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For six years, the Internet Nexus served as my technology blog, but I've since started blogging at the SuperSite Blog instead. If you're looking for the blog, please head there. --Paul

Monday, October 04, 2004

Ballmer: Apple the wrong bandwagon to reach digital utopia

Silicon.com:

Microsoft chief executive Steve Ballmer said at a press briefing in London on Sunday that consumer take-up of digital technology in the home is at a 'tipping point', which could lead to a dramatic increase in sales for converged devices that integrate video, audio and computer technology.

The industry has talked up the idea that computers will finally move from the home office to the living room for many years, but Ballmer said he thinks this theory may be about to become a market reality.

"There is no way that you can get there with Apple. The critical mass has to come from the PC, or a next-generation video device," he said.

So he's right, obviously, but equally obviously, people are going to attack him for saying it. Say what you will about Microsoft, but they have an end-to-end solution for digital media in the home that--let's be polite here--just doesn't exist anywhere else. They've got Media Center PCs, Portable Media Centers, Media Centers Extenders, Xbox, Windows Media Player with numerous online services, compatibility with over 75 portable devices, and probably a bunch of other stuff I'm just forgetting. Anyhoo ... Yeah, attacking Apple doesn't win friends because their fans feel very strongly about the company. But there's a truth out there that needs to be examined.

[ Posted at 1:00 PM | Permalink ]