I saw this on YouTube.

It’s Microsoft CEO Steve Ballmer’s response to the Apple iPhone. Interesting take on MS position in the market, but I do think that he is missing the point on creating and benefiting from powerful brand equity. As the world
continues to adopt Apple products via the gateway drug, errrr product, iPod, why does Ballmer think that those same people (who certainly include business folk) won’t try their hands on this slick little gadget? Certainly, the iPod craze has had some impact on people switching from PC to Mac. As for the pricing premium, isn’t that the holy grail of brand marketing. Build a brand so relevant and emotionally compelling that price isn’t an issue.

If I were a betting man, I’d say iPhone will do just fine and that Mr. Ballmer will be forced to react as their Windows Mobile and Zune products bite the dust. Or maybe I’m just biased.

Over at the Edge, founder John Brockman asks a “big
question” every year. And every year a hundred or so of the brightest minds
in science and elsewhere provide answers. This year’s question asked what
these people were optimistic about. Two particularly interesting answers for
me were from Chris Anderson (Curator, TED Conference and
the Sapling Foundation) and Howard Rheingold (author of Smart Mobs)

Their responses can be found here and here.

Thought provoking to say the least.