Microsoft CEO can't seem to secure an Xbox 360
by Ross Miller 
{ Dec 7th 2005 at 10:30PM }
It seems everyone is on their own in this craze to buy an Xbox
360 console - even those highest in the Microsoft hierarchy. At a recent meeting, Microsoft CEO Steve Ballmer remarked
that "the Ballmer children do not have their Xbox 360 yet. I'm in the same boat as many of you."
If you are currently in possession of this holiday season's hot item, be happy in the knowledge that you are superior
to the CEO of a major corporation. At least, in some respects…
[Thanks, bandersnatch]
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
32_Footsteps @ Dec 18th 2005 10:09PM
You know, given all the screw-ups involved with the launch of the console (and that's the launch, not any issues with the 360 itself), it's kind of good to see that at least one MS exec hasn't abused his privelege and jumped the line for a 360.
Now if we could only do something about Paris Hilton...
Corey @ Dec 18th 2005 10:09PM
Interesting.....
Toast @ Dec 18th 2005 10:09PM
Microsoft putting the fans first and pushing every unit out the door to get to the consumer? Or intentional leak to show how gosh darn hard they're trying??
jromz03 @ Dec 18th 2005 10:09PM
I bet he threw the chairs in the room after saying that.
Seriously, this is BS. I'm sure a simple nudge to Bill and he can get all the 360s he want. Just more hype.
Watership @ Dec 18th 2005 10:09PM
Does anyone actually believe that this launch is any different than the Saturn launch, or the PS and PS2 launch? or even the Xbox launch?
The only difference in this case is the internet is larger, more diverse, and the states are higher. No one seemed to care about the xbox launch 4 years ago.
Corey @ Dec 18th 2005 10:09PM
"Seriously, this is BS. I'm sure a simple nudge to Bill and he can get all the 360s he want. Just more hype."
I'm thinking this guy is probably right...but who knows.
Zac @ Dec 18th 2005 10:09PM
bullshit!
homer @ Dec 18th 2005 10:09PM
maybe he knows what a piece of crap it is and hasn't bothered...
PimpFox @ Dec 18th 2005 10:09PM
Haha, Greatest. Story. Ever.
Einhanderkiller @ Dec 18th 2005 10:09PM
Maybe the people at Microsoft are scared of what Ballmer might do to the 360 when it crashes....
Brian @ Dec 18th 2005 10:09PM
I blame this on....
DEVELOPERS!
DEVELOPERS!
DEVELOPERS!
yay @ Dec 18th 2005 10:09PM
LOL at #10
SlipstreamBRO @ Dec 18th 2005 10:09PM
People people people. This is the way I translate his message:
"Those damned kids of mine don't have a 360 yet because I want to make a statement to all those kids who haven't gotten one yet. BUT while they're waiting for THEIR 360 minechine is being played as much as possible."
Aresef @ Dec 18th 2005 10:09PM
#10: You beat me to it.
Developers, developers, developers, developers...
Hector @ Dec 18th 2005 10:09PM
Exactly...this is all for show. Seriously...does anyone really think that a MS Exec....let alone THE CEO can't get a 360.
yeoz @ Dec 18th 2005 10:09PM
This is absolute bullshit. You can get one at the Microsoft store on the Microsoft Campus in Redmond.
Sam @ Dec 18th 2005 10:09PM
Cheer up, Steve, at least you're not the "Worst CEO Ever" like the guy at Rockstar.
Finished.Law.School @ Dec 18th 2005 10:09PM
The ballmer kids have theirs wrapped up under the Christmas tree. They don't have it yet because they are not allowed to open it before Christmas morning. Any other understanding of his statement is rubbish.
Pete @ Dec 18th 2005 10:09PM
I don't know whether this makes me feel better (because it's fair) or worse (because they haven't even gotten second shipments in in Redmond)
Spiza @ Dec 18th 2005 10:09PM
It is great to know that his kids got screwed over so that M$ could give one to paris hilton so that her monkey (i know its not a monkey, but what ever that hell that thing is) would have something else in her house to piss on.
Bedpanjohn @ Dec 18th 2005 10:09PM
he is just pulling the 'sorry kids i couldnt get one' and when 'santa' comes on christmas there will be a 360 for each of his kids, all with 100 inch tv's, every game there is plus games that aren't out...wow santa loves you, you spoiled rotten little shits!... sorry i hate christmas ba humbug..and i hate people that made 13 million dollars this year...and and and i hate being sick...
FReakhead @ Dec 18th 2005 10:09PM
Yeah Balmer has billions and what he can't go on Ebay and pay some capitalist $800 for a 360? Come on now.
Swiper @ Dec 18th 2005 10:09PM
#15: Just to set the record straight, you canNOT get one at the Microsoft store on the Microsoft Campus in Redmond. We do NOT get Xbox hardware or software before the general public. We (including SteveB) always try to put our customers first. Always.
Smiling Politely @ Dec 18th 2005 10:09PM
He's waiting in the same boat as the rest of us....for the PS3.
I kidd I kidd!
Fortyseven @ Dec 18th 2005 10:09PM
Oh, fucking please.
"Gee golly guys, listen to my tale of woe: I work for the company that makes the fucking machines -- but they're selling so goddamn flamingly hawt that MY OWN CHLDREN ARE GOING TO STARVE THIS WINTER! Buy 360 this season, folks! Google sucks!"
