Ballmer says Google is one trick pony

Author: Brett Thomas
Published: 19th March 2007
Comments (20) Stumble
A face only a mother could love - Ballmer has spoken his words of prophetic wisdom again.

A face only a mother could love - Ballmer has spoken his words of prophetic wisdom again.

No matter where you stand with Microsoft as a company, there is one thing many people who keep up with the news wonder: Why is Steve Ballmer still allowed to talk in front of people? The iPod-banning CEO of Microsoft usually manages to say something either artfully insulting or just plain funny. And he's at it again, this time taking Google to task.

He's offering Eric Schmidt and company a little business advice - get another trick. Google's basic premise since its outset has been ad-based revenue, and shows no real sign of changing that. Ballmer has called this a recipe for disaster, pointing out how Microsoft has had to change several times to meet with the ever-moving consumer and his or her cash.

The words came at a speech Mr. Ballmer was invited to give at Stanford University's business school. "They're really just one business, a search and advertising business," he said. He followed it up with an acknowledgment that acquiring YouTube was branching out, but then amended his statement to illustrate that the cash still comes in the same way. "Bravo to them [for] trying to start a second business. But it's a related business; it's not a completely second [one]."

Oddly enough, this is one statement I have to give Ballmer the thumbs up on. His leadership with Microsoft has seen the company wearing many hats, from OS to Productivity to Gaming. The revenue models for the company have been all over the park, and that strategy is the same success that has bred the likes of General Electric and General Motors. Diversity is key once your business hits the big time, or your sales eventually stagnate.

Compared to companies like Microsoft or Apple, Google really is a one-trick pony, focusing solely on ad-based revenue. Though that works for the enthusiastic market that it is in now, its dominance in searching could also be its downfall - there's only so much more it can do.

Do you have a thought on Ballmer's latest words of wisdom? Tell us about it in our forums.
Quote DougEdey 19th March 2007, 07:37
The thing is that Google is absolutely superb at what it does.
Quote Woodstock 19th March 2007, 08:43
well i will continue to use google and its products cant say that about any microsoft product
Quote kenco_uk 19th March 2007, 08:59
What a weird tongue.
Quote plagio 19th March 2007, 09:39
That guy is funny. I wouldn't want him as CEO at my company (if I had one) but I am sure I would have a laugh with him at the pub.
Quote flabber 19th March 2007, 10:16
Balmer is a scary guy who starts sweating and swearing if others seem to do a better job as what he should be doing.
Quote koola 19th March 2007, 10:21
Quote:
Originally Posted by Woodstock
well i will continue to use google and its products cant say that about any microsoft product
Apart from Office, although OpenOffice is catching up ;)

Googles online office based productivity suite is good, but web based and no where near Office/OpenOffice standards.


And yeah, Ballmer is just jealous of Googles business model :)
Quote RTT 19th March 2007, 10:59
He is paid to say that kind of stuff though...
Quote Bindibadgi 19th March 2007, 11:45
I want to be a multi billion dollar one trick pony too!
Quote DougEdey 19th March 2007, 11:47
Quote:
Originally Posted by Bindibadgi
I want to be a multi billion dollar one trick pony too!

Well, you're definately a pony :p
Quote calking13 19th March 2007, 12:40
ugh did you have to use that picture? I couldn't focus on reading the article with him there.
Quote r4tch3t 19th March 2007, 12:45
Quote:
Originally Posted by Bindibadgi
I want to be a multi billion dollar one trick pony too!
I just want the pony.
Quote:
Originally Posted by calking13
ugh did you have to use that picture? I couldn't focus on reading the article with him there.
Yeah it is a bit disturbing.
Quote devenfore 19th March 2007, 15:01
It's Ballmer the Hutt!
Quote Tyinsar 19th March 2007, 15:40
Quote:
Originally Posted by devenfore
It's Ballmer the Hutt!
:) , yeah, disturbing & distracting picture. Why do they continue to let the court jester speak for them?
Quote Woodstock 19th March 2007, 21:52
Quote:
Originally Posted by Bindibadgi
I want to be a multi billion dollar one trick pony too!

as would i
i always get the impression that ballmer is insecure with his position at microsoft
Quote Solidus 19th March 2007, 22:46
Seeing that picture has put me off my food for life =/
Quote Lakeuk 20th March 2007, 21:47
I wonder if you allowed to use Google at Microsoft, or whether it's a sackable offence
Quote TheoGeo 21st March 2007, 18:24
relying on advertising as you income does not make you a "one trick pony" and really couldn't be considered a poor buisness model. Hundreds of companies and some of the biggest companies in the world are advertising companies.
Quote acron^ 21st March 2007, 18:54
Does anyone actually use any other [legal] search engines anymore?
Quote The_Pope 21st March 2007, 19:09
And now, for our latest trick, we're going to lose hundreds of millions of dollars making a video game console.... If Sony hadn't dropped the ball so spectacularly with PS3 (and therefore Xbox 360 wasn't doing as well) they Mr Diversity wouldn't sound so clever, eh?

Ballmer's upset that MSN Search is so rubbish. Xbox aside, what other "trick" has Microsoft done outside of making software?
Quote r4tch3t 21st March 2007, 23:20
Zune? *snicker*
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