I just watched the video of Steve Ballmer presenting the HP “slate” tablet PC [note that Ballmer is trying to get ahead of Apple on using the slate name]. I think Microsoft needs a new public face. Ballmer’s voice is grating, he looks like he’s mad and he dresses in a manner that looks uncomfortable and definitely not hip. Half the battle in all things technological is the coolness factor, and Ballmer doesn’t have it. Google has Brin and Page, Apple has Jobs and Ives, and Microsoft has old guys in suits who act like your Principal.
Perhaps the best move Microsoft could make is to put Ballmer out to pasture and hire a new, edgy guy from somewhere unexpected to run the company and shake things up. Because I guarantee that when Apple rolls out iSlate in a few weeks it will make Ballmer’s lame tablet presentation look awful, like it was.
UPDATE: he is more of a lunatic than I thought:
I remember clearly the morning after that Microsoft “Developers” keynote. This “Monkey Boy” video, or a remix of it, was everywhere in our offices. I mean I literally played this 5x or something that day. And for people working on open source development, it was the kind of meme that said, “there but for the grace of God go I.”
If he ever loses his job he could lead worship services at a few Charismatic churches I know of. If I worked for MS and had to attend one of his rants I would quickly get my resume in order and begin searching for a new employer.
The stupidity and arrogance at the highest level of corporations is breathtaking.
Did they have an EMT team off stage and at the ready?
He does look old and tired and that is not a good reflection on the brand. Perhaps accurate, in some people’s mind, but it certainly makes the googles and amazons and facebooks and apple and zappos management look strong!
I want my technology general to look sharp and alert and fit (even if I’m not).
http://www.successfulweightlossinthesuburbs.blogspot.com
Denise Burks