Comments on: Dude, Putin is so not getting a Dell

At World Economic Forum, Russia's prime minister tells Michael Dell his country doesn't need help and his residents "are not invalids."

[theunclesam]

Oh yeah, everytime I think of something Russian, I think of quality and ease of use....

In mother Russia, computer uses you!

[solitare_pax]

Lets not forget, the Russians invented TETRIS!

Besides - I bet Putin would prefer a home-grown open-source OS instead of MicroStalin.

[martin1212]

Actually Russian developers make some great software. Intel has a large dev team there and they produce some high quality products.

Time to dump the stereotypes Sam.

[ferretboy88]

Only stuff they develop is porn spam bots.

[dragonbite]

I imagine he's also not so inclined to run an OS with updates controlled by a foreign company that can "slip in" things at the whim of company or government. That is, if he has a choice.. -oh wait! He Does! Linux doesn't have such vulnerabilities!

Putin IS preferring Linux and is removing Windows from the government/educational establishments.

And why should Putin bother with Dell when there are so many other computer makers to choose from (HP, IBM, Lenovo, Acer, Toshiba, and a slew of more we don't hear about in the USA).

[rdupuy11]

I think people should think that Putin is speaking his opinion literally and not try to interpret it much further beyond the translators interpretation.

It's not about cloak and dagger, intrigue, and unspoken agendas.

It's exactly about what he said its about.

I listened to it again.

Dell was suggesting Russia was in need of help, and Putin said Russia is not in such need.

I'm surprised noone here gets it, with all the Libertarians in the IT sector...its a very libertarian approach.

The idea is that people who receive help, tend to become permanent recipients of help.
That 'help' actually impoverishes the very people it is intended to aid, because there is always that factor of dependency...of expectation, of 'rights' to aid.

How has the billions poured into Africa helped them? They are just as needy as ever.

Self sufficiency is usually the answer, not aid.

So you see Putin stating outright, save your help for invalids.

Frankly, if you are in shock, then you just find real opinions shocking...its not like he got up and birch slapped the guy (spelling error intentional).

[rdupuy11]

Even though most of the historical references in these comments are absolutely laughable, it is appropriate to remember that the Soviet Union was based on some irrational economics. Many people in Russia remember fondly the Soviet Union, whether its simple nostalgia, or an accurate reflection of the status of the country had in those years, low crime rates of yesteryear, etc....for whatever reason, they remember the Soviet Union fondly. But one lasting criticism of the Soviet Union that most people, even in Russia, agree about, is that it was based on irrational economics. Even Putin, knows that it was...and thats why it failed.

In my opinion, it does no harm to remember that as you interpret these events. The last thing Russians want to do is re-introduce any irrational economic system, and status of 'aid recipient' is just that. Aid, is the opposite of rational economics...to get aid you must be in need...you must be poor. Rich people don't qualify for aid, poor people do. Dependency on aid, means you make irrational choices, about increasing your need, instead of increasing your wealth.

The U.S. understood this same phenomena on a smaller level, as it struggled with programs designed to help the poor, that led to a whole generation of people being raised, permanently on welfare...generations of people, especially in the black community, that didn't know what it was like to have a parent to go to work, children raised to go on welfare themselves, with no knowledge about work.

Thats why Clinton did the welfare reforms...it was a recognition of the unintended consequences of the Great Society...that sometimes help, does harm.

Dell maybe wanted just to sell some computers, but nevertheless...if you want to make a Russian mad, then be condescending. Frankly, Putin was just literally objecting to Dell's comments, based on what Dell said, maybe not what Dell meant.

Dell should just say what he wants. Hey, I want to make some money in Russia, how can I do that?
That would have worked 10,000 times better.

In this case, its the American that cannot be honest, and the Russian that is honest.
It may not always be that way, but in this case, yes, thats what happened.

[Rants&Raves]

The question is insensitive because it seems like Dell wants to sell into Russia while Russia already wishes to sell its wares outside; besides, Russia was well-ahead of many countries in access to technology from the start of the super and micro-computer revolutions.

[alegr]

Sure, it was well ahead of North Korea and such. Dude, I've worked on those pitiful clones of LSI-11, PDP-11 and VAX-11.

[xilonic]

There is obviously something lost in translation.

[therealbean]

Agreed. I did not hear anything like the flame response. Plus Michael Dell does more than say "how can we help?" He also talked down to Putin before asking the question.

[ss_Whiplash]

I agree. This wasn't a slap down. This is just typical media spin. I swear I feel like I'm reading the Inquirer instead of C|Net these days.

Putin clearly misunderstood Dell's use of the word "help".

