In a Flickr photostream, “Paint.It.Black” has posted a photo showing an Apple MacBook Pro on Steve Ballmer’s lectern at a recent conference, “Business Leadership and Digital Innovation” something or other — which is obviously yet another Ballmer presentation focusing on things about which he has no clue.
This isn’t the first time Microsoft’s been caught using superior hardware, either:
Microsoft demos Windows Vista on Apple MacBook Pro – July 01, 2006
See the images here.
MacDailyNews Take: He’s probably using Apple’s Keynote, too.
MacDailyNews Note: We assume the darker area on the MacBook Pro is the shadow cast by Microsoft’s cheesy cardboard sign / Apple product shield.
[Thanks to MacDailyNews Readers too numerous to mention for the heads up.]
oops!.. who’s head will get hit by the flying chair?
“My children – in many dimensions they’re as poorly behaved as many other children, but at least on this dimension I’ve got my kids brainwashed: You don’t use Google, and you don’t use an iPod.”
– Steve Ballmer
“Microsoft Digital Inspiration – Business Leadership and Digital Innovation for Future Graduated”
Translated: “Get a Mac.”
What would have been really awesome is if he’d used Keynote.
I’m sure it’s running Vista (or XP if they want it to be reliable), but even so, that’s quite an interesting photo.
I’m starting to feel like Microsoft is privately admitting to itself that it can’t hold its desktop monopoly forever – that would explain why they’ve thrown so much effort into forcing MSOOXML through the ISO (to preserve their Office monopoly, regardless of platform), and why they’re working so feverishly to get a bigger footprint online (trying to buy Yahoo, that big Mesh thingy).
In England they call crazy people ‘barmy, which originates in the word ‘balmy’. Which is most likely the origin of the “Tongue’s” surname. Second name in California.
Slow news day, huh? We got to photoshop news now.
This is fscking stupid.
Just my $0.02
Microsoft is today, and has been throughout history, the largest and most important Mac developer bar none. Microsoft is so important to Apple that twice now, Steve has entered into long term deals with Microsoft to gain commitment that Office will continue on the Mac platform.
2 people in my small firm just bought Macbooks, and they both bought Office 2008. Now that they’ve seen Fusion on my computer, they may buy XP or Vista so they can run Visio. This is all a win for Redmond, as well as a win for Apple.
“We have to let go of the notion that for Apple to win, Microsoft has to lose.”
-Steve Jobs
@ Ampar
Hmm, I wonder if his kids use Yahoo instead?
Is no one wondering about the white band along the top edge of the lid?
He cannot be using Keynote… he is running Windows Vista.
JAYGEE: Makes <strike>cents</strike> sense.
Ray: Read the comments on the linked page from people who were there. And you’re overcharging again.
C1: I think it’s a lighting issue.
Here’s a different view:
http://flickr.com/photos/choubistar/2439499170/
Priceless. Uncle Fester on stage with a MacBook Pro.
http://flickr.com/photos/choubistar/2439499170/
@ Ampar
I see the same lighter band in the image you posted. That’s way too sharp and reflectiony to be accurate to the MBP’s flat metal skin. Unless it’s a sticker to keep his oily, pizza-sauce-stained hands from discoloring the aluminum while he carries it.
It also looks a bit over-square… but that’s pretty subtle. I’m not saying it’s faked, just being the skeptic that I am.
From the Flickr comments:
Plutux says: “I was there and I have to say that there WAS a leftover Mac from a non MS speaker. The 2 previous presenters used it for their keynotes. Ballmer didn’t use a computer at all, it was just an automatic slide.”
Anyway, word is he didn’t use the machine, he just had a slide show going.
The Mac was left on stage from a previous presenter. Microsoft doesn’t care what hardware its stuff runs on. It’s a software company.
C1: I think that part of the angled lid is picking up light from the projector. The rest is in shadow from the MS sign on the podium.
“Microsoft doesn’t care what hardware its stuff runs on. It’s a software company.”
Maybe internally. But there have been WAY TOO MANY disparaging public remarks about Apple from top MS execs.
FAKE…Ballmer doesn’t even know how to use a computer duh…
@ Ampar
You might be right. I’d be much happier, though, if I saw the reverse version of
” rel=”nofollow”>this.
Many times people just bring their presentation along in a memory stick. They use what ever hardware is available.
Just a thought. Also, Ballmer is a CEO, he would not be the one setting up the equipment or even pushing the clicker .
Just a thought.
Oh, C1. You’re going to Dell in a hand basket now!
“Maybe internally. But there have been WAY TOO MANY disparaging public remarks about Apple from top MS execs.”
In particular from Steve “The Tongue” Ballmer….
First, one of Flickr pages someone provided here mentions that the previous presenter left their laptop there.
Second, MAN is that PowerPoint cheesy. (in the pic in the same Flickr page) A great software company has to do LAME presentations? What a joke! Man…I expect that if you are great company, you do great presentations. Your presentation should scale to how big you are. I guess when you are stuck using M$ products, you are pretty limited.
Even Ballmer can’t fight the power!
Nothing new here. I remember Bill Gates using Amigas to create and show presentations on how great Microsoft was at doing this new “MultiMedia” stuff.
