[Salty]

OK, I remember even as recently as the last time she took the stage at a MacWorld I felt shudders go up and down my spine... something about her just made me feel... uncomfortable. And while she still has a notably different feel to her, I think she's either got more comfortable on stage, or has gotten some public speaking lessons or something, cause this time I didn't feel like throwing things at my PowerBook's screen.
So think about it... has your opinion of Roz and the MacBU changed or not?
I mean personally I don't need office, and still don't like the idea of using MS products, but I have to say my distrust of the MacBU has really gone down. But then again... maybe that's what Bill wants...

[Cubeoid]

She still made me sick.. that "I misplaced my suit" thing was below pathetic.

[volcano]

She's very jerky on stage. I still think she looks extremely uncomfortable up there.

Sometimes I'm under the impression that all those jerky, erratic moves are the precursor to an impending seizure.

[Cubeoid]

HAHAHAHHAHAHHA... Roz Ho having a MS Seizure on stage, that would rock!!!

[deomacius]

It's painful to watch her up there. She definitely needs to work on her stage presence. Is she reading a TelePrompTer by chance? She should at least act like she's not.

[B Gallagher]

She's a terrible public speaker. Just terrible. You'd think that they could find someone better. Oh well.

[hardcat1970]

all of ms speakers are terrible. Even gates and balmer...

[analogika]

She's got a LOT better since the last time she spoke at a MacWorld, what helped enormously was being able to make one or two non-scripted little quips.

But yeah, she still has that very obvious Microsoftian school of presentation - word-for-word scripted memorization.

[production_coordinator]

I think most people look awful when next to Steve... but she looks and acts like a pre-teen giving a report on something she knows nothing about.

IMHO, someone else would have commanded more applause, more respect and made the Microsoft MBU "one of the good guys", but I didn't get that from her.

[macintologist]

I miss the old guy they had, Kevin Brown. He was cool.

[Jawbone54]

Roz still makes me cringe. Let's just face it; Steve has spoiled us.

[Kerrigan]

I have to confess that I had never heard Bill Gates give a presentation until this CES keynote. Up till that point, I had only heard him say a few words here and there on the news.

I was quite shocked at how incredibly geeky he sounds. Not just "sort of geeky", but incredibly geeky. I had no idea that people even spoke this way, I thought it was just a cartoonish stereotype created for TV shows and movies. He truly is the King of the Geeks.

Ms Ho is an excellent reflection of that.

[Jawbone54]

Roz is like fingernails to a chalkboard. Bill Gates is like a toe in a meatgrinder.

[wdlove]

Originally Posted by Cubeoid

HAHAHAHHAHAHHA... Roz Ho having a MS Seizure on stage, that would rock!!!

That isn't very nice. Public speaking is a stressful situation. Stress tends to exacerbate an already existing condition. She doesn't have total control of what was happening. I admire her strength.

[SirCastor]

I think she's better than last time, but she still lacks something. Her clothing for instance, didn't really strike me as something she'd wear, more like something a wardrobe person gave her. Her demeanor just seems a bit created.

Maybe she's being herself though, who knows.

[andreas_g4]

She would take a lot of pressure of her chest if she made the one or other pause. imho, this is what makes it so hard to follow her without getting annoyed.

[hardcat1970]

Originally Posted by Kerrigan

I have to confess that I had never heard Bill Gates give a presentation until this CES keynote. Up till that point, I had only heard him say a few words here and there on the news.

I was quite shocked at how incredibly geeky he sounds. Not just "sort of geeky", but incredibly geeky. I had no idea that people even spoke this way, I thought it was just a cartoonish stereotype created for TV shows and movies. He truly is the King of the Geeks.

Ms Ho is an excellent reflection of that.

you should take a look at his hands when he speaks, absolutely like a 80's nerd...

[OldManMac]

Originally Posted by wdlove

That isn't very nice. Public speaking is a stressful situation. Stress tends to exacerbate an already existing condition. She doesn't have total control of what was happening. I admire her strength.

Exactly. I wonder how many distinguished public speakers we have in this group?

[Salty]

I'm actually one of the better public speakers I know, though honestly if I knew millions of people were going to be watching I'd probably be a bit shaky too... not as shaky as Roz but... anyway I do have to say that her clothing looked a lot more MacWorld appropriate this time.

[analogika]

Originally Posted by Salty

honestly if I knew millions of people were going to be watching I'd probably be a bit shaky too... not as shaky as Roz but...

Let us know when you do that, okay.

I'll be sure to watch.

[Salty]

Originally Posted by analogika

Let us know when you do that, okay.

I'll be sure to watch.

OK if I'm ever watched by as many people I'll make sure to let you know .

[greenamp]

Meh, sympathize all you like but there is absolutely no excuse whatsoever for public speaking as bad as what we see from MS.

