ShadowRAM: October 24, 2005

How many other tech CEOs dole out their e-mail address like candy at all the industry events?

Case in point: A reporter rushing to Steve Ballmer’s Gartner ITXpo panel session was so harried, she didn’t even notice Steve in his bright red sweater, till he yelled her name. She proceeded to bombard him with questions, pausing only to say, “I bet you’re sorry you said hi.” To which he sheepishly replied, “I kinda’ am.”

Contrast that to the flying wedge of handlers who used to keep reporters at bay for IBM’s Sweet Lou Gerstner or Apple’s Steve Jobs.

Ballmer was subjected to the usual Gartner schtick: videotapes of attendees asking questions. One wanted to know how many chairs the CEO would throw if Microsoft doesn’t beat Google. Ballmer went on the record with: “I have never honestly thrown a chair in my life.” He then pretended to pick up his chair.

With Scott “Scooter” McNealy absent this year, there were fewer zingers than in the past. Remember the war of words started five or more years ago at the event when McNealy called software “a feature of hardware” and Ballmer replied that this was why customers should avoid Sun. Nope. Nothing like that this year.

When HP CEO Mark Hurd was asked if he wanted to respond to competitive jabs at HP by Sun and others, he said: “I’m not the right guy for entertaining quips.” Wow, that may be the high road, but it sure ain’t as much fun.

When commenters to HP exec Dan Socci’s blog began complaining about the vendor’s customer service, he forwarded along their complaints to HP “customer advocate” Jeff Utigard, among others. The next posting from one of the complainers was a little friendlier. “Jeff Utigard (a customer advocate) gave me a call and listened to my story,” the commenter wrote. “He was very friendly and professional and apologized for my negative customer experience. After the call, he completely reverted (sic) my negative outlook of HP support, and in fact, made my day!”

Forget about outsourcing. Maybe the next big rage in IT will be “blog-sourcing.”

The Boston Red Sox’s first-round playoff exit this year has given club executives the chance to start some minor remodeling a little early at Fenway Park, and the beneficiary was none other than Massachusetts’ own EMC. Dave Hixson, EMC production manager, threw the “ceremonial first pitch” that shattered the glass of the former .406 Club (named after Ted Williams’ 1941 batting average.) On opening day 2006, the renovated luxury box will be renamed “The EMC Club.”

We hope the Sox’s next move isn’t to charge IBM for the rights to painting the Green Monster blue.