Oh, as opposed to all the times when CEOs make positive, optimistic statements about their competitors' products.

No, as opposed to all the times when CEOs completely ignore their competitors' products in public statements.

The article isn't clear whether this was a voluntary public statement or a result of a direct question (the TechFlash article seems to hint that it was a question). It makes a pretty big difference.

Had he answered with "no comment", the headline would've been "Microsoft shaking in their boots". Giving a vague non-answer might have been safer, but it still doesn't mean we should read too much into his answer (and even that could have been twisted any number of ways).

Good point.

Oh please, just stop writing stuff about what is not known yet.

All these pseudo journalist are taking Google OS as a great success for granted and ridiculing someone who uses a safer and smarter approach of just not predicting the future.

What Ballmer declares publicly means nothing. When the reports start floating out of Microsoft of the violence that he has committed against office furniture, we know we have something.

Not sure how I feel about the "He was wrong before, so he must be wrong again," strategy. Ballmer's probably learned a thing or two in the past few years, and history isn't always the best measure of future accuracy.

you can't feel good about it; I don't - that strategy is as backwards as many of the things Msft does.

When MG Siegler left Venturebeat they wrote a post titled "we’ll miss you...especially your headlines" and this is the perfect example of why. The man's got a talent.

The post itself comes across as filler. Ballmer disparages all his competition and given Microsoft's track record I'd guess he's been right more than he's been wrong (only in the last 5 to 10 years has Microsoft become the gang who can't shoot straight). But again he insults everyone so it's not really an indication of anything.

_All_ of MG Siegler's posts are filler with a catchy headline for linkbait.

All events given in the article are independent of each other and future outcomes. There's absolutely no reason to bet money on Chrome because of Ballmer.

i think the battle on the future "slim os" will be attached to questions on HCI. and thats where ms has some nice cards. but will they play them correctly? and for sure its not an indicator what balmer says in the first place. he still needs to get rid of windows 3.11 eerrr mobile ;)

I wish I could have down-voted this article, all I read is Ballmer bashing.