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  Can Microsoft's Ballmer get away with it?
Time: 00:00 EST/05:00 GMT | News Source: ComputerWorld | Posted By: Kenneth van Surksum

Sometimes Microsoft makes it too easy to point out how slow and stupid the company has gotten with little Stevie Ballmer in charge. Take, for example, Microsoft's claim that Ballmer knew next to nothing about his company's "Vista Capable" marketing campaign. And, therefore he shouldn't have to testify in the Vista class-action lawsuit that accuses the company of deceiving customers with the campaign.

In a statement to the court, Ballmer said, "I was not involved in any of the operational decisions about the Windows Vista Capable program I was not involved in establishing the requirements computers must satisfy to qualify for the Windows Vista Capable program. I was not involved in formulating any marketing strategy or any public messaging surrounding the Windows Vista Capable program. To the best of my recollection, I do not have any unique knowledge of, nor did I have any unique involvement in any decisions regarding the Windows Vista Capable program."

There's so much that's wrong with this that it's hard to know where to begin.

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#1 By 8556 (12.206.195.4) at Thursday, October 09, 2008 08:26:12 AM
Has Ballmer been a micro-manager or a salesman/cheerleader at MS? Most top brass don't want to know or don't care about what they see as minor details. Making money is what Ballmer is all about, not dotting everyone's I's and crossing all employee's T's. A Vista Capable sticker is not even close to top management level's agenda.

#2 By 15406 (216.191.227.68) at Thursday, October 09, 2008 08:38:01 AM
Ballmer's either clueless or lacking in truthiness. Take your pick.

#3 By 1896 (68.153.171.248) at Thursday, October 09, 2008 11:16:57 AM
#1: While I agree with you about the impossibility for a CEO to know all details of a day by day operationsI am not so sure that the statement will fly in Court; I can already imagine lawyers dissecting "I do not have any unique knowledge" arguing about "unique" against "knowledge", "formulating" against "being aware" etc. etc.
Anyway one thing is sure: no matter how this story will end lawyers on both sides will be the biggest winners... as usual.

#4 By 92283 (70.66.78.103) at Thursday, October 09, 2008 01:31:08 PM
Steven J. Vaughan-Nichols!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Ha ha ha ha ha.

Liar extraordinaire.

Makes LyingLatch look like a Microsoft ass kisser.

This post was edited by NotParkerToo on Thursday, October 09, 2008 at 19:59.

#5 By 15406 (216.191.227.68) at Thursday, October 09, 2008 02:21:58 PM
#4: Makes Latch look like parkkker.

Fixed.

#6 By 23275 (71.91.9.16) at Thursday, October 09, 2008 03:40:32 PM
I do not have any unique knowledge - two things happen - the question is asked and answered and opposing counsel has to move on - and it is an honest answer and impossible to challenge effectively. MS's CEO has sound legal counsel - and he should. So all is left to interpret what has already been said and obtained in discovery. It will cost the company and as Fritz rightly points out, the lawyers will be the only ones coming out on top.

#7 By 92283 (70.66.78.103) at Thursday, October 09, 2008 05:27:49 PM
#5 Anyone who doesn't hate Microsoft and spew venom at Microsoft every chance he gets is a "Microsoft ass kisser" to you.

#8 By 3653 (65.80.181.153) at Thursday, October 09, 2008 05:31:11 PM
Another case, thought up by lawyers, grass-rooted by lawyers, and lawyers will take 90% of any financial settlement.

I'm not saying its wrong or any different than MOST class-action cases. It is what it is.

#9 By 37 (192.251.125.85) at Friday, October 10, 2008 07:43:09 AM
Amazing how the anti-MS expect a CEO to know what 40,000+ employees are doing at every given second, and every sticker or piece of paper created by MS.

#10 By 28801 (65.90.202.10) at Friday, October 10, 2008 07:48:01 AM
#9: Give them a break, they don't get exposed to the world too much while living in their mom's basement and masturbating to Ubuntu boot screens.

This post was edited by rxcall on Friday, October 10, 2008 at 07:48.

#11 By 15406 (216.191.227.68) at Friday, October 10, 2008 10:47:21 AM
#9: The launch of their flagship product's new major version, 5 years in the making, with a $300 million ad campaign is a far cry from knowing what 40,000 people are doing. I would have thought that a successful Vista launch, especially when behind the scenes they knew there was trouble, would be something Ballmer might deign to pay attention to.

#12 By 37 (192.251.125.85) at Friday, October 10, 2008 12:33:42 PM
Of course you would think that. I don't expect anything less :)

#13 By 15406 (216.191.227.68) at Friday, October 10, 2008 12:51:11 PM
#12: It's pretty much moot, anyway. I believe Ballmer knew what was going on, and this is just legal jockeying to keep him from having to testify. MS lawyers know that nothing good can come from him being deposed.

#14 By 39852 (207.61.49.155) at Sunday, October 12, 2008 12:15:53 PM
Ballmer's own words: "At least, with us, it's clear who you have to come and pound down on. There's a clear line of responsibility."

I guess he's just a big fat liar.

#15 By 39852 (207.61.49.155) at Sunday, October 12, 2008 12:16:40 PM
Unless he means we should just pound on Microsoft. Which people are doing, I guess, it's their screw-up.

This post was edited by Mister on Sunday, October 12, 2008 at 12:19.



 

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