Microsoft and Dell CEOs hate on Netbooks
Steve Ballmer (CEO of Microsoft) and Michael Dell (CEO of Dell) are filled with pride, dreams and grandiose expectations of Windows 7 bringing an end to Apple’s criticism of the once slow and dreary software, and of a new era where everyone wants a PC again. But their definition of PC does not include netbooks.
Indeed, Windows 7 is raising hopes and dreams everywhere. On Amazon.co.UK, Windows 7 saw more pre-orders than Harry Potter and the Deadly Hallows – an achievement Microsoft deserves to be proud of. We also know for a fact that people in the US have already started buying netbooks pre-installed with Windows 7.
So what’s this about Stevie and Michael’s anti-netbook sentiments?
Steve Ballmer – At the Windows 7 launch in NYC two days ago, Ballmer shown the spotlight on small laptops with powerful chips and graphics cards as he dissed netbooks for having slow performance and poor graphics. It’s only natural for the CEO of Microsoft to put down netbooks and push more powerful, and, cough cough EXPENSIVE laptops. (I have nothing against CULVs, they just appeal to different crowds and needs).
Point is: Microsoft makes more from putting Windows 7 on notebooks and can’t profit as much from the growing-low-price-netbook market. Which is why most netbooks come with the lightweight Windows 7 Starter edition which leaves out some features – with the exception of some models of the Asus 1008HA which will soon be available with Windows 7 Home Premium.
Michael Dell – It’s surprising that Michael Dell would go all anti-netbook too. He is after all, CEO of the company that came out with the Dell Mini 9 that has been a hit with techies, the Dell Mini 12 (one of the first 12″ netbooks) and the Dell Latitude 2100 which is being used in classrooms around the US.
Dell said netbook-users love how light the 10″ babies are compared to say 15″ power-block laptops. But that after “thirty-six” hours, they’re sick and tired of the small form and want their 15″ monster blocks back. His reasoning: users expect a lot more from the lil netbooks, and don’t realize they’re not apt replacements for full powered laptops.
I agree, a lot of people mistake netbooks to be mini-notebookes. But maybe he should focus on making that more apparent in the product description – after all, netbooks are a vastly growing market and though he isn’t earning as much per netbook, he is selling a lot of them.
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While both Ballmer and Dell are just trying to promote the sales of more profitable machines, their comments seem to be in bad taste. Kind of a ‘don’t bite the hand that feeds you’ situation, isn’t it.
(Via FT Blogs)
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Filed under: Netbook Analysis, Netbook Deals