Microsoft CEO Steve Ballmer lived up to his controversial reputation by mocking Google Chrome OS, asking why the company felt the need for a second OS to slot alongside Android.
Ballmer, speaking at a conference in New Orleans, described Chrome OS – Google's foray into operating systems for computers – as very interesting, but questioned its purpose.
"Who knows what this thing is? To me, the Chrome OS thing is highly interesting," said Ballmer.
"It won't happen for a year and a half and they already announced an operating system."
Making your mind up
"I don't know if they can't make up their mind or what the problem is over there, but the last time I checked, you don't need two client operating systems," added Ballmer.
"It's good to have one."
Ballmer mocking the opposition is hardly surprising, but it would be naïve to believe that Microsoft is not taking the threat from Google seriously.
No doubt critics will point to the fact that Microsoft's mobile OS Windows Mobile – which is set to move into version 6.5 soon, is a very different beast to Windows 7.
But Ballmer is not the first to question how Android and Chrome OS fit in with each other, and is unlikely to be the last.
Via Reuters
Your comments (2) Click to add a new comment
healeydave
July 15th 2009
2. Heheh, what the hell is going on at Microsoft these days, they are in a complete mess with fragmented Operating Systems.
They have this awful model of lets rip off the customer with several flavors when every person who buys an OS should be able to use all of its functionality and not have some of it crippled because they couldn't afford Microsoft's top tier pricing.
Then there's the mess of supporting people from win7 back through vista and XP because far too many people have lost faith in the new offerings.
Ballmer is in no place to criticise or poke fun at any competing company at the moment until Microsoft gets its own mess in order!
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mbb
July 15th 2009
1. "No doubt critics will point to the fact that Microsoft's mobile OS Windows Mobile – which is set to move into version 6.5 soon, is a very different beast to Windows 7."
Indeed, and the fact that Windows 7 started is very different to Home Premium, or Business, or the E versions in Europe. And there's the necessary XP downgrade options they keep extending.
If anyone is in a position to mock others about OS unity, it is surely not Microsoft.
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