Let's send him an email
Inevitably Ballmer then had to refer to Microsoft's previous OS launch, the troublesome Vista. "We've made huge progress with Vista. Compatibility has improved and we're not making the same compatibility mistakes in the name of improved security in Windows 7 that we made with Vista."
There was no open Q&A session, but Ballmer was joined on stage by TV's Katie Ledger, who chucked a few previously gathered questions from the audience at him. She started by asking why Microsoft partners should adopt S+S. "It's inevitable, therefore we're going to drive it and make it available to our partners," said Ballmer. "I don't think there will be an application around in ten years that won't be delivered as a service."
Another delegate asked about a future Microsoft OS known by the codename Midori. "It's a kind of weird incubation that we don't even know if we're going to productise yet," said Ballmer, apparently surprised that it had even come up. "It's a research project; there just aren't any secrets in Microsoft anymore!"
"There just aren't any secrets in Microsoft anymore!"
On a personal level, Ballmer was pretty loud, which we expected, but also funny and self-effacing. He made light of a comment from Ledger, that she views him as the ultimate salesman, by saying: "I don't know whether to take that as a compliment or not." He also signed off by giving everyone his email address - steveb@microsoft.com - and inviting emails from anyone who wanted to talk to him.
So here's your chance, HEXUS readers, let us know your thoughts on what Ballmer said today or any other Microsoft matters you want brought to his attention and we will collate and email them to him. Ballmer said he answers all his emails, of which he claims to only receive 75 per day, so let's take him at his word. Have your say in the HEXUS.community.
