News - Microsoft labels Ballmer's Windows 8 comments a ‘misstatement’

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Name and release of the next version of Windows not formally announced yet.

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@r$e and elbow comes to mind.

MS seriously need to get a common business strategy and stick to it.

Their dominance is being challenged in each and every sector that they operate in at the moment, so unless they start behaving as a cohesive slick ORGANISED business, and paying/rewarding their staff so that they retain talent rather than being a breading ground for it, then they will always be on the back foot and disorganised like this.

I really don't understand how Balmer keeps his job. Sure microsoft are doing ok but most of the recent launches have merely been reactionary and have been quite costly (Zune, WinPhone7). They just seem very directionless ever since Gates left (maybe with the exception of the xbox). Without Windows and office (and possibly xbox) they'd be sunk by now.

He does come across as a excited loud mouthed bully. At least Bill was a calm, collected front man, in public appearances anyway

I agree that Ballmer isn't the best public face of Microsoft at the moment but i think Microsoft on the whole has been doing reasonably well. Windows 7 has seen a tightening of Microsoft's grasp on the Pc os market and has finally started to replace XP really seemingly eliminating any chance of linux (although i await chromium with interest) becoming a serious competitor in the home desktop for the next 3-5 years. Windows phone although useless at the moment for any real work was a serious step forward in terms of UI and the new update seems promising. Add this to the fact that office is still the very best office suite in world even in its slightly buggy Mac form and you have a software juggernaut that although under assault is still in possession of several good products in its core markets. With the console war calming down and xbox firmly established Microsoft is seemingly secure in three major Profit making sectors with the possibility of establishing itself in a fourth(with many pundits anticipating major expansion in the windows phone market). Add to that a relatively resurgent bing (now googles only serious search competitor in the west) and you have a company that had better profit margins than Apple last year. The money Microsoft burns in its research and development and failed projects is small change for a company that made 18 billion in profit last year and i would be cautious before writing them off because they make the odd pr gaff now and again.