Microsoft hits back at Apple in 'future of computing' argument

by Stevie Smith - Jun 7 2010, 07:31

Microsoft may have quit the burgeoning tablet scene after cancelling development of its twin-screen Courier device, but that certainly doesn’t mean the American software giant is likely to hold its tongue when it comes to criticising other tablet computers.

The tablet in question is, of course, Apple’s hot-selling iPad, and Microsoft’s flapping gums belong to company CEO Steve Ballmer, who recently defended the continuing viability of established PC systems against specialised platforms such as the iPad.

Speaking at last week’s D: All Things Digital conference, Ballmer pointed to the high price point and lack of versatility associated with the iPad in highlighting why such PC alternatives are likely viewed as being redundant by many prospective consumers.

Prodding Apple between the ribs directly in terms of honing in on the iPad’s usage shortfalls – persistent lack of support for Adobe Flash notwithstanding – Ballmer revealed that:

“A guy tried to take notes on one in a meeting with me yesterday. That was fun. The meeting didn’t go real fast.”

Also willing to adopt a somewhat more subtle route in his criticism of Apple and its product line, Microsoft’s CEO also suggested the majority of consumers want a single all-encompassing computer platform – and that embracing a different device for every purpose is simply not practical (for example, an iPad, iPhone and iMac as opposed to one feature-rich notebook).

“I think there will exist a general purpose device that does everything you want, because I don’t think the whole world’s going to be able to afford five devices per person,” he told gathered attendees.

Ballmer’s comments come after Apple boss Steve Jobs predicted that PC computers “are going to be like trucks” in the future, and that “this transformation is going to make some people uneasy… People from the PC world.”

Addressing the prospect of a future filled with lumbering, workhorse PC systems, Ballmer shot back by saying:

“There may be a reason why they call them ‘Mack Trucks,’ but Windows machines are not going to be trucks – they’re not.”

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