Ballmer to Clippers: Apple products have to go

[Kenmitch]

http://www.cnet.com/news/ballmer-to...=nl.e776&s_cid=e776&ttag=e776&ftag=CAD49a2b7e

Perhaps, as well as obvious loyalty to his brand, Ballmer wants his Clippers to rally around the concept of the developing underdog, ready to prove everyone wrong.

 

[Red Storm]

So, because of his previous job he's going to require all employees (including players and coaches) to ditch their preferred products and be forced to use Windows? How is this at all a good idea?

"Look at all these people using Windows phones and tablets... because they have to."

A micro-managing owner/employer is no fun to deal with.

 

[Ravynmagi]

At first I thought this was completely idiotic... but after some thought, this guy's previous job was basically his entire life. Ballmer is a very passionate person and no doubt still sweats blood for Microsoft. So I guess it's not surprising that he'd have this rule and wants to continue promoting the company that was his entire life.

 

[chimaxi83]

He only paid a couple billion for the team. He can do whatever the hell comes out of his ass. Oh no, highly paid members of a sports organization have to use Windows, woe is them, break out the litigation, let's start a movement, #BanMicrosoft #FireBallmer #SellOurTeam...

 

[Brian Stirling]

So, if Blake Griffin refuses to switch to M$ products will Ballmer fire him? I'd bet there are a few teams in the league that would take him...


Brian

 

[Eug]

I can understand his bias, but quite frankly, this is moronic.

What's ironic is that Microsoft itself actively develops software and hardware for Apple products even today.

 

[Chrono]

No clue but I'd be pretty happy with a Surface Pro 3.... Mmmm

 

[WelshBloke]

At first I thought this was completely idiotic... but after some thought, this guy's previous job was basically his entire life. Ballmer is a very passionate person and no doubt still sweats blood for Microsoft. So I guess it's not surprising that he'd have this rule and wants to continue promoting the company that was his entire life.

It's still completely idiotic though...

 

[zokudu]

If you read the article this isn't personal devices it's for team devices used for team activities. In other words a non issue. If he wants to build software for the surface equal to what they're using on their iPads then what does it matter as long as it functions in the business niche it's supposed to.

 

[WelshBloke]

If you read the article this isn't personal devices it's for team devices used for team activities. In other words a non issue. If he wants to build software for the surface equal to what they're using on their iPads then what does it matter as long as it functions in the business niche it's supposed to.

But then you get the crappy publicity of your team using some other phones out in public rather than the free ones they were given.

 

[cpacini]

But then you get the crappy publicity of your team using some other phones out in public rather than the free ones they were given.

I doubt any of the players have company provided phones. I'd imagine at most some of the team officials may have team issued iPhones and there may be some team owned iPads used for training.

 

[Eug]

I guess it depends on how integrated they already are. If their system is a mess, then to go with a new MS based system makes sense. However, if their system already works, then changing just because he's an MS guy makes little sense.

For example, Pixar's render farm under Steve Jobs' reign was linux. What Jobs did seem to promote was OS X workstations but IIRC a lot of people there already liked OS X for certain purposes there.

 

[zokudu]

I doubt any of the players have company provided phones. I'd imagine at most some of the team officials may have team issued iPhones and there may be some team owned iPads used for training.

The quote in the article from Ballmer says Doc Rivers mentioned getting rid of iPads specifically. Granted in a court of law that hearsay but the intention seems to be team operated tablets, likely used in practice or in games somehow.

 

[cpacini]

I guess it depends on how integrated they already are. If their system is a mess, then to go with a new MS based system makes sense. However, if their system already works, then changing just because he's an MS guy makes little sense.

For example, Pixar's render farm under Steve Jobs' reign was linux. What Jobs did seem to promote was OS X workstations but IIRC a lot of people there already liked OS X for certain purposes there.

We're talking about a basketball team though, not a high tech design studio. I can't imagine what they could possibly be doing that would need Apple equipment over an of the shelf Microsoft solution. For all we know they ate using iPads for viewing power point presentations on the scouting report for their upcoming games

 

[Radeon962]

So, because of his previous job he's going to require all employees (including players and coaches) to ditch their preferred products and be forced to use Windows? How is this at all a good idea?

"Look at all these people using Windows phones and tablets... because they have to."

A micro-managing owner/employer is no fun to deal with.

One with Billions of dollars could be a very fun one to deal with...

 

[Chapbass]

One with Billions of dollars could be a very fun one to deal with...

Especially one with an attitude like Ballmer. I can only imagine that guy at a party....

 

[DeathReborn]

I see this as nothing other than a business having their own work devices that all employees get. Limiting it to a single supplier helps alleviate compatibility and lowers support costs. They keep their personal devices but when at work, it's Windows only which is fair enough, they're on company time not their own.

 

[jacktesterson]

I see no problem with it.

 

[blankslate]

I'd expect that if Steve Jobs was still alive and decided to buy a sports team he'd allow them to use non-Apple computing devices....

No really I believe that.

 

[Commodus]

The problem, I suppose, is that it reflects Ballmer's obsession with Windows. He's so loyal to it that he'd rather disrupt his basketball's team existing system than let the staff use whatever they think works best.

It reminds me of the overall contrast between Apple and Microsoft execs in how they approach other companies' gadgets. You know that Apple developed the iPhone because its leaders (particularly Jobs) had first-hand experience of why BlackBerry/Palm/Nokia phones sucked. I suspect they kept using these gadgets afterward, too, if much less often. Meanwhile, Ballmer, Gates and other Microsofties almost prided themselves on how isolated they were from other companies' products. iPod? Nope -- they weren't going to use any MP3 player until the Zune was ready.

There are times when I think this willful ignorance played a large part in why Apple and Google steamrolled Microsoft in mobile. Microsoft's leaders didn't realize how far ahead the iPhone, iPad and Android were in terms of interface technology, and it was only when the company took a market share bruising that it reacted.

 

[Ravynmagi]

Ballmer is still the largest individual holder of Microsoft stock. He still has some interest in Microsoft products doing well.

 

[Crono]

It would be worse if the media went around reporting that the former CEO of Microsoft has his team using iPads.

Regardless of what he does, the media is going to cover anything regarding technology and the Clippers now that Ballmer owns the team, at least for a little while.

 

[Commodus]

It would be worse if the media went around reporting that the former CEO of Microsoft has his team using iPads.

Regardless of what he does, the media is going to cover anything regarding technology and the Clippers now that Ballmer owns the team, at least for a little while.

I'd considered that, but I'm not sure people would have noticed (or even cared all that much) if he'd let the status quo continue. It's the Barbra Streisand effect: drawing attention to the "problem" only makes it worse!

 

[Bateluer]

Idiotic of him to force, especially if its not something written into their contracts.

 

[DeathReborn]

Idiotic of him to force, especially if its not something written into their contracts.

Contracts typically include clauses where you will follow workplace policies, this is just a workplace policy and as such would technically be included in their contracts. Give your employment contracts a read you will probably find similar parts in yours too.

My work contracts always include policy directives that are subject to change and don't require a new contract to take effect. If you don't like it you can take it up with your union rep (I am non-union btw). One of them was we are no longer allowed to bring Tablets to work no matter who makes them. They don't want strange devices to appear on their networks or interfere in our jobs.