Ballmer: An iPad Killer is Job One

If I have to install ant-virus software on a tablet, then they have failed. They really need to figure out a way to take some of the current lessons from iOS and Android to heart and build something that is dead simple, integrates well with Exchange, easily managed by IT Admins, and doesn't require maintenance.

I was going to supply quotes here from the article, quotes that Ballmer made demonstrating his complete lack of competency in understanding the playing field, but then I realized that was all of them.

He should avoid using words like "urgently". Causes me to expect they're going to rush it out prematurely and embarass themselves.

Hopefully they will let a small team of specialists handle this challenge instead of throwing a lot of people and money at the problem.

Like the iPod killer? Or the iPhone killer?

Well... According to this<p><a href="http://tech.fortune.cnn.com/2010/07/30/steve-ballmer-on-the-ipad-the-transcript/" rel="nofollow">http://tech.fortune.cnn.com/2010/07/30/steve-ballmer-on-the-...</a><p>theirs will even print. I can't imagine how Apple will be able to compete with something so revolutionary.

When was the last time something described as a "X killer" actually killed, or took significant market share away from, X?

I'd imagine a windows tablet would come mostly at the expense of an android tablet market share.

It is unclear whether Microsoft's future tablet will be successful or not, but most of Ballmer's comments seem fairly reasonable and he never uses the phrase "iPad killer"

The fact that Ballmer is talking Windows 7 makes the whole idea doomed to fail.<p>Why not Windows Mobile 7 (or whatever they're calling it these days)?<p>I have never been a fan of Windows Mobile-- each WM phone I had prior to the iPhone, I wanted to smash into the ground.<p>Windows Mobile 7, however, actually looks pretty nice, and it seems like a fresh UI (even though it is Zune-like). It's not my taste in design, but it seems much more well suited to a slate interface than Windows 7.

"Ballmer: Catching Up Is Real Hard"<p>FTFY. :)

Oh man. There's nothing wrong with a fast-follower strategy, but the basic requirements are to (1) be fast, and (2) understand the thing you're trying to follow. SteveB is missing the boat on both here.

Hey Steve, what's Job Two?

Why not innovate instead? Or go after Apple where Apple is weak? AppleTV is a great target. Microsoft could own the home theater PC market a lot easier than they could catch iPad.

Anyone else ironically hoping MS creates a better iPad just for the opportunity to install Linux on it?

Microsoft "innovation": Three rotten product generations followed by an Apple clone.

hahahahahahahahahahahahaha<p>(Sorry but I couldn't resist)