It was just a few weeks ago that Microsoft CEO Steve Ballmer was downplaying Facebook’s originality and value—but now he’s bowing to a ‘higher power.’
He told rumors earlier this week, when he said:
“Google’s had the same experience, even though they read your mail and we don’t,” Ballmer said, to chuckles and and a couple of gasps in the audience. “That’s just a factual statement, not even to be pejorative. The theory was if we read your mail, if somebody read your mail, they would know what to talk to you about. It’s not working out as brilliantly as the concept was laid out.”
But lest we all believe that perhaps today’s interview is evidence that Ballmer’s hubris is diminishing, there was one other interesting quotation from him:
“Our advertising system works,” he said. “When we have something there, we’ll show you.”
I’m confused here. I think this quote must be too far out of context. Because if their system worked, why don’t they “have something there” to show us?
In reality, his statements and attitude are most likely the result of spending too long at the top of the heap. Of course, the same attitude can lead straight to the bottom of the heap once again.
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