it to Apple for brainwashing people to buy their overpriced garbage.

Well I think you miss the point. Apple is a quality brand, ppl with money but little computing knowledge can just pick a product and know that it will work and that it will be easy to use.

Unlike a pc it will also be much more secure.

It is also a very fashionable aspirational product. So for the buyer is win\win.

Also Apple are a hugely profitable business and there products lock out MS and any possible skulduggery from them.

Look at MS's share price vis-à-vis Apples none of the traders agree with you, quite the reverse.

I don't own any Apple products but I am not blind to what the have achieved.

MS successfully strong armed the OEM's of the netbooks to stop using Linux.

With Google behind Android 3.0 the same will not be the case for Tablets.

MS could, just about, shoehorn windows on to a netbook, sure it was crap and slow, but it worked.

There is no way windows will work on a tablet and everyone knows it.

MS brought out a tablet like product years ago and it was terrible.

They make so much money from the Window\Office thing they have no interest in anything else unless pushed.

With their huge influence and money they have previously been able to come in late and still buy their way out of trouble.

That was then this is now.

With Apple and Google they are competing with companies specifically inoculated against the MS poisons.

The biggest laugh I got was hearing that they were not doing anything until 2013/14.

Game over man. Game Over.

@Fez
It's a mistake to think of a Mac's price as 'premium' though... I mean, I'm a PC but I bought a Mac in 2006 so I wouldn't get fully behind in knowing what they do, etc. I've replaced the PC I had in 2006 four times since then -- hard drives, not enough slots to upgrade to eSATA of something -- all those things contributed. Still have my Mac though and it's still running just as great. I think it has to do with the fact that since Apple makes /designs *everything* top to bottom, it all works together a LOT better. Anyway, so that "Premium" $2,800 I spent on my 27" iMac has now been significantly outdone by the $1000 I spent on the 'bargain' Dell laptop I had at the time, the two 'bargain' Gateways after that, the 'bargain' Dell desktop I bought after that, the monitor for that desktop, the keyboards and mouse devices, and the 'bargain' eMachines. I'll buy the one that's actually priced CORRECTLY next time, especially now that I've seen them run Windows 7. I also notice that at the SAME memory level / processor speed, Macs tend to seriously outperform a PC (I.e. When comparing machines with 8GB RAM / SandyGate Processors, etc you'll see the two 'identical' machines perform very differently) and I think that's because they're coaxing better overall performance by using the same materials / design / specs throughout the machine.

@KeegdnaB
Yes but this is the BBC not Fox.

They are held to a much higher standard.

@KeegdnaB

Well Apple have some nice new shiny products... so that's what the news is for really to report.

With Ballmer not many ppl watching really know who the fat guy is, although he could be a stand in for Uncle Fester if you put a light bulb in his mouth.

So why is he on the bbeb?

To tell the general public to not buy apple products as he will have something out Real Soon Now...

yeah yeah..

Its not something that the bbc should have fallen for.

@SilverWave

You say that you don't own any Apple products yet you say this:

"Well I think you miss the point. Apple is a quality brand, ppl with money but little computing knowledge can just pick a product and know that it will work and that it will be easy to use.

Unlike a pc it will also be much more secure."

Second statement is completely false and the first two are subjective to your own personal opinion.

I cba to argue with all else you wrote =\

@Fez

Yeah I realised that the reply was a little over your comprehension level but we all have to do our bit to try and inform the sheep.

@SilverWave

Now you are insulting me =|.

"Yes and I have been using it it for the past 4.
But the point you are missing is that it is a big change in the proprietary PC landscape."

Software Center Was introduced in late 2009 I don't understand how you would have been using it for the past 4. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ubuntu_Software_Center

I am not missing any point this isn't causing ANY change big or small in the proprietary PC landscape. The proprietary PC landscape consists of around 90+% others which Apple isn't a part of sadly.

"Also Apple certainly do produce innovative products. iPod iPhone, iPad and have completely changed customer expectations and the computing, mobile space."

I wasn't saying they don't innovate at all I was speaking about this case in particular. Maybe you weren't disproving anything I said but merely advertising?

MS response is coming. Functionality wise iPad is very limited and that is because currently the tech available in terms of (battery/SoC/ etc) isn't capable enough to provide a good enough experience on tablets. Just like Android they are trying to make something specifically for tablets instead of porting their Phone/PMP OS onto a larger screen.

Microsoft can either be "late" into the business which will still not be late enough as there is so much potential and room to grow in this new market. - They will be fine.

OR

Microsoft can choose to not compete with iPad at all. Still doesn't matter. Why would you bash a company for not creating an iPad competitor. I don't go around complaining about how Apple is dead in the console business.

Secondly this "FUD" you speak of. MS has not been misleading anyone nor have they been claiming anything which they already aren't working on. If you are talking about Courier specifically that was leaked by techblogs and it was part of an internal experimental project among the many others that exist in all companies not just Microsoft.

"This is a completely new computing paradigm so I would say that 14m would be a huge success. Now they see that they have a winner, they can ramp up production and lower their production costs even further."

I would not even be comparing it to the PC market if people were not trying to downplay PCs and highly exaggerate the usability offered by the iPad. It is a great product but it can never even replace a netbook.

Mac's aren't any better quality wise than a PC. You can build a better rig with the same parts for 2/3 of the price that you pay for a Mac. The more money you spend the better quality your parts will be and in some cases you can easily build a much better performing durable product for still less than the amount of money you would spend on a Mac.

As for security, you are either joking or an idiot. OSX is no where near as secure as Windows 7 it has been proven many times and it's all over the internet just google it :P.

Yes apples stock has been on a consistent rise but I wouldn't let that lead me to believe they are offering better products. I also wouldn't believe that Microsoft is dead :S.

Microsoft didn't have to strong arm OEMs they all go with what works better - PARANOID MUCH?

Windows 7 performs awesomely on netbooks I still have an Acer Aspire one from two years ago with a single core atom at 1.6Ghz and 1GB of ram. I run office as well as Photoshop on it(for light editing; logos etc).

""With their huge influence and money they have previously been able to come in late and still buy their way out of trouble."" SERIOUSLY??? PARANOID MUCH???

Are you some kind of referee?? And what relevance does that have with what I posted? Do you think I give a crap about Microsoft NOT releasing any tablet based OS?

Anyway I wont be wasting anymore time responding to your troll posts anymore. bye.

@Fez

Now you are insulting me =|.

"Yes and I have been using it it for the past 4.
But the point you are missing is that it is a big change in the proprietary PC landscape."

Software Center Was introduced in late 2009 I don't understand how you would have been using it for the past 4. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ubuntu_Software_Center

Well its just a fancy front end for apt. And I mainly used the Synaptic Package Manager front end and in fact still do as it is more powerful.

Advanced Packaging Tool:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Advanced_Packaging_Tool