[ceejayoz]

A big +1 here. Microsoft and Palm were quoted in articles at the time saying stuff like "you can't just expect to enter the market and be successful immediately" and "we're not worried, we're the dominant player in the market". Google correctly went "well, shit, that's the new standard - let's catch up".

[kenrikm]

Always knew Balmer was a goof - however this one will go down in history. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eywi0h_Y5_U

The best part is when he goes over the "checklist" of features their phones have.. it'll do email! - quality products are more about checklists of features, something Microsoft still does not get.

[leoc]

I think it's pretty clear that Ballmer is fronting in that clip. The fact that he has a list of anti-iPhone talking points ready to run through doesn't suggest that he's unconcerned about the iPhone, rather the opposite.

[ceejayoz]

Mocking it for the cost was especially silly considering the Motorola RAZR - a pretty but otherwise run-of-the-mill flip phone - launched at a higher price and sold like hotcakes.