Windows 7 isn't just getting good reviews, it's also selling well, CEO Steve Ballmer told shareholders Thursday.
Delivering opening remarks at Microsoft's shareholder meeting, Ballmer said that Windows 7 was off to a "fantastic start."
"We've already sold twice as many units as any OS in a comparable time frame," Ballmer said. "Windows 7 is simply the best PC operating system that we or anyone else has ever built."
Microsoft CEO Steve Ballmer delivers a point at the company's Worldwide Partner Conference in July.
(Credit: Microsoft )By last week, Windows 7 accounted for 4 percent of Web-accessing devices, according to Net Applications; it took Vista more than seven months to reach that level.
Addressing the overall economy, Ballmer reiterated that things seem to have stabilized.
"The economy has, at least for now, leveled off," he said.
The meeting is still going on and has just entered the question-and-answer session and I'll update this post if anything interesting comes up. So far, though, it's been mostly about local and legislative matters, rather than technological issues.
Microsoft vs. Apple
There was one fun one from a shareholder who noted that young people tend to gravitate toward Macs and that Apple seems to be outmarketing Microsoft.
"You've got a real bad image out there," the shareholder said. "You sure don't have that younger generation."
Ballmer acknowledged that there are "certainly always opportunities for improvement."
"We all watch television," he said.
That said, Ballmer noted that "96 times out of 100, worldwide, people choose a PC with Windows."
He added that even in the toughest market--the high end of the U.S. consumer market--Windows is chosen 83 times out of 100.
"That doesn't let us rest on our laurels," Ballmer said. "Apple has picked up a couple tenths of a percent of market share."
But those couple tenths matter, he agreed. He said the downturn in the economy has actually bolstered Windows' competitive position. "People understand that Macintoshes are quite a bit more expensive."
Another questioner asked why Microsoft can't better compete against Apple's iPhone and other smartphones.
"Certainly our objective is to have the leading position," Ballmer said. "I think we have a lot of opportunity to improve...Undoubtedly we've got our work cut out for us."
He did say that Microsoft has put a lot of smart people on the task.
"We've got our heads down to do our best," Ballmer said.
Microsoft's board on Friday voted to give shareholders more say in how the software maker pays its executives.
The board of directors approved a plan that calls for a vote on the company's executive compensation every three years. However, under the board's plan, the vote will be advisory in nature.
The first of the advisory measures is set to be a part of this year's shareholder meeting, which takes place November 19.
"Given the interest in executive pay, we think it makes sense to encourage more dialogue with our shareholders on our compensation approach," Microsoft general counsel and board secretary Brad Smith said in a statement.
In theory, of course, shareholders could propose such votes more often, or submit other measures related to executive pay.
Unions, shareholder groups, and others have begun pressuring a number of large companies for greater say in how the companies pay their workers and executives. Microsoft said it worked with a number of its shareholders in developing its approach, including several entities that had submitted proposals related to this issue, such as Walden Asset Management, Calvert Investments, and the United Brotherhood of Carpenters.
"We believe that establishing an advisory vote on compensation is a significant step in providing shareholders a voice on this important issue," Calvert Group sustainability analyst Aditi Mohapatra said in a statement.
In 2008, Apple shareholders approved a non-binding resolution asking the board to give them greater input on executive compensation matters.
Microsoft CEO Steve Ballmer told shareholders Wednesday he expects the company's move to slow its hiring will continue beyond the middle of next year.
Headcount, he said, will experience "much, much slower growth for the remainder of this financial year and I suspect into next year." Microsoft's current fiscal year runs through June, with the coming fiscal year stretching until mid-2010.
His comments came at the company's annual shareholders meeting Wednesday in Bellevue, Wash., not far from the company's Redmond headquarters. Ballmer's address was also offered live via Webcast.
Microsoft has denied an all-out hiring freeze, but the company has significantly curtailed its hiring and it appears some departments have halted hiring.
As could be expected, Ballmer made the case that Microsoft should be able to weather the storm better than most. "Our strong financial position allows us to reinforce our competitive advantage by continuing to invest" in research and development, as well as to make careful, targeted investments, he said.
Still, he said that both Microsoft and the industry will suffer the effects of the bad economy.
"They certainly will," Ballmer said. "Our industry and our company will not be immune. We are looking at every aspect of our business" to cut costs, he said.
Ballmer was joined at the meeting by Chairman Bill Gates, who talked about where technology is headed as well as his own transition away from full-time work at the company.
Gates joked that he thought it would be so hard to leave Microsoft that he might find himself driving to Redmond out of habit.
"I do get there for some important meetings, but I haven't driven there accidentally yet," Gates said.
- prev
- 1
- next
