Comments on: Ballmer's economic 'reset' vision: Who'd benefit?

The economy is resetting to a lower level, which should benefit open source, not necessarily Microsoft and other proprietary vendors, which have an initial cost of more than nothing.

[rapier1]

It always shocks me how little you actually understand R&D. Then I remember that you are a business development guy and don't really need to understand what R&D (in all of its different flavors) actually is.

[odubtaig]

Yet providing an explanation as to the correct view is somehow beneath your wisdom. Even explaining that if only 0.01% of research projects make it to a sold product then it's worth it if they recoup the investment made in all R&D over the year (or comparing the inverse attitude to the Soviet film 'industry') seems to be too much to ask.

But then sniping at people with lesser knowledge in a field you understand is easy; trying to help them understand as well as you do requires effort.

[playaman1313]

This would be great to see happen. Good article.

[nonicks]

what kind of article is that?

your whole article is based on couple of lines from Balmer's speech and still you don't do any justice to the theme, topic or your own article.

I feel baffled, when I have to read such stupid article which make just no sense what so ever.. I wish there was another site, which will bring more news just like CNet but none of the non-sense.

Amen.

[Inconnux]

Ballmer makes me actually want Bill Gates to return. How did this guy ever become the CEO of the largest software company???

[SlimGem]

What scares me is the fact that anyone in the Federal government is listening to the wisdom of Steve Ballmer. Don't we have enough problems?

[timothydh65]

So wait a minute, you mean the economy is not working and Microsoft's answer is reboot? Does anybody else see the irony here.

[daftkey]

Kazzzzing! Love it!

[aeshraghi]

I don't think it helps to support Open Source blindly and religiously . It will be more helpful to be open minded and explain pros and cons. I am not pro Microsoft but I should admit that Microsoft business and products "work" and I don't take it lightly because I know - by experience - that building a great business or product doesn't happen accidentally and although I like the ideas behind open source, it hasn't been proven yet to be more than a lead generation tactic. There is no shortage of free and cost-effective products in the market and most of them are not open source.

[shootthecops]

if microsoft expects a handout they should also expect to have their monopoly broken up.

[daftkey]

I'm curious:

1) When did Microsoft ask for a handout?

2) How do you propose to break up their monopoly in such a way that it will positively effect the businesses and consumers that use their products (and not just their competitors)?

[pentest]

Breaking it up into an OS and application division would help everyone immensely, even MS.

[pentest]

For Ballmer, those are actually fairly decent comments.

Yes, MS R&D has shown little in monetary benefit, but I think MS treats that division more like an academic unit.

And that is a valuable thing indeed.