He cannot be using Keynote… he is running Windows Vista.
Unless there’s a Keynote for Windows. Shhhh….
Calm down people. It is fake. There is no way he would be using an apple product or at least not using one that is that noticeable.
@C1
Another pic like that and we sic Nickelback on you…
You have beeen assimilated.
@ Hm…
{shudder}
Okay, I give up!!!
{go to my happy place}
{go to my happy place}
{go to my happy place}
I need to listen to some Tad for a while. ‘Scuse me.
-c
Still don’t trust the photo….this guys a nut. He would not use an Apple product.
I want to believe
Guys, guys –
He’s just evaluating the MacBook Pro so that Microsoft can very thoroughly copy Leopard in the next Windows release (circa 2012).
Now that will be a switcher ad!
i love how MDN commenters leave comments on the linked sites as well with MDN slang.
alright, look, this is actually really getting to the point of becoming pathetic. yes, windows is plagued with problems, wanna know why? it’s got a user base 10x the size of the mac. so all the mac fanboys horny for their fancy os should start to realize that its only safe and sound BECAUSE NO ONE USES IT. and dont bullshit me with “its based on unix! =) its indestructible” cuz honestly, its only safe cuz once again, no one USES UNIX. the sad thing is, im not even a windows or microsoft fan boy. i flat out admit and know that windows is shit. but what REALLY pisses me off is apple fanboys, and apple ITSELF, USING windows as leverage for its own sorry ass. in that field i credit microsoft fully for having a decent amount of control over their arrogancy. you dont see bill gates going around talking about how shitty apple is, and how windows is so amazing. yet every fuckin day on tv i see mac ads bashing the living shit out of windows, “windows cant do this, a mac can!”, and same with the fanboys, their only positive comments about mac’s involve negative statements directed towards windows. honestly, to the company and the faggits who wank one off to it each night before bed, grow a fuckin pair and put up or shutup. i hate linux apple AND windows, having used all 3 personally, so dont call me any kind of fanboy.
@ …ok. Zune Tang does it better.
You really should reconsider Windows, Mac OS X, or Linux. All three have spell checkers and allow the use of capitals.
I think even Ballmer knows the rule by now:
DON’T USE VISTA FOR PRESENTATIONS
..unless you actively seek to be embarrassed.
It needs to be said. NO ONE has ever seen Steve Ballthingy actually using a complex electronic device. It may well be a Mac; but what better way to present a critical presentation? Leave him alone – he’s a very sensitive guy.
We assume the darker area on the MacBook Pro is the shadow cast by Microsoft’s cheesy cardboard sign / Apple product shield.
I thought that was the aluminum being rotted by corruption and self loathing. Such a terrible way to bluescreen.
You people really think the CEO of Microsoft (or any company) brings his own laptop to use for a presentation???
He has assistants and secretaries and departments of people that set these things up.
@ChrissyOne – “Is no one wondering about the white band along the top edge of the lid?”
It is very likely the specular highlight is caused by the backlights focused at the podium, backlights are used to lift a subject out from the background by sculpting shape, form and the illusion of density for a person standing behind the podium.
If you look at the top part of the podiums fascia there are two shadows, a darker one from a key light and a lighter one from a base of softlight fill, it appears that both of these shadows are of the same elevation to create a shadow from the Microsoft sign of similar alignment across the laptop.
Then again it could be p’chopped.
@…ok
Help can be found here
If you compare the first slide on Steve Ballmer’s presentation to Steve Jobs presentation (use anyone), you will notice that Steve Jobs never mentions in any presentation that he is the CEO of Apple, Inc. Why? Because everyone knows who he is. But in Ballmer’s presentation, there it is: Steve Ballmer, CEO Microsoft Corp….it’s just strange.
“@ …ok. Zune Tang does it better.
You really should reconsider Windows, Mac OS X, or Linux. All three have spell checkers and allow the use of capitals.”
I don’t think that either OS is compatible with ok’s Commodore 64.
Dumbasses.. that wasn’t his laptop. Someone confirmed that who was there. It was a presenter before him, which wasn’t from microsoft.
09.00 – 09.30
Welcome and Registration
09.30 – 10.10
The new Participation Generation: how it will impact your future business?
Jo Caudron – CEO ONE Agency
10.15 – 11.00
A new vision on Business Leadership, one of the strongest Belgian experiences shared with future graduates.
Philippe Mailleux – CEO of Mailleux & Associates.
11.00 – 11.30
An insight into the ways in which technology enables you to develop and apply your capacity as innovator and as leader of tomorrow.
Steve Ballmer – CEO Microsoft Corporation
11.30 – 12.30
Closing & Drink
Comment from: silverwarloc
If you compare the first slide on Steve Ballmer’s presentation to Steve Jobs presentation (use anyone), you will notice that Steve Jobs never mentions in any presentation that he is the CEO of Apple, Inc. Why? Because everyone knows who he is. But in Ballmer’s presentation, there it is: Steve Ballmer, CEO Microsoft Corp….it’s just
Umm dumbass.. he wasn’t the only presenter there.
Anyone remember that when Steve Jobs started back at Apple as iCEO, he did some keynotes or other presentations using an IBM ThinkPad (or was it a Sony VAIO?) running NextStep?