Microsoft's failure to grow its market share in the online search market isn't discouraging chief executive Steve Ballmer the slightest bit.

During an appearance at the Web2.0 Summit today, the executive had one of his trademark tantrums when he was asked whether Microsoft Search should be considered a child should be smacked on the back of its head for not doing any better.

19 Oct 2007

Visibly annoyed, Ballmer replied:

"I would say, 'Hey, you know, you're just three years old and we've got you in there playing basketball with the 12 year-olds."

"You're going to dunk, you're going to dunk over the other guy some day Johnny!"

It took Microsoft until 2005 before it deployed its own search algorithm. Before then it licensed Yahoo's engine. But the continuing fall of Microsoft search market share has never stopped Ballmer from ridiculing the competition. The chief consistently denounces Google as a one-trick-pony, relying entirely advertising revenues. Never mind that Microsoft doing only slightly better with its complete dependency on Windows and Office sales.