Windows Phone Thoughts: Ballmer Reserved on WP7

"CEO Steve Ballmer on Thursday told financial analysts they should temper their expectations when it comes to sales prospects for Windows Phone 7, seen by many as Microsoft's last chance to become a player in the Apple- and RIM-dominated U.S. smartphone space. 'A number of you had a chance to kind of ask me a question ... which is how are we going to do,' Ballmer told the analysts, at Microsoft's Redmond, Wash. headquarters. 'And I think it's fair to say we've got a lot of work to do,' said Ballmer."

Steve B's reservations come at a time when the last possible thing Microsoft wants to do is appear too confident. It's a fine line to walk, but I think they're playing it well: "We're confident in our product, it will speak for itself, we aren't going to make wild speculations." Are you reassured, or do you long for the Ballmer of the past?