Monday, May 26, 2008 - Windows Genuine Advantage

Speaking about Microsoft...

The other week we were catching an American Airlines flight from Austin. We went to the automated check-in kiosks only to find all 6 machines stating "THIS MACHINE IS OUT OF SERVICE." Moreover, all 6 had the following dialog box front and center:

"This copy of Windows is not genuine

You may be a victim of software counterfeiting. This copy of Windows is not genuine and is not eligible to receive the full range of upgrades and product support from Microsoft.

Click Get Genuine now to get more information and resolve this issue."

Is this an example of Windows Genuine Advantage run amok, or is this American Airlines trying to screw Microsoft of a couple of hundred dollars?? I just found it hilarious that nobody had at least bothered to turn off the machines or do *something* to make that embarrassing message go away...

Monday, May 26, 2008 - No love for Microsoft

There is no shortage of bad press about Microsoft, how they abused their monopoly position, how they force unfavorable contract or predatory pricing terms on their customers etc... well, we came across a great personal example of a pissed off company - we were buying tickets for the Austin Wine Festival and got the following message when we hit submit:

"Since Microsoft has decided for you that you don't need to receive an order confirmation from us unless we pay a couple thousand dollars, we politely request that you use a non-Hotmail email address"

I love it! You rarely see such spite so openly expressed... stick it to the man!!

Saturday, May 10, 2008 - Puppet sex

I just watched Team America: World Police again and am a little concerned that I was no longer thoroughly disturbed by the sex scene (it was 2 puppets having sex, for those of you who haven't had the pleasure).