Ballmer has to buy a 360 like everyone else

Steve Ballmer, the head honcho at Microsoft, has revealed that he's going to have to queue up to get a Xbox 360 at Christmas just like everyone else.

In fact, in a stunning feat of falling on your own sword, he was the one that wrote the policy that says Microsoft employees can't get preferential treatment for brand new kit.

Apparently, Ballmer told excutives yesterday that "The Ballmer children do not have their Xbox 360 yet. I'm in the same boat as many of you."

His fate will come as little consolation, we would think, to the gazillions of people that are after a 360 this holiday season and don't have one / can't get one. The chronic short supply seems like it might get worse, with Japan due to get its shipment of 360s on sale on the 10th of this month.

Reception of the 360 in Japan is far from certain. Some developers have been recently suggesting that the 360 is quite cool, but one colleague of mine recently expected a large batch of Japanese exported 360s on eBay being bought up by westerners in the next couple of weeks!

Poor Ballmer. Are you clamouring to get your paws on a 360 in time for Chrimbo? Let us know.