Steve Ballmers pronouncement in an recent interview has started the great debate. The Quote: Do you have an iPod?No, I do not. Nor do my children. My children — in many dimensions they’re as poorly behaved as many other children, but at least on this

But if Microsoft really is ignoring the competition, then it’s a very different company from the one I left. I suspect that by now, the company has interviewed hundreds of iPod users, taken apart iPods, spoken to the component manufacturers, observed iPod users in social settings, collected feedback from Windows Media player users on what they like / dislike about Microsoft’s products, spoken to the WM Player OEM manufacturers, worked with industrial design houses, etc etc etc.

And yeah, Apple builds a better product. They’re one company. Microsoft will try to mobilize an industry to take that lead away from them. I am not saying that can succeed. But it worked for PCs, and is working for Smartphones, and…

If I was Steve Ballmer I’d be doing the same things. Employees should use the company’s products. Tell us why they suck. Invest with us in how to make them better. They’re all stockholders, you know. A runaway success for a Microsoft product affects everyone in the company.

Funny thing about Detroit automakers. The executives are typically driven around in chaufferred limousines. They don’t drive the cars their neighbors build.

I know Ballmer’s going to take a lot of flak for this comment from today’s CNN article: Do you have an iPod?No, I do not. Nor do my children. My children–in many dimensions they’re as poorly behaved as many other