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Ballmer says Xbox Next will arrive in 2006 | |
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| Time: 08:44 EST/13:44 GMT | News Source: the inquirer | Posted By: Brian Kvalheim | ||
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MICROSOFT CEO Steve Ballmer is visiting Japan and complaining that the population aren't buying enough Xboxes, unlike the rest of the world, which is snapping them up like hot cakes, apparently. And he disclosed that the next Xbox will be launched in 2006, according to a prestigious Japanese newspaper, although he said that Microsoft won't plunge any money into Sega, despite rumours to the contrary. | ||
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| #1 By 3339 (66.219.95.6) at 6/19/2003 5:39:49 PM |
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"Microsoft representatives refused to confirm the 2006 date. "No date has been announced for future Xbox products or services," the company said in a statement. "Our executives often talk about the future in terms of vision and the possibilities of technology. This is what allows us to be innovative as a company.""
I love this: we aren't going to confirm this. And don't believe our execs. We just let our executives lie to lure suckers into believing this sh!t. Our ability to say one thing, deny it, and do another "is what allows us to be innovative as a company." Lovely. |
| #2 By 7754 (216.160.8.41) at 6/19/2003 7:45:11 PM |
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Fine, Sodajerk, but are you going to reserve the same sarcastic remarks for Apple when they behave similarly, or make excuses for them? At least be fair:
What about "guaranteed free lifetime support"? What about "Apple is committed to affordable mobile computing, pioneered by the eMate, and will be serving this market with Mac OS-based products beginning in 1999"? How about hearing since 1996 we'd see the release "in the next 6 months" of what was to be OS X? How about the subscription for iTools? (Yes, I know there are dubious reports about "free for life," but the free service was used as a major selling point of their desktops, and the .Mac email addresses were "yours for life"--which, if they were really yours, it's questionable why you should pay for it....) Tell me of a technology company in this field that doesn't do this sort of thing. That's not to say that it's right, but in the context of your many criticisms here of MS and comparisons to (and nearly endless support of) Apple, it should be considered. |
| #3 By 3339 (66.219.95.6) at 6/19/2003 8:12:46 PM |
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I just found it hilarious that they asked the PR department for confirmation, and they honestly said we can't back up our executives, they say all sorts of crazy stuff to customers that ain't true, and that is what makes us "innovative."
Freakin' Hilarious. Most of your cited examples are baloney. What product did they say "guaranteed free lifetime support"? "Lifetime", yes. "Guaranteed," no. But how else do you refer to something that doesn't run out after 3,2,1 years which everyone else's tech support did... back in what 1996? Had to really dredge up the old sh!t, didn't you? Oh my god, Apple provided "lifetime" tech support for years after everyone else either eliminated it or was offering 1,2,3 years... and ultimately had to eliminate it because no one had the expectation that it should happen because it was ancient history in the PC world. What a horrible thing to do! The eMate did come out, just to schools. And they had been doing so prior to that anyway with the Newton. (Where would you pull up such a minor quotation like that from?) Most people were very well informed about Copland schedules--it was the last OS that Apple produced that the whole process was relatively open. They didn't have PR people come up after Amelio, Sculley (how ancient do we need to get here, buddy?) did a keynote and say--"we can't confirm that. That's spurious fluff intended to fool you. That's the way we sell things." You yourself know your iTools claim is spurious. And besides, I don't see the parity here. In none of these cases did an Apple spokesperson say, "we are in fact lying to you, we use confusion to sell our products, and that's what makes us great." And if Apple said that, yes I'd cringe... then I'd laugh. But as I stated, what gets me in this case isn't the false promise--it's the pride in the false promise. It's the PR departments nerve to say that MS execs say things that aren't factual to push product. This post was edited by sodajerk on Thursday, June 19, 2003 at 20:25. |
| #4 By 7754 (216.160.8.41) at 6/20/2003 2:16:06 AM |
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Well, no surprise here, defend Apple no matter what. Sheesh... pray tell, then, what's the difference between "guaranteed free lifetime support" and "free lifetime support"?
