Ballmer Dismisses Chrome OS

Microsoft's chief executive seems unfazed by the challenge posed by Google's upcoming Chrome operating system.

Speaking at Microsoft’s Worldwide Partner Conference in New Orleans, company chief executive Steve Ballmer seemed remarkably calm about the prospect of competition from Google’s announced Chrome operating system.

"I don’t know if they can’t make up their mind or what the problem is over there. The last time I checked you don’t need two client operating systems."

He’s referring, of course, to the fact that Google already has Android, and also to the lesson Microsoft learned by having both Windows 95 and Windows NT.

In an interview with CNET, Ballmer said:

"To me the Chrome OS thing is highly interesting — it won’t happen for a year and a half and they already announced an operating system."

Microsoft isn’t planning any major changes, he noted:

"We don’t need a new operating system. What we do need to do is to continue to evolve Windows, Windows Applications, IE, the way IE works in totality with Windows, and how we build applications like Office… and we need to make sure we can bring our customers and partners with us."