[yiang]

I agree with SS, this is article and others on the net or twisting this to be more than it is. This wasn't a smackdown or snap of any kind. The articles on Cnet are really lacking a bit of integrity these days.

[dennisl59]

To me, Putin's response is exactly correct in the Russian Cultural context and was NOT misunderstood.

"Help", in their view, is indeed for the helpless and needy which he certainly, as a Russian, rejects as a condescending remark by M.Dell.

Dell thinks he's on a f-ing SALES CALL!

Thank You.

[GHynson]

Dude,..
Your getting a Putin!!!

[Seaspray0]

Comrade, You're getting a Putin!!!

[admiral100]

Dell should have followed up by asking, "Hey, you aren't going to poison me, cut off my gas, and attack the state of Georgia are you?"

Putin's an arrogant jerk and Russia needs to get rid of him. Bush's term is up now it's Putin's turn to go.

[JonB.]

You just don't understand Russian politics or their government. Election outcomes are known weeks in advance. After all, those who were KGB and Mafia are now "The Government"

[russkeller]

He's really got a great eye for the future. It's got nothing at all to do with weather or not they could use the expertise of dell and others. Between building infrastructure and national pride (I think that's another important factor he didn't touch on though) he's saying the right things here looking out for his people. Saying and doing by politicians are something I'm a bit of a skeptic about though.

[therealbean]

"Oh!Snap"? Double-snap? Ugh!

[thescale]

My thoughts exactly. Who says that anymore?

[brianbot5000]

Russia is undoubetly full of great developers, but as Putin himself said, they're respected for their software, not their hardware. In that respect it seems like a great partnership. Putin's a jackass.

[Dylan_Wisor]

Because everybody loves Dell hardware. The same way everybody loves IE.

[epross]

Yes, Russia is full of great programmers...lots of viruses originate there. Put them to work doing something productive.

[softwarepro]

yeah Russian think they are number 1 but they are in deniable. I work with startup (funded by Russian women) and she was so arrogant with her partner and sometime with me by asking stupid modification. They are jackass plus badass period.

[selloco]

Dell would fit in nicely in Russia since they are both known for making worthless products.

[stophating]

well, that's mature. you should really consider that there are thousands of people who work for or have worked for Dell who have given their best to make it a good company. shame on you.

[xcal78]

I love elementary school responses. It makes me just love the US school system for educating our poor kids.

[rshah29]

Russians have access to 70% of the world's credit cards. They are great virus programmers.

Now, how about developing something constructive?

[dennisl59]

I don't know who is the bigger Idiot and/or Moron here.

Putin is driving Russia into the dirt and Dell is doing the same to his company.

IDEA: Maybe they should Swap Jobs for a month? And the Loser wins! As determined by Bill Gates.

Round Rock or Moscow?...Same thing?

Maybe they are PO'd that Dell is opening a Factory in Poland?

ps-If their so f-ing smart, why didn't they invent the MAC?

Thank You.

[pithenumber]

Why didn't they invent Media Access Control
You're obviously a Mac fanboy and you can't even spell it right

[whiplash55]

Dell is driving his company into the dirt? *** are you talking about. I can get a corei7 desktop for under a grand. Or I could overpay for POS Mac for twice the price with a pathetic excuse for a graphics card.

[samkass]

whiplash... I think you're proving his point. Dell has to sell their computers significantly cheaper in order to get anyone to buy them. That's great for you if they meet your needs, but not great for Dell.

[Mr. Dee]

Talk about computer illiterate at its best.

[whiplash55]

Great software, right, like the kind I remove everyday from careless web users.

[divisionbyzero]

Poor little, Pootin. Does baby Putin need a nap? Maybe he'll wake up less cranky. I guess I shouldn't be surprised to see Putin acting like an immature little brat considering the behaviour of his country lately. I hope the grown-ups start running Russia again soon.

[Rants&Raves]

... you do know he is no longer president, right ? My guess is that your understanding of the affairs of any nation other than your own couldn't fit in more than a few double-spaced pages. It would be wise to read up. if you can sum up any policy or overall history in three lines or less, chances are that you have no clue what you are talking about. The world is full of clever people. Nothing's ever that simple.

[whiplash55]

Putin is thug and prick, he would love to return to the old days and any journilist that doesn't toe the line, ends up dead. Why would they even let that lowlife into Davos to begin with.

[wango2007]

Putin. Typical Commie.

[jmoran]

What is Obama going to see when he looks into the eyes of Puty Poot!

[alegr]

Putin secretly admires Hitler. Russia now reminds me of 1930-s Germany.