What an utterly pathetic act. For an encore he'll tell you that they're forced to run Linux on the MS campus because they can't keep XP discs in stock long enough for anyone who works there to install it.
gameclu @ Dec 18th 2005 10:09PM
I remember some Sony exec saying the same thing when the PS2 launched.
dave @ Dec 18th 2005 10:09PM
Oh my god Fortyseven.......funnier sh*$ that was..........You ought to apply to be his speech writer. Especially enjoyed the "Google Sucks", I can picture this screaming that into a mike with his arms raised up and making the peace sign....
http://financenstuff.blogspot.com/ @ Dec 18th 2005 10:09PM
This guy has no eyebrow.
Jer @ Dec 18th 2005 10:09PM
Here's what the article brings out "Thanks to the wonders of Sarbanes-Oxley, management does not get a free Xbox 360,"
"Under financial disclosure rules, Microsoft would have to classify a free game console as income for Ballmer."
Understandable, he doesnt get free stuff from work for legal reasons. BUT I refuse to believe he cant slap down $1000 on ebay for a nice little bundle with games. He would have to work like 2 minutes to make that money up. Gay.
John @ Dec 18th 2005 10:09PM
Like a couple of others who posted before me, this is pure BS! How the heck does a CEO not have a console that they've just released? Well, he says his children doesn't have a 360 yet...doesn't mean he doesn't I guess. Anyways...this is crap. Dude doesn't have any cause he probably ebay'd them all hahahhaa! Loser.
-John
http://www.deliveryblog.com/
jp @ Dec 18th 2005 10:09PM
he's gonna wait for all the beta models to be sold and wait for a more stable one ;)
travis @ Dec 18th 2005 10:09PM
Fortyseven...I have to admit, that was hilarious. Google sucks...good stuff...
Duniyadnd @ Dec 18th 2005 10:09PM
And people believe this nonsense?? In that case, I have 100 Xbox 360s which I'm playing with my centipede like arms.. And yes, it was better to give Paris Hilton an Xbox 360 than the CEO's kids... hmmmm... logical?
jl @ Dec 18th 2005 10:09PM
guess he shouldn't have allowed MS to give all of those 360's to celeb's that probably won't know how to turn it on (caugh) (caugh) (Paris Hilton) (caugh) (caugh)
Adam @ Dec 18th 2005 10:09PM
Two things. First of all what is with "Baller Children" I thought the Xbox 360 was supposed to make every appliance in the house talk to the living room so Mrs. Baller should "need" one to know if the milk has expired. Oh I forgot all people who buy 360's are between the ages of 6-13.
Second He hasn't said he has tried to get one. We all know that the man can be a little erratic so why not hold out on his own offspring. In no way did his comments suggest he was trying to get one only that he didn't have one.
Rocket Punch @ Dec 18th 2005 10:09PM
This article proves only one thing, Microsoft's CEO lie to people.
Does he really expect anyone to believe this???
magaman @ Dec 18th 2005 10:09PM
I call BRAVO SIERRA,
all MS people are saying they don't have "their" xbox 360, they might not have "their" own xbox 360, but they certianly have LOANED 360's from the company. Listen to Major Nelson's podcast he even said it, he hasn't gotten his own 360 yet, he has one own LOAN from the company, which means they gave him one ot borrow and when he gets his he gives the other one back. I would put money on Balmer and his kids having a LOENER system.
jake @ Dec 18th 2005 10:09PM
Incredible. The -CEO- of -Microsoft- cannot get his hands on a X360? Come on, how much more bullshit hype are they going to force down our throat?
Papercutninja @ Dec 18th 2005 10:09PM
LIES!!!!!!!!!!! Even Paris Hilton got one. LIESSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSS!!!!!!! Blogs all around the country have devkits. Ballmer lies so hard. What else do you expect from them? They botched the launch and are now trying to show how these "shortages" were "unavoidable" when we damn well know that Microsoft wanted a "sell-out" condition on launch day. Screw them.
darryl @ Dec 18th 2005 10:09PM
Bullshit... If u believe that you have issues.
Orbulon @ Dec 18th 2005 10:09PM
Surely he must have taken home a dev kits, his kids have been playing 360 for ages now.
Lazy @ Dec 18th 2005 10:09PM
uh, you realize that loan ones dont play retail?
rip @ Dec 18th 2005 10:09PM
What a crock. He probably doesn't have one because he's afraid of that power brick burning down his house. Or that he might use it as a weapon in one of his spastic fits. ;)
And fyi, the 360 is probably the most hyped gift this season. But the hottest item is still the iPod. Microsoft will be lucky to move 750k 360's. Apple will probably sell 3-4 times that many iPods. And iPods are apparently sold out in a lot of places too.
Mike @ Dec 18th 2005 10:09PM
It's briliant marketing, stupid people will think that the shortage was unavoidable. Anyway, why with shortages EVERY NEW RELEASE. Just make more fucking units before you release the damn thing. It can't be that hard. if necessary, just delay the system if so few units are in store. Manufacture like there's no tomorrow until the release date. The system was kind of rushed anyway. It's like they didn't do extensive enough testing. Well, this isn't the place for that. Back to the article. How could MS CEO not have one for each of his children, along with those 100 inch uber high definition televisions and the billion watt 7.1 surround sound systems