Microsoft's CEO Steve Ballmer has had his share of critics scrutinizing and second-guessing his every business move. But you cannot deny his passion for the company and his excitement he brings to every event and meet-and-greet he attends. While his pubic spaking demenure may not be orthodox (and he would be the first to admit it, as he has allowed a Windows Phone 7 app that pokes fun at himself), it's always entertaining and sometimes outrageous.
Here are brief descriptions and videos to Mr. Ballmer's greatest public moments:
Developers, Developers, Developers
Steve Ballmer - DevelopersWho can forget Steve Ballmer, blue shirt stained with huge patches of sweat, railing about developers at a 2009 developers' conference. He would have literally been on fire where it not for the gallons of perspiration. I heard Ballmer soaked himself with water to get that effect. That's a showman!
Web Developers!
Steve Ballmer screamed "Web Developer" on Mix08!Reprising his role as developer cheerleader, Ballmer stuck the word "Web" in front of "developers" at Mix08 and then went a little nuts chanting again.
Would You Sign My Mac?
Mr. Ballmer, would you sign my mac?Ballmer showed that he was a good sport when he signed a student's Macbook during a visit to a university in January of 2010.
This iPhone Thing Won't Catch On
Ballmer Laughs at iPhoneOuch. Shortly after Apple introduced it, Ballmer explained -- on video, unfortunately -- why the iPhone was a joke and why Microsoft's Windows Mobile devices were better for business users as well as for consumers. Again, ouch.
Windows Machines Are Not Going To Be Trucks
http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=VWkRgNTJZuM#at=104In response to the introduction of the iPad, Ballmer tried to explain why (almost) everything is actually just a PC after all, and why Windows is for everybody, not just for "Mac" truckers.
Who Knows What this Thing Is?
Steve Ballmer laughs at Google's Chrome OS! HilariousBallmer was tongue-tied -- perhaps a bit condescending -- trying to respond to the introduction of Google's Chrome OS before finally saying, "The last time I checked, you don't need two-client operating systems."
It Was a Friendly Disruption
Ballmer egged in BudapestBallmer did well to dodge eggs thrown by an angry Hungarian student in Budapest a couple of years ago. He also did well to recover from the bizarre incident by describing it as "a friendly disruption."
Monkey-Man Dance
Steve Ballmer going crazyThe original is still the best. Remixed a thousand times to different beats, Steve Ballmer's "monkey-man" dance, performed rather spontaneously at an event in the early 2000s, remains a defining moment in the man's career.
"All In" for the Cloud
http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=0EDibutwesQ#at=44In a March speech at the University of Washington, Ballmer declared his company to be "all in" for the cloud, marking a major point of transition in Microsoft strategy.
Cash Cows
Steve Ballmer on Microsoft Cash Cows!In a 2008 question-and-answer session at the Churchill Club, Ballmer denied knowing what a "cash cow" was. Said Ballmer: "I don't know what a cash cow is; if a cash cow is something that's growing 15 to 20 percent a year, that's okay. That's okay, anybody who wants to use the word, I'm glad to have that cow in our pasture."
