Tech
Steve Ballmer and licensing: The video
ZDNet UK was at Microsoft's London HQ yesterday, listening to Steve Ballmer talk about Windows 7, Server 2008 R2 and pertaining matters.
ZDNet UK was at Microsoft's London HQ yesterday, listening to Steve Ballmer talk about Windows 7, Server 2008 R2 and pertaining matters.
We weren't allowed to ask questions - but customers in the audience were. They were good questions, too: one of the best was about the complexity of Microsoft's corporate licensing and the unwelcome, inquisatorial habit of Microsoft's auditors in trying to find breaches of fine print. The question got the only spontaneous round of applause of the day, and Ballmer took it seriously.
Which is not to say he actually answered it. He seemed to be saying that simplification is unacceptable because it either increases or decreases cost: if it decreases cost, the shareholders are unhappy, if it increases cost, the customers aren't happy.
Make your own mind up. We captured the question and answer on video, or you can read the transcript.