Steve Ballmer vs Steve Jobs: which is better?

[thermal]

Posting this question on either the Microsoft or Apple forum results in bias, so ironically, this is the best place to get a fair response. If you had to pick one, which Steve would you say is better?

vs

 

[TozyJay]

Really hard to say which is "better." They are both extremely intelligent individuals facing completely different challenges as their companies are poised differently in the market. Ballmer has an uphill battle as the industry is starting to shift away from much of the technology that Microsoft supports. Being such an industry giant, I'm sure they'll pull through just fine (except maybe not in the mobile department).

 

[Spykez]

Lol Balmer cracks me up, I'm amazed at how heavyset he is considering how he gets on stage.

 

[Medion]

Jobs. The man had the balls to try to take control from the carriers...and succeeded! My beef with him is that, rather than transplant control from the carriers to the consumers, he transplanted the control to himself.

Nokia was the only company to really fight that control and try to give it to the consumer, and look at how we rewarded them. We have the iPhone because that's what we deserve (consumers as a whole).

 

[ari-free]

With a heavy heart I must say that Ballmer is better. If it wasn't for him, we'd be stuck with computers made by either IBM or Apple. Today, anyone can build their own PC and millions of apps will just work thanks to Windows.

The other thing is that I actually use Microsoft products: Windows, Office, visual Studio, Xbox 360.
Kinect is really cool and Apple doesn't have anything like the Xbox/Kinect. Maybe they'll just have to copy Microsoft...

 

[Guamguy]

Geez man, this is not a matter of opinion.

The empirical measure of this is the stock value. Microsoft's stock value hasn't risen throughout the entire decade. That's not what you call a good investment.

In contrast, how much was Apple's stock when Jobs took over? Like what, $18 dollars? Its now around $360 and that is after a stock split.

There is no question, by sheer performance who is the CEO of the Decade. Its Steve Jobs.

And the runner up is...Google's Eric Schmidt.

 

[Vihzel]

Steve Ballmer looks scary...

 

[Medion]

With a heavy heart I must say that Ballmer is better. If it wasn't for him, we'd be stuck with computers made by either IBM or Apple. Today, anyone can build their own PC and millions of apps will just work thanks to Windows.

Huh!? I'm sorry, you're confused. That was Bill gates, not Steve Ballmer. Ballmer is the guy that took over after Bill stepped down in 2000.

 

[Stuntman]

Ballmer can't even pronounce Nokia correctly.

 

[EarlyMon]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=e8M6S8EKbnU

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7Zo1xE5a4vQ

I don't understand the question.

 

[Spiffing]

I don't think there's any contest. Bill Gates built Microsoft, Ballmer is overseeing its decline. Steve Jobs has built the #1 design and marketing company; love Apple or hate them, they are producing what consumers lust to own.

My admiration is for Google. Their sheer vision is awesome, take Street View. What other company would spend countless millions developing a product that is then available to everyone for free? OK, yes they spy on us. But at least they don't want us to keep paying them, and I like that business model.

 

[jroc]

Jobs no question.

Although the Ballmer "Developers, Developers, Developers" remix is a classic...I think this is it (didnt know there would be more than one..)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=d_AP3SGMxxM


Ballmer does bring the energy...lol. He would probably make a good coach.

 

[jwp1223]

I don't think there's any contest. Bill Gates built Microsoft, Ballmer is overseeing its decline. Steve Jobs has built the #1 design and marketing company; love Apple or hate them, they are producing what consumers lust to own.

My admiration is for Google. Their sheer vision is awesome, take Street View. What other company would spend countless millions developing a product that is then available to everyone for free? OK, yes they spy on us. But at least they don't want us to keep paying them, and I like that business model.

I'm a consumer, and I don't lust to own anything apple....

 

[Outlaw71]

I'm a consumer, and I don't lust to own anything apple....

Come on now, he didn't slip an 'every' behind that consumer. The only thing EVERY consumer gobbles up is air.

Damn I aughta start charging for that!

 

[Vihzel]

Come on now, he didn't slip an 'every' behind that consumer. The only thing EVERY consumer gobbles up is air.

Damn I aughta start charging for that!

Prepare for a class action lawsuit by everyone.

 

[alehel]

Huh!? I'm sorry, you're confused. That was Bill gates, not Steve Ballmer. Ballmer is the guy that took over after Bill stepped down in 2000.

Bill Gates was in charge, but Steve Ballmer has been there with him from day one when Microsoft had its office in some motel room.

As a CEO I would say that Steve Jobs is best. He certainly changed Apple for the better in the sense of stock value. Personally though, I prefear Bill Gates out of them. Yeah I know he's not part of the comparison here, but who else can you think of who has given so much back? Few people have donated as much money as he has to charity.

Geez man, this is not a matter of opinion.

The empirical measure of this is the stock value. Microsoft's stock value hasn't risen throughout the entire decade. That's not what you call a good investment.

In contrast, how much was Apple's stock when Jobs took over? Like what, $18 dollars? Its now around $360 and that is after a stock split.

There is no question, by sheer performance who is the CEO of the Decade. Its Steve Jobs.

And the runner up is...Google's Eric Schmidt.

Actually, I don't think this is a fair way of judging. I would say that it's easier for a company like Apple was ten years ago to increase it's stock value and find new customers and thereby expand than it is for a huge company like microsoft which already had it's products in just about every home.

 

[Spiffing]

I'm a consumer, and I don't lust to own anything apple....

Ah, but you're a forum geek!

 

[Spiffing]

Bill Gates was in charge, but Steve Ballmer has been there with him from day one when Microsoft had its office in some motel room.

According to Wikipedia, which is never wrong about anything, Microsoft already had 30 employees when Ballmer was squeezed in through the door.

 

[alehel]

According to Wikipedia, which is never wrong about anything, Microsoft already had 30 employees when Ballmer was squeezed in through the door.

Hmm, interesting. I'll have to rumage through my boxes and see if I can find the books I read this inn.

[EDIT] It would seem my memory is not as good as it should be. Steve Balmer apparently knew Bill Gates from before Microsoft got started, but wasn't involved inn it untill later. Also, acording to the norwegian wikipedia, he was employee nr 24

Incidently, the movie "the pirates of sillicon valley" is a great film for anyone interested in the history of microsoft and apple. I'm not sure how accurate it is, but it is a fun film.

 

[jroc]

The Pirates of Sillicon Valley..I liked that movie too. If it is accurate its very interesting.

I agree about Bill Gates. He went from the butt of many jokes and ppl hated him (like most of these CEO's...lol) to being one of the biggest philanthropist out there today.

But, if the movie is accurate....thats even more reason to say Steve Jobs...lol

 

[EarlyMon]

The movie's not accurate but is correct in broad terms.

They left out the part where I turned them down and would've beat Ballmer in the door.

And Gates' philanthropy, while cool, is no different than that of any of the other robber barons of the 1800s.

 

[Jammy]

This is the best Steve

 

[EarlyMon]

Ja wohl.

 

[Dark Jedi]

love Apple or hate them, they are producing what consumers lust to own.