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Microsoft’s Ballmer Doesn’t See Tablet Computing Taking Off

The CNBC interview is a solid reminder of Ballmer’s inaccurate predictions

Jan 8, 2010 09:32 GMT  ·  By
Microsoft CEO Steve Ballmer delivering his keynote address at 2010 CES; demoing HP's prototype tablet with very little enthusiasm
   Microsoft CEO Steve Ballmer delivering his keynote address at 2010 CES; demoing HP's prototype tablet with very little enthusiasm

In what looks like history repeating itself, Microsoft CEO Steve Ballmer claims to believe that there isn't a sizeable market for the tablet. Whether or not Ballmer is intentionally making erroneous claims (as Laura Sydell of NPR suggests), this is also not the first time the CEO has laughed at how the future was being painted.

In January 2007, soon after Apple introduced its revolutionary iPhone, Steve Ballmer honored the fine folks at CNBC with his presence. In the video interview (which has garnered over 2,6 million views to this day), Ballmer can be seen dissing the Mac maker’s iPhone, claiming it would not be a successful product. He was wrong. In a similar manner, Ballmer now reveals the tablet concept will fail to take off, after taking less than a minute to showcase HP’s latest innovations in the field at the 2010 CES keynote.

Softpedia note

Well, perhaps a tablet with Windows on it will not pick up, but a device designed by Apple, both from a hardware and software point of view will almost surely become the next big thing. But, hey, this is an Apple fan’s opinion.

But how did Ballmer get a chance to express his thoughts? Via an interview, of course.

Laura Sydell of NPR interviewed Ballmer and asked him about the market for tablet/slate computers. According to the interviewer, “He made the excitement sound like empty chatter. He claimed to believe that there isn't a sizeable market for the tablet.” Ballmer’s exact words were, “They're interesting.” “But it's not like they're big numbers compared to the total number of smart devices in the world,” he explained.

Asked “Why would Apple spend so much money and time on a tablet if there wasn't a big market?,” Ballmer “deftly deflected” the question saying, “You'd have to ask Apple.”

While yours truly believes Ballmer is simply being his clueless self, the interviewer suggests Ballmer may have something up his sleeve by downplaying the market for tablet computers. “I'm pretty sure it's the tablet he's got behind his back,” Sydell wrote. What do you think, Softpedians?

Microsoft CEO Ballmer laughs at Apple iPhone