It's one thing for the common joe to get off easy ( as he should ), but when you're speaking in front of thousands of people as a representative of your company and your presentation completely and utterly sucks, more than once, more than twice, but ALWAYS, there is no excuse.

Although it does come more naturally to some, public speaking for the most part is a trained skill that just about anyone can learn.

[Pendergast]

Originally Posted by wdlove

That isn't very nice. Public speaking is a stressful situation. Stress tends to exacerbate an already existing condition. She doesn't have total control of what was happening. I admire her strength.

Secunded.

[olePigeon]

When she said that Apple and Microsoft entered an agreement to provide MS Office for another 5 years, that just read to me, "This is the last version of Office, and here's how long you have until MS kills the relationship with Apple."

[mania]

it was absolutely totally awkward - downright embarrasing - kinda like using word or powerpoint.

[besson3c]

I guess we are officially geeks when we are geeky enough to even care about these sort of things

[OldManMac]

Originally Posted by olePigeon

When she said that Apple and Microsoft entered an agreement to provide MS Office for another 5 years, that just read to me, "This is the last version of Office, and here's how long you have until MS kills the relationship with Apple."

And that would show how wrong your intrepretation was, as they said that five years ago as well.

[Cadaver]

Steve Jobs is a freaking Jedi master when it comes to his on-stage persona, especially compared to the likes of Bill Gates.

[Railroader]

Originally Posted by KarlG

Exactly. I wonder how many distinguished public speakers we have in this group?

Probably a few.

I often speak in front of crowds numbering in the hundreds.

Once, I spoke for 25,000 people in a stadium. The presentation lasted 15 minutes.

I don't remember any of it.

[placebo1969]

Originally Posted by Railroader

Probably a few.

I often speak in front of crowds numbering in the hundreds.

Once, I spoke for 25,000 people in a stadium. The presentation lasted 15 minutes.

I don't remember any of it.

I bet.

I do 30-60 minute presentations to 50-60 people at the most. I started doing that a few years ago for my job. If someone asked me 5 years about doing that, I would have told them they're crazy. But I kind of enjoy it. It's like a rush.

[Railroader]

Originally Posted by placebo1969

But I kind of enjoy it. It's like a rush.

I do NOT enjoy it. But now I have two excuses to turn down requests; my kids. I simply don't have time to prepare and rehearse speaking engagements.

[undotwa]

I would be especially nervous considering how scrutinised all my moves would be.

[milhous]

roz and anyone else who needs to work on their public speaking skills should look into Toastmasters.

[Jawbone54]

I've had to speak publicly since high school, and I've come to be very comfortable doing it. The most I've ever spoken to was probably only 1,000 (makes me look like a punk compared to the 25,000+ speakers in this thread), but I speak every week to a group of about 80. It's definitely a skill that you build on, and even when you become "good," you can still completely botch a presentation.

But no matter what, some people will just NEVER become good public speakers. Their personalities just won't allow it. Coincidentally most of those people work for Microsoft.

[besson3c]

I just thought of a cool riddle!

Q: What did Santa Claus say when he saw three Roz Ho's?

A: Ho Ho Ho!

[yugyug]

Originally Posted by placebo1969

I bet.

I do 30-60 minute presentations to 50-60 people at the most. I started doing that a few years ago for my job. If someone asked me 5 years about doing that, I would have told them they're crazy. But I kind of enjoy it. It's like a rush.

I find public speaking a rush too. I'm always volunteering to do it when given half a chance. Its funny actually cos I'm not that good at it but love it anyway!

On another note I remember reading about a smart drug that prevented public speaking anxiety. From what I remember, you only take it once, just before speaking, and never need to take it again - it has some kind of knock-on placebo effect.

[screamingFit]

Guess it's just me but by the way she acts, I thought she had cerebal palsy or something. Really.

[macroy]

I actually find it easier to speak in a large setting vs a small "more intimate" setting. In auditoriums, the lights almost make it hard to see the audience. However, in a small setting - say 10-20 people.... you end up focusing on their eyes, and reactions to what your saying.

Having said that... the largest audience I've spoken in front of is a few hundred.... but I imagine I wouldn't feel any different as long as I am on stage with the lights blaring down on me so I can't see who I'm talking to. Speaking about a topic you know very well also helps. I've had to stand in for someone and present to a bunch of executives for an investment project - that was probably the worst experience in my life. I basically got grilled (and rightfully so, I was trying to part $$$ from a bunch of investors) and had little idea what I was talking about...

[Salty]

Agreed, talking and not being able to see people makes it easier. Wish I had more opportunity to do so. I'm OK if I know the people or don't care what they say, though recently I spoke at a Nursing home, and honestly that's the hardest thing I've had to do because I didn't feel connected at all, I had no idea really of the issues that they deal with regularly.

[Cubeoid]

[volcano]

Originally Posted by Cubeoid

No comment. Alas, responding with "no comment" is in it of itself a comment - but I don't care.