Microsoft CEO Steve Ballmer did not attack Google in a speech Thursday. He was referring to Microsoft, not Google, in making a comparison to a precocious toddler.
SAN FRANCISCO (AP) — Microsoft Corp. CEO Steve Ballmer seemed to intentionally avoid uttering the “G-word” Thursday but spared no punches in blasting archrival Google Inc. (See correction below.)
During an animated discussion at the Web 2.0 Summit moderated by organizer John Battelle, Ballmer took a paternal tone, comparing Google (Charts, Fortune 500) – which went public in 2004 but already is the second-most valuable company in Silicon Valley – to a precocious toddler.
“You’re just 3 years old, and we’ve got you in there playing basketball with a 12-year-old,” Ballmer gushed and gesticulated, nearly popping out of his seat. “You’re growing up quick and getting better every day, and you’ve got all the potential in world, and it may take you ’til you’re 7, 8, 9 or 10, but you’re gonna dunk and you’re gonna dunk on the other guy some day, Johnny.”
The sold-out crowd of hundreds erupted in laughter – then guffawed when Battelle, a journalist and author of a popular tome on Google, made a similar parallel, comparing Microsoft’s widely panned digital music player with Apple Inc.’s (Charts, Fortune 500) top-selling iPod media player.
“You’re just 3 years old, and we’ve got you in there playing basketball with a 12-year-old,” Ballmer gushed and gesticulated, nearly popping out of his seat. “You’re growing up quick and getting better every day, and you’ve got all the potential in world, and it may take you ’til you’re 7, 8, 9 or 10, but you’re gonna dunk and you’re gonna dunk on the other guy some day, Johnny.”
The sold-out crowd of hundreds erupted in laughter – then guffawed when Battelle, a journalist and author of a popular tome on Google, made a similar parallel, comparing Microsoft’s widely panned digital music player with Apple Inc.’s (Charts, Fortune 500) top-selling iPod media player.
Correction: Microsoft Corp. CEO Steve Ballmer did not attack Google in a speech Thursday. He was referring to Microsoft, not Google, in making a comparison to a precocious toddler. Source: CNNMoney
