Ballmer Swipes At, Then Praises Open Source Competition

by Sam Dean - Nov. 07, 2008Comments (8)

Much is being said about Microsoft CEO Steve Ballmer's comments on open source in Australia this week. As GigaOm notes, Ballmer took a bold swipe at Google's Android platform while speaking Down Under, but he also directly said he found open source browser engines "interesting."  Among other things implied here, there could be some big changes in how browsers compete.

I've written before that the serious innovation going on in the browser market is coming from open source browsers. Firefox, in particular, is leading the way, but Google Chrome and Webkit--found in Apple's Safari browser--are delivering innovation as well. In recent speed tests, the beta version of Internet Explorer 8 is slow as molasses compared to the open source browsers, and in the case of Firefox, all the incredible extensions give the browser more muscle than Mozilla could ever do on its own.

That's why Ballmer has to consider an open source browser code base. Here is what he said:

"There will still be a lot of proprietary innovation in the browser itself so we may need to have a rendering service. Open source is interesting. Apple has embraced Webkit and we may look at that, but we will continue to build extensions for IE 8."

With Firefox at about 20 market share now, and so much innovation going on in the open source browsers, I can't see how Microsoft can afford not to move toward a solution such as Webkit quickly. The beta version of the upcoming Firefox version 3.1 is already far faster--especially in JavaScript tests--than the beta of Internet Explorer 8.

The JavaScript performance promises to have a profound effect on online hosted applications, such as those from Google and Zoho. People who work with those applications, among many others, won't tolerate a pokey browser. The CEO of Zoho even suggested to us that the JavaScript performance improvements in the open source browsers may change how features are implemented in online applications.

Ballmer also trashed Android while in Australia. "I don’t really understand their strategy. Maybe somebody else does,” he said, as GigaOm reports here. I agree completely with Om's comments in reaction: "What’s there to understand, Steve? It is simple. It is free, and it is meant to eat Windows Mobile for lunch."

With Symbian going open source, Android open sourced, and Linux-based LiMo devices appearing, Microsoft has to feel the pressure. Windows Mobile stands on very shaky legs in the face of this type of competition. Look for Microsoft to make more big changes in its stance toward open source--and soon.


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8 Comments
 

Whether you like it or not - this guy is good! He might produce the crappiest products on the planet but he knows how to run his business. He realizes the threat that Open Source poses but also recognizes the assets he's sitting on and will test the waters and figure out the right balance of co-opetition to maximize value from the tremendous organization they've built.


He'll buy Yahoo for a fraction of what he was willing to pay earlier. He'll embrace FOSS to service the relatively not-so-profitable customer segments. And he'll buy competition as and when required. That's what happens when you have $26 B in the bank - you can say whatever the f@#k you want and people HAVE to listen.


So get off your "Open" pedestal and acknowledge that you have a fox in the hen house and you'll have to figure out a way to co-exist...


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> So get off your "Open" pedestal and acknowledge that you have a fox in the hen house and you'll have to figure out a way to co-exist...


Actually no, I don't have to put up with loud mouth louts and can quite happily exist without brash brigands bringing up the rear in the software industry.


Go away Microsoft, no one needs you any more; your technical model is no were near as strong as your business model and that will take your business model down in the end.


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Quote Anon "whether you like it or not - this guy is good"


No he's not, in my opinion hes like a desperate used car salesman. His interview style is awful, Ive seen him interrupt, evade questions and raise his voice to get his point over (and its a fudged MS point)


MS is like a tame wolf. It may sit on command, but you wouldnt leave it with the chickens overnight.


I dont think MS will be able to get into the open source world properly, it will always be on the outside looking in. What MS doesnt realize it that most Linux users were MS users, and want no more to do with them.


Look at Novell since its pact with the devil.


But, I think now its more than that. In addition to an overwhelming dislike and distrust for MS, you have a trend where open source is becoming popular in itself. Think about recent examples where people have rebelled against proprietary, purely because it was, proprietary. Look at DIVX and then the XVID story.


I think people are fed up (be it MS or not) with the idea of proprietary software.


I hold no worth in anything Ballmer says. If he told me year was 2008, Id have to double check on the calender first.


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All good points but remember that less than 15% of the technology companies fail because of inadequate technology, the rest fail because of inadequate execution. That's one area where Microsoft and Ballmer have always excelled and until someone really displaces MS in their core markets (Office Productivity, Desktop OS, Browsers) I'd be hard pressed to jump on the "Microsoft is over" bandwagon. Google owns search, but Microsoft never really competed there (and Google already had the lion's share until they realized the importance). Market share erosion will continue to happen and that is simply a function of competition but don't write off Redmond just yet...


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As with the terrible economic state that was caused by one MAN The American voice has been heard and they demand change! History has been made!


As with the state of MS and there OS system and crying about software that was caused by one MAN. The American voice has been heard but to this day he refuses to listen. If He did XP would still be going strong!


Don't be fooled for one minute if you think Windows 7 is not Vista! The Fox in the hen house has changed himself as a Hen!


Its that simple folks, We control Ballmers future not him. Stop buying that trash and he will go away!!!!!!!


Start looking into Linux or Mac........


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>15% of the technology companies fail because of


I agree 100% but there can never be 103% out come. Then your talking over unity. You can never get more out of something than you put into it.


You can say "don't forget the 3% that fail due to inadequate statistics and 85% because of inadequate execution. The problem with MS runs very deep and on so (many) levels.


They will most likely never come out of this. We have choices and they are good ones.


Linux and Mac and the open source community have finally tightened there squeeze on MS and Ballmer is very aware of this. How else can he react?


The answerer is how he represents himself today, flip flopping all over the place scrambling for a answerer. Looking for a fix to his nightmare.


The true answerer is Ballmer needs to remove his hands from our pockets and work with Linux, Mac and the open source community on all levels. And Truly listen to what the END user is saying.


Then the 85% will fall into place were it should be.


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> I agree 100% but there can never be 103% out come. Then your talking over unity. You can never get more out of something than you put into it.


Really. So what you're saying that that statistic is inaccurate?


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haven't read a more biased article...


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