The very best of Steve Ballmer

Features Richard Goodwin 14:41, 9 Jan 2013

Is Microsoft CEO Steve Ballmer the most entertaining technology exec of all time? Of course he is!

Microsoft has undertaken keynote duties at CES for the past 14 years, but this year saw the world’s biggest mobile chipset manufacturer, Qualcomm, take over. And what a show it delivered, too, with appearances from Maroon 5, Big Bird, a trio of bizarre humanoids, and Desmond Tutu.

Microsoft says it’s no longer ‘doing CES’ because the show does not align with its release schedule anymore. But we happen to think the switch to Qualcomm is also a nod towards the changing landscape of the tech world: PCs are yesterday’s news. Everything is now mobile-focused these days – we live in a post-PC era of computing.

Ballmer still managed to make an appearance during the keynote, of course. And as you’d expect it was pretty entertaining, but we have seen better from the big man in the past. Much better, and much weirder…

So, in homage to Steve Ballmer’s many very special guest appearances over the years, we decided it was high time to put together a collection of videos and images that showcase the very best of the force of nature that runs one of the world's biggest technology company and goes by the name of BALLMER.