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Anti-Vista Mom Corners Hapless Microsoft CEO

Ballmer counters emotional frustration with techie excuses

By Jonas Oransky,  Newser Staff

Posted Oct 11, 2007 5:46 PM CDT
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(Newser) – Though he may rule the boardroom, all it took to unravel Microsoft’s chief executive was a mom on a rampage about his new Vista operating system. An analyst questioning Steve Ballmer at a conference said she’d become an early Vista adopter at her 13-year-old daughter’s request—only to revert to XP due to the new OS’ built-in difficulties, PC World reports.

After failing to run interference on the complaint—“I love your daughter,” he joked—Ballmer tried excuses, saying Vista had prioritized security. Then he went with apologies, allowing that Vista was still in beta and had fewer device drivers than he “would have liked.” Still the inquisitor was unsatisfied: “I'll let you come in and install it for me.”

Chris Pirillo poses for a portrait Tuesday, July, 10, 2007, at his home office in Issaquah, Wash. Pirillo posted a 52-minute video rant on YouTube in March, complaining about Window Vista. He runs a network of blogs about technology called Lockergnome, and was one of several Windows enthusiasts Microsoft asked...
Chris Pirillo poses for a portrait Tuesday, July, 10, 2007, at his home office in Issaquah, Wash. Pirillo posted a 52-minute video rant on YouTube in March, complaining about Window Vista. He runs a network...   (Associated Press)
Steve Ballmer, CEO Microsoft, speaks about the Next Generation Internet during a presentation in Zurich, Switzerland, Thursday, Oct. 4, 2007. (AP Photo/KEYSTONE/Walter Bieri)
Steve Ballmer, CEO Microsoft, speaks about the "Next Generation Internet" during a presentation in Zurich, Switzerland, Thursday, Oct. 4, 2007. (AP Photo/KEYSTONE/Walter Bieri)   (Associated Press)
Microsoft CEO Steve Ballmer gestures as he speaks on stage, Wednesday May 23, 2007 in Singapore where he gave a talk about organizational strategies on management.(AP Photo/Wong Maye-E)
Microsoft CEO Steve Ballmer gestures as he speaks on stage, Wednesday May 23, 2007 in Singapore where he gave a talk about organizational strategies on management.(AP Photo/Wong Maye-E)   (Associated Press)
A Microsoft Windows Vista advertisement on display at Best Buy in Mountain View, Calif., Monday, Sept. 17, 2007. Microsoft lost its appeal of a European antitrust order Monday that obliges the technology giant to pay a record $613 million fine, share communications code with rivals and sell a copy of...
A Microsoft Windows Vista advertisement on display at Best Buy in Mountain View, Calif., Monday, Sept. 17, 2007. Microsoft lost its appeal of a European antitrust order Monday that obliges the technology...   (Associated Press)
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US • Money • Technology

 
Microsoft • Microsoft Vista • software • operating system • Steve Ballmer • conference

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