Apple: "And, you get free lifetime support with the product." Customer: "Great!" Later, Apple: "We're yanking free lifetime support--it wasn't guaranteed." Customer: "Then why on earth would you tell me I got free lifetime support?" ?!?!?! Why bring up what other computer manufacturers did with support? Apple is the one that made the sales promise. You pay a premium when you buy an Apple, and free lifetime support is a pretty big selling point. The iTools claim is very similar, and NOT spurious NOR baloney (you really mean to tell me that there weren't plenty of upset people when they started charging for the service????). They used the free service as an incentive to buy their computers, and told them they could keep their email addresses for life. No one (save the EULA... how many users read it???) told them that later Apple would start charging them for it. The eMate quote is obscure, but so will be this one from Ballmer when the same amount of time passes. And actually, you're distorting the story: "Microsoft CEO Steve Ballmer has said that the next version of the Xbox game console will most likely appear in 2006." The spokesperson said they would not confirm a date of 2006. In other words, Ballmer never said that 2006 was a sure date, and the spokesperson is not going to let them get nailed down to 2006 . If it were Apple, would you be as quick to jump to the conclusion that you have, or would you make sure you had your facts straight by doing a bit more research first? Like I said, are you going to be fair with your criticism? |
| #5 By 3339 (65.198.47.10) at 6/20/2003 3:48:18 AM |
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""guaranteed free lifetime support" and "free lifetime support""
please, man... this was like seven years ago. I didn't want to defend Apple, but you had said some lame adn inaccurate things. Oh, boohoo, someone seven years ago lost lifetime support after having it free for 4 years for the last time such a thing was offered in the computer world... As I was saying: It was just FREEKING hilarious!!! That statement, the way it was worded, what it said! |
| #6 By 3339 (65.198.47.10) at 6/20/2003 4:07:45 AM |
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Considering your comments, I wanted to reply more... But let's get this straight:
I don't give a sh!t. I simply think it's hilarious. Ballmer makes an unofficial statement (who g!ves a sh!t what qualifiers he used, the (desired) effect is known and understood. I'm well-versed in MS bullsh!t (positive-/reverse-FUD). The official word is essential: "We can't give official word. Our execs say all the bullsh!t, and we won't back up their bullsh!t. This is how we innovate." A gem. I'll remember this one; it's already preserved "for life" on my computer. Now, my response: "Why bring up what other computer manufacturers did with support? Apple is the one that made the sales promise. You pay a premium when you buy an Apple, and free lifetime support is a pretty big selling point." My boo-hoo sob story above should explain the tech support issue. It's related to the iTools issue. "They used the free service as an incentive to buy their computers, and told them they could keep their email addresses for life." And? Are you suggesting people bought computers for iTools? If so, they're morons, and deserve a painful death! But wait, here's the kicker!.... "No one (save the EULA... how many users read it???) told them that later Apple would start charging them for it." Wait a second, wait a second. The contract was valid? No way. I thought: "The iTools claim is ... NOT spurious." Oh wait, Apple did tell the truth, the part that wasn't marketing but was a business transaction was valid. No way. What do you think spurious means? "The eMate quote is obscure." Yes, it is. And as I said, it came out as a product for school childrens... was quite popular... and still has a community. What was your point? "Like I said, are you going to be fair with your criticism? ... Well, no surprise here, defend Apple no matter what." Okay, yes... I didn't entirely agree with some of Apple's decisions between '94-96. Whippty-freaking-Doo. I didn't like the management. But that was also the time I had the "cheapest", nicest hardware and software and had early productivity and enjoyment enough to lead to several different professions... So it wasn't so bad either. ... And I don't give a sh!t about iTools or .mac. Come on, dude! YOu've got to laugh at this sh!t: "No date has been announced for future Xbox products or services... Our executives often talk about the future in terms of vision and the possibilities of technology. This is what allows us to be innovative as a company." This post was edited by sodajerk on Friday, June 20, 2003 at 04:12. |
| #7 By 7390 (198.246.16.251) at 6/20/2003 9:07:31 AM |
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To be honest I see nothing wrong with being non commital. Baller said Xbox2 will be released in 2006 (that is not news). And the PR firm said that we can't confirm/commit to it. I would hope that the CEO/leaders of a company would speak in grand terms and let the details fall where ever. Considering that Xbox2 is still in the early stages it would give them some slack on the timeline.
ofcourse the Apple Butt Boy would see things different *I wonder if Activewin will remove this comment because I said butt. |
| #8 By 37 (24.241.230.234) at 6/20/2003 10:26:06 AM |
| Oh geez, here goes SodaJerk and his FUD. |
| #9 By 7754 (216.160.8.41) at 6/20/2003 11:17:08 AM |
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Sodajerk, I would think it was funny, too, if Ballmer had actually said what you thought he said. Interestingly, you ride Microsoft hard for such a thing, but blow it off ("Whippty-freaking-Doo") when it's Apple. Many people thought iTools was free for life... they even used iTools as a major selling point (interesting that you're characterizing people that may have been Apple switchers as "morons"). I don't see how whether you care about iTools or not makes any difference here... that's a reactionary argument; the service itself isn't the point.
Apple made false and misleading sales promises. If they weren't going to offer "free lifetime support," they should never have promised the customer that. What is inaccurate about that??? As far as business transactions go, they aren't entirely governed by the EULA--you should know that. Many EULAs break down when put to test in court. But whether these tactics were legal or not isn't the point... and it's not even that they were unethical. The point is that when Apple says things and does another, you defend them vigorously (and/or blow it off). When it comes to Microsoft, however, you not only attack them, you hear what you want to hear so that you can attack them. It's rather "pathetic," to use your words. Read it again, and put this as a side note in your preservation of his comment: Ballmer never promised Xbox in 2006. He said it "most likely" will be here in 2006. Someone asks PR "So 2006 is the announced release date?" PR department says, no, we can't say with 100% certainty, without a doubt that it will be 2006--Ballmer said it "most likely" be 2006, not "unquestionably 2006." Do you have it straight? |
| #10 By 3653 (209.149.57.116) at 6/21/2003 4:14:46 PM |
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another example of HORRIBLE journalism... Ballmer never even said this. AND the year was wrong too.
http://news.com.com/2100-1043_3-1019181.html |
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