Wanted: Copy of Steve Ballmer's Latest “Embarrassing” Public Appearance
Dr. Roy Schestowitz
2009-09-15 15:14:27 UTC
Modified: 2009-09-15 17:48:35 UTC
"It puts the Linux phenomenon and the Unix phenomenon at the top of the list."
--Steve Ballmer, 2001
Summary: Video of Ballmer's latest tactlessness goes missing after receiving too much exposure
WE'VE already mentioned Ballmer's iPhone incident, but there is no known footage of it. There was, however, a footage of Ballmer making a characteristically-bizarre appearance, but as Todd Bishop puts this, it "looks like the person who posted this publicly had second thoughts after it started to be viewed publicly (funny how that happens), and switched it to allow only private viewing on YouTube. We'll let you know if it resurfaces elsewhere."
All attempts to find a copy of this video were not successful (videos are not being cached). Any other means for retrieving this missing video which was publicly viewable for a while? Here is how Bishop describes it:
Is Steve Ballmer admirably enthusiastic, or is his cheerleading too much following the company's unprecedented layoffs and cutbacks?
[...]
This particular video doesn't show the iPhone incident -- we're still hoping to get our hands on a video clip of that -- but it does provide a sense for the tone leading up to that now-infamous encounter.
From one comment we learn that "The fact the video is NOT available RIGHT NOW on YouTube says volumes about the current state of employee anxiety. Such lockstep, fearful behavior among the ranks does not bode well for the future of the company."
Another comment goes as follows: "As a long time ex-MSer, I have to say this used to be energizing but became embarassing some years ago. It's particularly inappropriate this year with the company's bad financial performance and the 5,000 layoffs already and likely more to come."
Silently, Microsoft is still laying off employees without announcing it to shareholders. Well, Microsoft has had happier days. ⬆
"I'd put the Linux phenomenon really as threat No. 1."
--Steve Ballmer, 2001 (year of XP release)
Comments
Needs Sunlight
2009-09-15 15:36:55
There's no description of the 'iPhone incident' here or in the first link.
How about a little summary or background?
Roy Schestowitz
2009-09-15 17:49:48
I put in the wrong URL. It's fixed now.
Yuhong Bao
2009-09-15 17:09:01
Not to mention the fact that Gates' and Ballmer's aggressiveness with competitors is probably part of why MS is so evil, and it is not just against free software.
On the other news, the iPhone news link is wrong.
Do not donate any money to copycat organisations. It's worse than money down the river because your money might get spent attacking and even defaming the originals.
Comments
Needs Sunlight
2009-09-15 15:36:55
How about a little summary or background?
Roy Schestowitz
2009-09-15 17:49:48
Yuhong Bao
2009-09-15 17:09:01