Microsoft CEO Plays Forecaster, Salesman at Huge Tysons Corner Gathering

Microsoft CEO Steve Ballmer played the role of future-teller and salesman as he spoke Tuesday morning to a room brimming with high-paid IT consultants and users in Tysons Corner.

Ballmer, who heads the world's leading manufacturer of software for personal and business computers, spoke to nearly 800 members of the Northern Virginia Tech Council.

His audience at the Ritz-Carlton in Tysons Corner included representatives from SAIC, CSC, Capital One, Sprint, Mitre, Booz Allen Hamilton, Northrup Grumman, PNC Bank, deans from university technology and business schools and four tables of Microsoft employees.

Ballmer sketched a future where your files, your music, your data would appear on your phone, your tablet and your desktop because it was stored "in the cloud" the fancy way of describing huge  data collection centers like the one Microsoft has built in southern Virginia.

The router to that future is Windows 8 — Microsoft's new operating system that went into consumer preview the end of February.

Ballmer said he now works in a paperless office — no paper, no pencil, no printer because everything he needs he can now access from his tablet.

"The shape and size of computers has changed in the last 10 years," he said. "Now there's a computer in every pocket, on every white board, on every TV set." He reminded the audience that the dream of Microsoft in 1980 when he joined was simply to put a computer on every desk.

Ballmer and a colleague touted the advantages and ease of operating in the much-anticipated Windows 8 for about seven minutes.

“You will have the mobility of a tablet and power of a desk top," said Ryan Asdourian, who demonstrated the  new operating system.

A delivery date: "We're still T-minus N months" from releasing Windows 8, he said, "where N is less than 12 months," said Ballmer.

Ballmer on the future: The "big change is in how programs are delivered to your computer," he said.  This is about The Cloud where all your information is available at the same place at the same time because it is all stored in one huge windowless warehouse.

He also explained how Microsoft customers could use Skype: To reach out to "the people in your environment and to reach out to your suppliers, customers. ... It will morph the way you work if you are in more than one location,” he said.

Microsoft paid $8.5 billion for the company nearly a year ago that allows you to call a person and see them on your laptop.

Stewi Downer of Northrup Grumman: "It's really interesting about how they bought Skype," she said. "People in my generation have used it for five years (to stay touch with each other) and now it is being used for business," she marveled.

Heather Greenfield, of the Computer & Communications Industry Association was also intrigued by the business use of Skype: "It will make a difference if we don't always have to travel for a meeting," she said. "If we can share information around the world, you have more time with the family."

Mark Wohlgemuth of Deltek Inc, found Ballmer's presentation "excellent. The leader of Microsoft talking about innovation with Windows 8. It's important to keep abreast of what they are doing with keeping up with Apple," he said.

William Solms, of IntelliDyne LLC: "I thought it was interesting. He's an engaging guy in person. Lots of energy. ... He spoke more about innovation. You don't think of Microsoft on the cutting edge of innovation. It does seem like a big change."

Ballmer was the third speaker in NVTC Titans Premier Titans Event.